WORKSHOP: The Enteric Nervous System in health and disease - May 29, 2026 Immagine CONFERENCE ‘THE ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN HEALTH AND DISEASE’ Busto Arsizio (VA) 29 May 2026 GO TO SITE / GO TO SITE Download Program (pdf) The Center Immagine The Center for Neuroscience Research of the University of Insubria was founded in 2003 with the aim of promoting research in fields related to the Neurosciences, in particular the study of functional and neurodegenerative pathologies of the nervous system, with cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology, neuropharmacology, neuroimmunology and systems biology approaches.The Center aims at offering a meeting point for research groups in the biomedical and clinical area in our University, favoring knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary collaborations.The training and education of young researchers working in the member laboratories is crucially important to the Center, and to this aim periodic meetings of the member labs are organized, where young collaborators are invited to present and discuss their research activities.Moreover, the Center organizes scientific workshops as well as public seminars on neuroscientific topics, to spread the knowledge of physiological and pathological mechanisms in the nervous system, and of new avenues to therapeutic interventions in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Regulations of the Neuroscience Research Centre (italian) Members of the Centre Alberio TizianaBalbi SergioBarbiero IsabellaBossi ElenaCallegari CamillaCosentino MarcoFasano MauroForti LiaGiaroni CristinaGiovannardi StefanoKilstrup-Nielsen CharlotteLualdi MartaMarino FrancaMauri MarcoNardo LucaPassi Alberto GiuseppePollegioni LoredanoPorta GiovanniRoseti CristinaRubino TizianaSacchi SilviaTermine CristianoZamberletti Erica Editor-in-Chief and Scientific Board Director of the Centre Lia FORTI Scientific Committee Tiziana ALBERIO Cristina GIARONI Charlotte KILSTRUP-NIELSEN Cristina ROSETI Research Research Areas of the Laboratories Affiliated with the Centre Past events Scientific Seminars TLC: Faculty Development Seminars - 2025 Immagine WORKSHOP: Neuroscience of social behavior in health and disease - June 4, 2024 WORKSHOPTuesday June 4th, 2024 - 9.50am-4.30pm Busto Arsizio (VA, Italy)10:00 am Viviana Trezza (Roma Tre University) “Neurobiology of social reward: from physiology to pathophysiology”11:00 am Bice Chini (CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano) “Neonatal Oxytocin Administration in Mouse Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Long Lasting Rescue Effects”12:30 am Stefania Fontolan (University of Insubria) "Social behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The clinical point of view"2:30 pm Alessandro Gozzi (IIT, Rovereto) “Network correlates of social dysfunction”3:30 pm Diego Scheggia (University of Milan) “Neural circuits for social decision-making” SEMINARIO: Medicina di Genere nelle Neuroscienze - May 13, 2024 Monday 13 May 2024, at 2.30 pm Dr Barbara Garavaglia (IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation) ‘GENDER MEDICINE IN NEUROSCIENCES: DO SEX AND GENDER MATTER?’ Lecture Theatre C, Molini Marzoli, Via A. da Giussano 10, Busto Arsizio and via video link from Lecture Theatre 12 MTG in Varese, Via Monte Generoso 71 Dr Garavaglia, an expert in Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, works at the IRCCS C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation in Milan, where she is Head of the Department of Genetics of Movement Disorders and Energy Metabolism Disorders. She is also Head of the Mariani Foundation Centre for the Study of Paediatric Mitochondrial Diseases SEMINARS 2022-2024 December 9th, 2024 - Monday- 2:30pm Victor Corasolla Callegari (Dept. of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Univ. of Campinas, Brasil, and Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Univ. of