Previous Massimo Grattarola Award Winners

Can you briefly describe your research and what inspired you to pursue this field of study?
My research mainly concerns human neural development and its alterations. I have been working on different aspects of this field, but my main focus is genetic microcephaly. I have always been deeply intrigued by the fact that even the smallest alteration, or the slight change in an apparently minor molecular pathway, is able to affect the formation and the functioning of the organ that makes us human.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work, and how does the Massimo Grattarola Award help achieve them?
I think that the biggest challenge in studying human brain development is the practical and ethical inaccessibility of the human brain itself. To this, many models have been and are currently developed in trying to recreate the most accurate in vitro platforms of human developing nervous system – but there is still a long way due to its huge structural and functional complexity. With the Massimo Grattarola Award, there will be the chance to test and challenge one of the current gold standard in vitro models (i.e., brain organoids) from a functional point of view with an innovative platform (3Brain) stimulating and recording 3D neuronal networks. With this setting, it might be possible to dissect complex and multiple functional features (and the potential alterations) of the developing human brain.

How do you envision the outcomes of your research impacting your field?
‍‍In the context of genetic microcephaly, little is known about the functional neuronal alterations during development. By coupling mutant organoids with 3Brain technology we may highlight the impact of the microcephaly-causing mutations in neuronal architecture and projections as well as neuronal function. These findings, coupled with cellular and molecular analysis, will constitute a starting point to interrogating the overarching molecular logic in genetic microcephaly, and could pave the way for potential treatments.

What advice would you give to future researchers who may be interested in applying for the Massimo Grattarola Award?
‍‍I think that the best approach for this application might be: “keep it simple”. Meaning, solid project background and/or clear preliminary data can help to focus on the biological question that needs to be addressed by taking advantage of the 3Brain technology. This will surely help in proposing a straight to the point approach.