Legenda
Personal information
Name: Luisella Cianferotti
E-mail: luisella.cianferotti@unifi.it
Nationality and mother tongue: Italian
Other languages: English (proficient user in understanding, speaking, and writing); French and Spanish (beginner user)
Work experience
2020-present: Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
2012-2020: Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, tenure track
Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine till 2018, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences since 2019, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
2008-2012: Research and Clinical Assistant, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; main activities and responsibilities: design and developing of clinical trials and basic science projects, clinical activities especially in the field of bone and mineral metabolism, with particular regard to vitamin D deficiency assessment and treatment
2002-2003: Clinical Associate, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; main activities and responsibilities: clinical research, clinical activities (management of endocrinopathies, bone densitometry, thyroid ultrasound)
Type of business or sector: Medicine (Endocrinology) and Research
Education and titles of education
2003-2008: PhD in Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
2004-2007: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medicine
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
1997-2002: Specialty Degree in Endocrinology and Metabolism (Magna cum Laude), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
1999: Research Fellowship, Molecular Endocrinology Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
1997: National Board, Italian National Board of Medicine and Surgery
1990-1996: MD Degree (Magna cum Laude), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Honors and Awards
2012: Young Researcher Award by Società Italiana dellOsteoporosi, del Metabolismo Minerale e delle Malattie dello Scheletro (SIOMMMS)
2012: Outstanding Abstract Award by Endocrine Society, Endocrine Society's Annual Meeting, Houston, TEXAS, USA
2009: Best Scientific Production Award (for the year 2007) by Società Italiana dellOsteoporosi, del Metabolismo Minerale e delle Malattie dello Scheletro
2006ç: Best Oral Communication Award by Società Italiana dellOsteoporosi, del Metabolismo Minerale e delle Malattie dello Scheletro (SIOMMMS), VI Congresso Nazionale
SIOMMMS
2006: Fo.Ri.SIE Award for the Development of Scientific Research by the Società Italiana di Endocrinologia (SIE)
2001: Best Poster Award by Società Italiana dellOsteoporosi, del Metabolismo Minerale e delle Malattie dello Scheletro, Congresso Nazionale SIOMMMS
1999: Leonardo da Vinci Fellowship by the EU – Education and Culture, Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci
Teaching experiences
2014-present: Course “Endocrinology of Mineralized Tissues” in the Integrated Course of Implantology, within the single cycle degree of Dentistry and Dental Prostesis, University of Florence
2015-present: Course Endocrine Physiopathology in the Integrated Course of Pathology within the Bachelor’s Degree Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, University of Florence
2015-present: Teaching of Diseases of bone and mineral metabolism in the Postgraduate Schoold of Endocrinology, University of Florence
2017-present: Teaching of Endocrinology in the single cycle degree of Medicine and Surgery
2016-present: Member of the Commission o fthe PhD in Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
CME Lectures in several national and international conferences
Scientific Publications
Author of more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers, more than 160 abstracts presented at national and international meetings, more than 20 reviews published in books or non-peer reviewed journals.
According to the Scopus database (excluding meeting abstracts): h-index 24.
Technical skills and competences
Clinical Practice: management of endocrine diseases, with a particular expertise in mineral metabolism, experience in bone densitometry, thyroid ultrasound examination, fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid.
Clinical Science: experience with clinical trials design, execution, critical analysis of results, statistical analysis; specimen handling; hormonal immunoassays.
Basic Science: experience with: mice handling and dissection, bone isolation and preparation, (from embryos and newborns/adults); molecular biology, cellular biology and biochemistry: genotyping; tissue culture studies (primary bone marrow stromal cell, primary calvarial osteoblast and cell line cultures); DNA, RNA and protein extraction both from cells and tissues; PCR and RT-PCR; protein analysis, protein-protein and protein DNA interaction (western blotting, immunoprecipitations, GST-pull down assays, mobility shift assays); gene transactivation assays both in primary cultures and in cell lines; studies of proliferation (following BrdU incorporation) and apoptosis (TUNEL labeling); histological techniques, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and microscopic analysis of the specimens; statistical analysis, linkage analysis, computerized sequence analysis.
