Simona Russo

I was always fascinated by the Research world and, while I was studying for my Bachelor degree in Biotechnology at the University of Ferrara, I developed a strong interest in biotechnological drugs and cells biology.

I joined for an internship the Cell Therapy laboratory of Prof. Valentina Salvestrini at Policlinico Sant’Orsola in Bologna with the aim to broaden my knowledge in Haematology with experiments conducted on cell cultures with primary leukemia cells and leukemia cell lines.

My main research interest was to study the efficacy of combined treatment between T2R receptor agonists and Citarabine on Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

I decided to focus on Biotechnologies for Health and currently I’m completing my Master studies in Molecular and Medical Biotechnology at the University of Verona. 

With the Erasmus+ project I had the opportunity to join the research group pf Prof. Karl-W. Koch at the University of Oldenburg where I was involved in a joint project, between my home and host universities, about the molecular properties of the Guanylate cyclase/GCAP complex in vertebrate vision.

This protein complex synthesizes the second messenger cGMP in vertebrate photoreceptor cells and is under control of changing concentrations of Ca2+.

To gain insight into the mechanisms of the process, I learnt molecular biology and protein biochemistry techniques.

After my academic year abroad, Prof. Daniele Dell’Orco offered me the possibility to improve my knowledge in the field of protein functional studies, giving me the chance to merge and increase my interest in both the biochemical world and my passion for cells.