Twelve Unifi scientists among the Top Italian Women Scientists

Two years ago there were 6, last year 9, now 12. These are the scientists from the University of Florence called to be part of the “Top Italian Women Scientists” (TIWS) Researchers Club, which brings together 113 Italian researchers in the biomedical field who stand out for their high scientific productivity and high number of citations.

 The recognition, created in 2016 on the initiative of Fondazione Onda – National Observatory on Women’s Health and Gender ETS, went to Maria Pia Amato, Maria Luisa Brandi, Annamaria Di Fabio, Betti Giusti, Paola Guglielmelli, Rossella Marcucci, Daniela Massi, Daniela Monti, Paola Angela Mura, Benedetta Nacmias, Linda Vignozzi, Anna Linda Zignego from the University of Florence.

Some of the scientists were awarded today during a meeting in Milan at the Lombardy Region, dedicated to the recognition and promotion of the female contribution to the world of science and biomedical research.

Here is the complete list of researchers from the University of Florence who have entered the Top Italian Women Scientists.

Maria Pia Amato is a professor of Neurology at the Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmaceutical Area and Child Health. Her research, of a translational nature, focuses on various aspects of demyelinating diseases of the Central Nervous System, in particular multiple sclerosis and related diseases.

Maria Luisa Brandi, former professor of Endocrinology, conducted her research in the Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio". She is considered one of the world's leading experts in osteoporosis, endocrine tumors, rare metabolic bone diseases and hypoparathyroidism.

Annamaria Di Fabio, professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the Department of Education, Languages, Interculturality, Literature and Psychology, deals with healthy organizations, healthy lives, well-being at work and in life, psychology of sustainability and sustainable development.

Betti Giusti, professor of Clinical Pathology at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, has focused her research mainly on the study of the genetic and molecular bases of coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, and venous thromboembolism.

Paola Guglielmelli, professor of Hematology at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, is an expert in myeloid neoplasms, with a particular focus on chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms and their molecular and genomic characterization.

Rossella Marcucci, professor of Internal Medicine at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, studies the mechanisms of thrombotic-based vascular disease, in particular the physiopathological problems of atherothrombosis, coagulation, and venous thromboembolic diseases.

Daniela Massi, professor of Pathological Anatomy at the Department of Health Sciences, focuses her research on the pathology and immunobiology of skin tumors, with particular attention to translational studies aimed at identifying new diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers of the response to innovative therapies.

Daniela Monti, professor of General Pathology at the Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, studies the cellular and molecular bases of aging and longevity, with a specific focus on the immune system, genetics and the Central Nervous System.

Paola Angela Mura, professor emeritus of technological and applied pharmaceuticals, belongs to the Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’ and has worked on the optimization of the drug in pharmaceutical formulations, in order to improve its therapeutic efficacy, stability and safety in use, as well as the development of innovative dosage forms.

Benedetta Nacmias, professor of Neurology at the Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Area and Child Health, focuses her activity on the molecular characterization of genes implicated in genetic susceptibility for the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, ataxias, Huntington's disease.

Linda Vignozzi, professor of Endocrinology at the Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", carries out studies on the role of metabolic diseases on reproductive and sexual well-being in both men and women at various stages of life.

Anna Linda Zignego, former professor of Internal Medicine at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, has promoted translational and clinical research in Hepatology with particular attention to virus-host interactions. She was among the discoverers of the ability of the HCV virus to infect cells of the immune system and give rise to pathologies, up to tumor forms.

The TIWS club brings together Italian female researchers engaged in the biomedical, clinical sciences and neuroscience fields, reviewed in the Via-Academy Top Italian Scientists (TIS) ranking, a census of the Italian scientists with the greatest impact worldwide, measured by the H-index value, the indicator that includes both the productivity and the scientific impact of the researcher, in addition to his or her continuity over time, and which is based on the number of citations for each publication. Female researchers with an H-index equal to or greater than 60 were selected for the Club.