Computer Experience: Proficient in Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Power Point), statistical programs (Stat View, SPSS), picture editing (Photoshop), reference managing programs (End Note), databases (Access, File Maker), scientific internet search (PubMed and other scientific websites).
Affiliations
2000-present: Member of the Italian Society of Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism and Skeletal Diseases (SIOMMMS);
2001-present: Member of the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE).
2000-2016: Member of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)
2006-2014: Member of the Endocrine Society
Reviewing Activity
Nature Scientific Reports, Osteoporosis International, Calcified Tissue International, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Endocrine, Clinical Endocrinology, Orphanet Journal of rare Disease, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, Gynecological Endocrinology, Maturitas, Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
Associate editor
International Journal of Bone Fragility
Research Interests
Past research
Clinical, biochemical and densitometric studies in primary hyperparathyroidism
Randomized controlled study on the outcome of parathyroidectomy in mild primary hyperparathyroidism
Intervention trials with vitamin D (cholecalciferol and calcifediol) in several bone and mineral disorders such as primary hyperparathyroidism and in chronic diseases not directly related to alterations in mineral homeostasis such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Clinical trial on the use of cinacalcet in primary hyperparathyroidism.
Clinical and molecular biology studies in hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, tumoral calcinosis and familial primary hyperparathyroidism.
Genetic analysis of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism, familial benign hypercalcemia and MEN1 syndrome
Effects of the vitamin D receptor on osteoblast and adipogenic differentiation in primary cultures of murine bone marrow stromal cells
Study on the ligand-independent effects of the vitamin D receptor on hair cycling; nuclear protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions.
Present research
Clinical and translational studies in the field of osteoporosis, metabolic bone diseases, thyroid and parathyroid diseases/tumorigenesis (primary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism), multiple endocrine neoplasias
Clinical intervention trials in hypoparathyroidism
Basic/translational studies in parathyroid tumorigenesis, skeletal muscle physiology and pathology
Epidemiological studies on osteoporotic fractures, rare diseases of bone and mineral metabolism through the analysis of Regional Healthcare Databases
Observational studies on bone quality and early osteoarthritis under aromatase inhibitors in women with mammary cancer
Participation to international research projects
2013-2016: Credits4Health (C4H): a credit-based, people-centric approach for the adoption of healthylife-styles and balanced Mediterranean diet in the frame of social participation and innovation forhealth promotion –FP7 Project funded by the EU (#602386).
2013-2015: European Innovation Partnership of Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP-AHA), promoted by the EU with the projects: MONitoring of prescription and improving ADherence to anti-OSteoporotic treatments(MONADOS project), Fall prevention in OsteopoRotic patients after hip FracturE and impact on Neurocognitive symptoms (FORFENd projeject), Optimizing nutrition and physical activity in healthy ageing: intervention on subclinical frailty
Participation to national research projects
2017-present: PRIN – “Complex signatures of circulating microRNAs as novel biomarkers for osteoporosis and fracture risk”, by MIUR (#201528E7CM)
2014-2016: PRIN – “MUsclecrinology: characterization of SKeletal muscle as a target organ and a key playerin the ENDOcrine-metabolic system (MUSKENDO)”, by MIUR (#2012227FLF).
2017-present: “Hypophosphatasia in the adults: a population study of atypical fragility femoral fractures collected from major traumatology centers in Italy”.
2017-present: “BehavIOur of Mineral metabOlism in patients with longstanding, chRonic hypoparathyroidism when adiministered recombinant Parathyroid Hormone 1-84: an in vivo study in humans (BIOMoRPH)” by Shire.
2016-present: “Observational study of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism in the Tuscany region”.
2013-2016: "RIFF: risk and incidence of fragility fractures in Italy for the updating and validation of the Italian version FRAX and supporting the nation registry of fragility fractures", by Istituto Auxologico Italiano.
2013-2015: "Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (rhPTH1-84) as therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism" by AIFA
Participation to regional research projects
2013-present: TARGET Project: Trattamento Appropriato delle Rifratture Geriatriche in Toscana, by Region of Tuscany.