Southern Danemark) "Revealing the proteomic and phosphoproteomic changes in the temporal lobe, frontal cortex and corpus callosum of post-mortem brain from patients with schizophrenia" October 18th, 2024 - Friday - 3pm Course Techniques for Neuroscience (organized by Charlotte Kilstrup-Nielsen and Isabella Barbiero) Angelisa Frasca (University of Milano) "Stereotaxic surgery in rodents" October 11th, 2024 - Friday- 11am Course Techniques for Neuroscience (organized by Charlotte Kilstrup-Nielsen and Isabella Barbiero) Anna Corradi (University of Genova) "Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells derived 2D and 3D human models to study neurological disorders" March 7th, 2024 - Thursday - 2pm Thomas Stockner (Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna) "How is a transporter tuned to efficiently transport only its cognate substrate? The case of the serotonin transporter" February 2nd, 2024 - Thursday - 2pm Davide M. Cammisuli (Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano) "Disturbi della cognizione spaziale e ruolo dell’Apolipoproteina E in pazienti con lieve declino cognitivo (MCI) dovuto a malattia di Alzheimer: dalla diagnosi all’intervento" (organizzato dal Centro di Medicina Genomica)November 9th, 2023 – Thursday– 4 pm Gilda STEFANELLI (University of Ottawa) ”Histone variant H2A.Z and its chaperones: a novel epigenetic mechanism in neurodevelopment” June 12th, 2023 – Monday – 2:30pm Tiziana ALBERIO (DiSAT, Insubria Univ.) ”Addressing microglial dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease: a role for endocannabinoid signaling in immunosenescence” May 15th, 2023 - Monday– 2:30pm Annalisa BOSI (Post-doc, DMC, Insubria Univ.) "Gender-specific influence of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) effect on enteric neuromuscular function in adolescent mice" April 21st, 2023 – Friday – 2:00pm dr. Katarzyna Starowicz, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków “Managing pain in osteoarthritis: focus on the endocannabinoid system” 30 mar 23 - Thursday– 2:30pm Elena ZERBINI (PhD student, DBSV, Insubria Univ.) ”Investigating serine metabolism in the brain” 20 feb 23 - Monday– 2:30pm Adeena SHAFIQUE (PhD student DMST, Insubria Univ.) “RAB proteins’ dynamics in mitochondrial malfunction models of Parkinson’s disease” 16 jan 23 - Thursday – 2:30pm Stefano MARTINI (PhD student MCSMH, Insubria Univ.) “New opportunities for Parkinson’s disease: from pathophysiological hypotheses to clinical trial design challenges” 19 dec 22 - Monday – 2:30pm Alessia DI FLORA (PhD student MCSMH, Insubria Univ.) “Effects of Cannabidiol on lymphocytes’ subsets and its potential therapeutic use on Parkinson and other neurodegenerative diseases” 24 oct 22 - Monday – 2:30pm Tiziana ROMANAZZI (PhD student, DMST, Insubria Univ.) "MIND THE GUT: the bile acids on neurotransmitter transporters" Monday Oct 3rd, 2022 – 3:00 pm dr. LUCA TROVO’ (PhD student at the University of Basel) "SYNAPTOTAGMIN-11 FACILITATES PREASSEMBLY OF GABAB RECEPTOR-Cav2.2 CHANNEL COMPLEX IN TRANSPORT VESICLES” Tue 13/9/22, 2:30 pm Prof. LUCA NARDO (Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Univ. of Insubria) AMYLOID AGGREGATION: NEW PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FLUORESCENCE POINT OF VIEW Mon 18/7/22, 2:30 pm GRAZIA VENDRAME (Biomedical Sciences Master Course, Insubria Univ.) - Journal Club “Role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in neurodevelopmental deficits and experience-dependent plasticity in Xenopus laevis”, by Gore et al. 2021, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62147 Wed 6/7/22, 2:30 pm ANGELA DI IACOVO (PhD student, DMST, Insubria Univ.) “LRRK2 G2019S plays a role on excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in Parkinson’s disease” Mon 20/6/22, 2:30pm ERICA ZAMBERLETTI (Researcher, DBSV, Insubria Univ.) “From cannabinoids to matrix metalloproteinases: novel therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorder” Mon 23/5/22, 2:30 pm MARTINA BRUGHERA (PhD student, DMST, Insubria Univ.) - Journal Club “Brain-derived autophagosome profiling reveals the engulfment of nucleoid-enriched mitochondrial fragments by basal autophagy in neurons” by Goldsmith et al., 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.029 Mon 9/5/22, 2:30 pm MANAN BHATT (PhD student, DMST, Insubria Univ.) “Betaine, a novel therapeutic and its interaction with GAT1” SCIENTIFIC DAY 2023 Immagine 2 February 2023 – – Chair: Lia Forti, Tiziana Alberio Cristina Giaroni, Department of Medicine and Surgery Alterations of the microbiota-gut-brain axis during early life: implications for the development of intestinal and brain disorders Mauro Fasano, Department of Science and Advanced Technology Network medicine and neurodevelopmental disorders Elena Bossi, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Neuronal excitation-inhibition imbalance. A tale of membrane transporters in brain health and disease 3 February 2023 - Chair: Lia Forti, Cristina Roseti Charlotte Kilstrup-Nielsen, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences CDKL5: from its molecular network to neuronal connectivity Loredano Pollegioni, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences D-serine: what's else? Tiziana Rubino, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Clearing up the smoke: evidence-based considerations regarding cannabis use in adolescence SCIENTIFIC DAYS 2020 & 2021 8 July 2021 Scientific Day of the Neuroscience Research Centre The event, held in person, was dedicated to presentations by young researchers from the laboratories affiliated with the Centre. The event concluded with a Plenary Lecture by Dr Francesco Rusconi (University of Milan) entitled “Forgetting matters: a link between memory and stress resilience?”, on the topic of epigenetic mechanisms influencing stress resilience.16 September 2020 Centre Scientific Day Online event, dedicated to presentations by 11 young researchers from the laboratories affiliated with the Centre. Closing the event, a Plenary Lecture by Prof. H.E. Gendelman (University of Nebraska): “Brain Immunity, COVID-19 and neurodegenerative disease”. Events open to the public CINESCIENCE off: from generative AI to general AI (for secondary schools) 23 January 2026 Immagine Crespi High School Auditorium, Via G. Carducci 4, Busto Arsizio (VA), 23 January 2026, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm A session for secondary school students, dedicated to discussing our relationship with artificial intelligence, clarifying the concepts of ‘generative’ AI – algorithms such as ChatGPT – and ‘general’ AI, capable of replacing humans; featuring the screening of a short film with commentary by the director and expert teachers, with a particular focus on the use of AI in education CINESCIENCE – Science Film Forum – 2025 Edition Immagine CINESCIENCE – Science Film Forum – 2024 Edition Immagine CINESCIENCE, a film forum organised in collaboration with the European Researchers’ Night 2024 and the Michelangelo Antonioni Film Institute (ICMA); under the patronage of the Municipality of Busto Arsizio Wednesday 25 September, 8.45 pm “Si può fare” [2008, G. Manfredonia, Italy, 111 mins] A gentle comedy about the experience of social cooperatives, which, following the ‘Basaglia Law’ in the late 1980s, replaced mental asylums in an attempt to ‘restore life’ to those who had previously been hidden away in hospitals Introduced by Thomas Emmenegger (psychiatrist and psychotherapist, President of the Olinda Social and Cultural Enterprise) Thursday 26/9, 8.45 pm “Philadelphia” [1993, J. Demme, USA; 120 mins] A now-classic film, powerful and dramatic, which has made a profound contribution to dismantling prejudice and intolerance towards homosexuals and those with AIDS Introduced by Daniela Dalla Gasperina (Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Insubria) Friday 27 