Developmental Age Section
Coordinator
Location
IRCCS Meyer Children's Hospital – Viale Gaetano Pieraccini, 6 – 50139 Florence, Italy; Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
General description of the Section
The Developmental Age Section of the NEUROFARBA Department brings together faculty members and researchers of the University of Florence who carry out scientific, clinical, and teaching activities in the field of pediatric medicine, with its main location at the IRCCS Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence and, for the neonatology area, at the Neonatology Unit of Careggi University Hospital. The Section is characterized by a strong integration between translational research and highly specialized clinical care, with a well-established international vocation and active participation in the main European pediatric research networks.
Research activity lines
Pediatric neurology, epileptology, and neurodevelopment
Study of genetic and drug-resistant epilepsies, cortical malformations, epileptic encephalopathies, and neurodevelopmental disorders, through integrated approaches involving molecular genetics, advanced neuroimaging, clinical neurophysiology, and epilepsy surgery. Research on cerebral palsy, brain plasticity, and innovative rehabilitation strategies in childhood. (Prof. Renzo Guerrini, Prof. Carmen Barba, Prof. Simona Balestrini, Dr. Luca Bartolini, Prof. Simona Fiori)
Inherited metabolic diseases and newborn screening
Biochemical and molecular genetic characterization of inborn errors of metabolism, with particular focus on lysosomal storage diseases, organic acidurias, and urea cycle disorders; development of new pharmacological therapies (chaperone therapy, exon skipping) and contribution to the Expanded Newborn Screening program for Tuscany and Umbria. (Prof. Amelia Morrone)
Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition
Research on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), celiac disease, and gut microbiota; pediatric hepatology, chronic viral hepatitis, and development of antiviral treatments in children; artificial nutrition and intestinal failure. (Prof. Paolo Lionetti, Prof. Giuseppe Indolfi)
Pediatric reconstructive and regenerative surgery
Minimally invasive and neonatal surgery, intestinal rehabilitation in short bowel syndrome; research on intestinal organoids, microbiome, and precision medicine in pediatric surgery. (Prof. Antonino Morabito, Prof. Riccardo Coletta)
Neonatology and neonatal intensive care
Prevention and treatment of complications in preterm infants (sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy); study of neonatal hemodynamics using advanced ultrasound techniques; neonatal resuscitation with an intact umbilical cord. (Prof. Carlo Dani, Prof. Simone Pratesi, Dr. Iuri Corsini)
Pediatric rheumatology and autoinflammatory diseases
Research on juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Kawasaki syndrome, chronic childhood uveitis, and rare autoinflammatory syndromes; genotype-phenotype correlation and prognostic biomarkers. (Prof. Gabriele Simonini)
Pediatric immunology, inborn errors of immunity, and immuno-hematology-oncology
Study of immune dysregulation disorders (IPEX, ALPS, APDS, STAT3 GOF), regulatory T-cell biology, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell therapies; functional validation of genomic variants in patients with rare immuno-hematological disorders within the international IEI-Haem consortium (EJP RD/ERDERA). (Prof. Eleonora Gambineri)
Clinical activity
The members of the Section carry out highly specialized clinical activity at the IRCCS Meyer Children's Hospital (Pediatric Neurology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Pediatric Surgery, Oncohematological Immunology, Inherited Metabolic and Muscle Diseases, Pediatric Rheumatology) and at the Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Careggi University Hospital.
Last update
20.03.2026