Immunology and Neuroimmunology Area

The “Immunology and Neuroimmunology” research area is coordinated by Prof. Emanuele Cozzi and comprises of four distinct yet deeply connected units.
The research priority of the area is to uncover key molecular mechanisms driving infection, inflammatory role and immune-mediated disorders and to translate these findings from bench to bedside.
Our research is currently aimed at investigating immune-related pathogenic mechanisms in many disorders, including acquired autoimmune demyelinating syndromes, pediatric multiple sclerosis, perinatal stroke, pediatric epilepsies and encephalopathy with seizures, paraneoplastic and autoimmune neurological syndromes. A relevant activity within this research area is dedicated to the study of the antibody mediated rejection mechanisms following pediatric kidney transplantation. Currently, antibody mediated rejection continues to be one of the most critical immune barriers in renal transplantation, significantly affecting graft survival.
Our approach combines pre-clinical and clinical studies in order to identify new early disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
The staff involved includes academic researchers from various Departments of the University of Padova (Biomedical Sciences, the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health and the Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health) as well as clinicians from the Padua University Hospital, building up an effective multidisciplinary team for improving research outcomes.