Section of Neuroscience

Coordinator

Prof. Maria Pia Amato

Location

General description of the Section

The Neuroscience Section brings together faculty members belonging to the Scientific Disciplinary Sectors MEDS-11/A Psychiatry, MEDS-12/A Neurology and MEDS-15/A Neurosurgery, with clinical activity within the Departmental Organizational Units (SOD) of the Department of Neurosciences and Sensory Organs of the Careggi University Hospital.

The Neurological Area SODs include Neurosurgery (Prof. A. Della Puppa – AOU Careggi), Pediatric Neurosurgery (Prof. F. Giordano – AOU Meyer IRCCS), Neurophysiology (Dr. A. Grippo), Neurology (Prof. M.P. Amato), Emergency Neurology (Prof. A. Poggesi), Psychiatry and Stroke Unit (Dr. P. Nencini).

The Neuroscience Section is characterized by an intense activity of translational and clinical research in the epidemiological, biological, genetic, biochemical, immunological and therapeutic fields of neurological and neurosurgical diseases, alongside the study of the biological bases and neuronal mechanisms that regulate the functions of the nervous system. The main research lines of the affiliated faculty concern cerebrovascular diseases, cognitive processes and their disorders — in particular dementias and Alzheimer’s disease — neurogenetics, multiple sclerosis, oncological and vascular conditions of neurosurgical interest, autoimmune diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, neurorehabilitation, neuroimaging, rare neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders. These activities are carried out through a multidisciplinary approach and through significant collaborations at national and international level. The research activities of the section are closely integrated with clinical activity.

More specifically, the main research activities include high-impact projects in the field of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, with integrated approaches that include the study of prognosis, therapies, advanced imaging, rehabilitation and, not least, the impact of these diseases on cognitive functions, an aspect in which the center has played a seminal role. These studies are carried out within national and international collaborative networks and within big data-based studies. A particularly relevant area concerns the application of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of highly aggressive demyelinating diseases that are refractory to conventional therapies, a field in which the center has played a pioneering role.

Another important area of research is dedicated to the development of precision medicine approaches in antibody-mediated diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, with the aim of optimizing antibody diagnostics and identifying predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response. In this context, activities range from improving antibody diagnostic tests to the identification of new serological and cerebrospinal biomarkers, up to the study of immunopathological mechanisms underlying neuroimmunological diseases such as myasthenia gravis, autoimmune encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, diseases associated with anti-MOG antibodies, and immune-mediated complications related to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These studies make use of advanced high-throughput methodologies, including multicolor flow cytometry, analysis of the functional properties of autoantibodies, single-cell RNA sequencing techniques and the development of complex in vitro experimental models.

A further research focus concerns neurodegenerative diseases, with particular attention to the identification of predictive profiles for the development of dementias through the integration of plasma and cerebrospinal biomarkers, neuroimaging data and neuropsychological assessments. In this field, the activities of the section have played a pioneering role in the identification and validation of plasma biomarkers predictive of cognitive decline and dementia. From a clinical perspective, these activities are integrated with an advanced and multidisciplinary care model, aimed at promoting early diagnosis, innovative therapies and continuity of care within the territory, also through dedicated facilities such as the Center for Research and Innovation for Dementia (CRIDEM).

Within the section there is also the Cerebrovascular Diseases Study Group, which has well-established experience in clinical research on stroke and cerebral vascular diseases, from acute forms to chronic conditions. Activities focus on epidemiology, prognostic factors and therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke, with the aim of improving the selection of patients eligible for acute-phase treatments — such as thrombolysis and endovascular interventions — also through the use of advanced neuroimaging and circulating biomarkers. A further area of relevance concerns the study of small vessel diseases and vascular cognitive impairment, both post-stroke and associated with sporadic or genetic forms. The group also conducts research on hereditary microangiopathies and different forms of cerebral hemorrhage, including those due to arteriolosclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cavernomatosis. Particular attention is dedicated to the heart–brain relationship, with multidisciplinary projects on conditions such as atrial fibrillation, cardioembolism and patent foramen ovale, aimed at improving ischemic and hemorrhagic risk stratification and the prevention of cerebrovascular events.