September, 8.45 pm “Hidden Figures” [2017, T. Melfi, USA, 127 mins] In early 1960s America, three African-American female scientists working on NASA’s space programmes courageously forge a path through racial and gender discrimination Introduced by Barbara Pozzo (Professor of Comparative Law, University of Insubria, and UNESCO Chair in Gender Equality and Women’s Rights) CINESCIENCE – Science Film Forum – 2023 Edition Immagine The Neuroscience Centre, in collaboration with the Michelangelo Antonioni Film Institute (ICMA) and the Bust Arsizio Town Council, is organising three evenings of screenings of films with a scientific theme, introduced and discussed by experts in the field, in the gardens of Villa Calcaterra (Via Magenta 70, Busto Arsizio) Wednesday 28 June, 9.30 pm “The Soloist” [2009, Joe Wright, USA, 117 mins] Steve Lopez, a journalist from the Los Angeles Times in search of inspiration, meets Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless violinist suffering from mental health issues. The story of how human beings can come together and walk a stretch of the road side by side, trying to be of use to one another Introduced by Dr Chiara Iacono (clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Milan) Wednesday 5 July, 9.30 pm “Gravity” [2013, Alfonso Cuarón, USA – UK; 92 mins] Two astronauts survive a terrible accident but find themselves alone, without a shuttle, floating in space Introduced by Dr Alessandro Lupi (astrophysicist, DISAT, University of Insubria) Wednesday 12 July, 9.30 pm “To the Bone” [2017, Marti Noxon, USA, 107 mins] The story of a young woman trapped in the grip of anorexia, and a doctor who challenges her to confront her condition using an unconventional method Introduced by Dr Eugenia Dozio (clinical dietitian, DMC, University of Insubria) CINESCIENCE – Science Film Forum – 2022 Edition Immagine CINESCIENCE, a film forum organised in collaboration with the CRIS (Centre for Research on Successful Ageing) at the University of Insubria, the Municipality of Busto Arsizio and the Michelangelo Antonioni Film Institute (ICMA) JUNE–JULY 2022, Villa Calcaterra Park, Busto Arsizio Saturday 25 June: ‘Awakenings’ by Penny Marshall (1990), starring Robin Williams, P.A. Miller and Robert De Niro → Introduction by Prof. Mauro Fasano, biochemist, Department of Science and Advanced Technology, University of Insubria Wednesday 29 June: ‘Still Alice’ by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (2014), starring Julianne Moore (Oscar for Best Actress) and Kristen Stewart → Introduction by Dr Marialuisa Delodovici, neurologist at the Ospedale di Circolo in Varese Saturday 2 July: ‘Life, Animated’ by Roger Ross Williams (2016). → Introduction by Dr Cristina Panisi, paediatrician, BluLab Varese, Integrated Innovative Service for Autism, Sacra Famiglia Foundation BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK 17 March 2023 WORKSHOP to mark Brain Awareness Week 2023: The Brain and War Event open to the public (Busto Arsizio, Molini Marzoli). Guests: Dr Chiara Iacono (clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Milan); Prof. Patrizia Campolongo (La Sapienza University, Rome)17 March 2022 WORKSHOP to mark Brain Awareness Week 2022: Neurodevelopmental disorders: mechanisms and possible interventions ONLINE event open to the public. Guests: Prof. Michela Matteoli (Humanitas University, CNR Institute of Neuroscience); Dr Cristina Panisi (paediatrician, PhD, Sacra Famiglia Foundation) 17 March 2021 WORKSHOP as part of Brain Awareness Week 2021: Cellular and synaptic dysfunction in brain pathology ONLINE event open to the public. Guests: Dr Claudia Verderio (CNR, Milan); Prof. Flavia Antonucci (University of Milan) Contacts Lia Forti Director of the Centre lia.forti@uninsubria.it Adriana Jacona DBSV Administrative Office adriana.jacona@uninsubria.it Tel. +39 0332 421392 Email: centro.neuroscienze@uninsubria.it Via Manara 7, 21052 Busto Arsizio (VA) – Italy