The aim of my research is to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for neutrophil retention in the microcapillary of the lung and neutrophil clearance in the spleen. Cutting edge microscopy techniques are used to take a novel and innovative look at these fundamental mechanisms highly relevant to many neutrophilic diseases. I completed by BSc and MRes in Molecular Biology at University of Turin, Italy in 2004 and subsequently undertook a PhD in Immunology and Molecular Pathology within the group of Dr Nancy Hogg (Leukocyte Adhesion Laboratory) at CRUK, London where I investigated how neutrophil chemoattractant KC and MIP-2 are newly synthesized by macrophages making use of distinct TLR signalling pathways and how macrophages and mast cells synergise in the process of neutrophil migration during LPS infection. I continued my research in the Leukocyte Adhesion Laboratory studying the effect of G-CSF and KC on the process of neutrophil mobilization from the bone marrow; the role of integrin in neutrophil and T cell recruitment to lung during Streptococcus Pneumoniae infection; also the functional role of S100a9 protein in the recruitment of neutrophils during pneumococcal pneumonia infection.

Infectious diseases, neutrophil retention