Another line of research concerns the clinical field of primary headaches, also through participation in the National Registry (RICe - Italian Headache Registry) promoted by the Italian Society for the Study of Headaches (SISC), contributing to the collection and analysis of clinical data useful to improve the characterization and management of patients affected by these conditions. Further areas of interest concern the study of diseases related to alterations in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, including Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, with particular focus on diagnostic elements and multidisciplinary management pathways.

The adult neurosurgery group (AOU Careggi) is engaged in three main research areas: the functional one, aimed at improving patients’ quality of life through intra- and peri-operative identification of eloquent brain areas using advanced techniques (imaging, neurophysiological monitoring and transcranial magnetic stimulation); the neuro-oncological one, aimed at optimizing outcomes in patients with brain tumors through innovative tumor resection strategies and the study of the immune microenvironment, also with advanced intraoperative technologies and preclinical research projects; and finally the field of lesional epilepsy surgery, which aims to improve epileptological outcomes by integrating innovative methods for identifying epileptogenic foci and functional areas, enabling effective and safe resections.

The activities of the section also include participation in numerous advanced-phase clinical trials, for example in the fields of multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and rare autoimmune diseases of the peripheral nervous system.

The Neuroscience Section finally includes the Neurogenetics Laboratory, the Neuroimmunology Laboratory and the Florence Autoimmune Neurology Lab, located at the Polifunctional Complex of Viale Pieraccini 6, in Florence.

Main recent funded projects

• High Impact Pilot Award 2026, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) – “From Thymoma to Tolerance Breakdown: Identifying Predictive Biomarkers of Myasthenia Gravis Development”.
• Optimyg – Characterization and optimization of the management of myasthenia gravis. The European OPTIMYG project aims to optimize the diagnosis and management of myasthenia gravis through an integrated and multicenter approach based on clinical data, registries and biomarkers, with the objective of improving patient stratification, personalizing therapeutic strategies and increasing quality of life. https://www.optimyg.com/it
• GR-2021-12375527 - NEURO-CHECKMATE A multidimensional approach for a better diagnosis and management of patients with neurological events following immune checkpoint inhibitors: defining predictive clinical and immunological biomarkers
• PRIN 2022 – “Clinical, imaging and serological biomarkers to distinguish inflammatory demyelinating diseases: multidimensional diagnostic algorithm and long-term management”
• RF-2021-12373290 “Role of biological markers for the risk stratification of cerebral bleeding and ischemic stroke in patients on oral anticoagulants with or without atrial fibrillation. The Strat-AF3 Study.” Ministry of Health – “Finalized Research Call 2021”
• PRIN 2022 Call “Cognitive Impairment Post Stroke: a single-blinded randomized trial on the efficacy of TeleRehabilitation. The CIPS-TER Study”. Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
• PNRR Participation in the multicenter project MNESYS - a multiscale integrated approach to the study of the nervous system in health and disease funded by the European Union - NextGeneration EU - PE00000006 CUP B83C22004910002, mission "Education and Research", Measure M4.C2
• PNRR participation in the multicenter project PNRR_ECO_THE (Tuscany Health Ecosystem )SPOKE3_ CUP project: B83C22003920001
• PNRR participation in the multicenter project PNRR PE8 Ageing well in an ageing society_AGE-ITPE_00000015 CUP B83C22004800006
• PRIN 2022 Call: OPTO-19F-LUIDICS: FLUORINATED HYBRID PHOTOPOLYMERS FOR THE FABRICATION OF ROBUST DIAGNOSTIC OPTOFLUIDIC DEVICES. Nacmias Unit
• PRIN PNRR 2022. P2022J9SNP. Advanced optimization methods for automated central vein sign detection in multiple sclerosis from magnetic resonance imaging (AMETISTA)
• CALL: HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01 (EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2021) PROJECT: “Transforming brain surgery by advancing functional-guided neuronavigational imaging—HyperProbe”
• PRIN 2022: Ministry of University, project: Dissecting the functional and metabolic immune network in the glioma microenvironment
• PNRR M6/C2 2023 CALL, Rare tumors, Ministry of Health. Project: Multidisciplinary and Multiomic approach to dissect the cellular network in the glioma microenvironment: translational perspective to improve patient's management. (PNRR-TR1-2023-12377714)