Laura Maggi
PhD
laura.maggi@uniroma1.it
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor
Honors and Awards
2004–2005: The EMBO Long-Term Fellowship. Awarded for postdoctoral research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Rome. It is highly competitive and internationally recognized for scientific excellence.
2007: Cenci-Bolognetti Fellowship. Awarded for research at the University “La Sapienza”, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rome.
Scientific interests:
My research activity aims at the comprehension of synaptic transmission mechanisms in rodent CNS using primarily Electrophysiology and Molecular Biology. In the last years, I concentrated on the study of the modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity processes, both in post-natal and adult life, by endogenous factors such as those related to neuro-inflammation. Main research interests are focused on the bidirectional interplay between the nervous and the immune systems, along the ongoing changes in the living environment. My current efforts are directed to the investigation of the mechanisms of action of antidepressants in relationship with inflammatory status, microglial activity, neural plasticity and quality of the life environment.
Contribution to Science
- Elucidated nicotine’s role in activating silent synapses in the developing mouse hippocampus.
- Uncovered the mechanisms of action of antidepressants “fluoxetine” in relationship with inflammatory status, neural plasticity and quality of the life environment
- Identified microglia as key mediators between environmental stimuli and brain function and plasticity changes linked to depression vulnerability.
- Demonstrated sex- and region-specific differences in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus under normal and challenged conditions.
5 Selected publications
- Milior G, Lecours C, Samson L, Bisht K, Poggini S, Pagani F, Deflorio C, Lauro C, Alboni S, Limatola C, Branchi I*, Tremblay ME*, Maggi L.* “Fractalkine receptor deficiency impairs microglial and neuronal responsiveness to chronic stress”. (2015) Brain Behav Immun. S0889-1591(15)00419-5. Citation Index: 182, Impact factor: 5.874
- Alboni S, Poggini S, Garofalo S, Milior G, El Hajj H, Lecours C, Girard I, Gagnon S, Boisjoly-Villeneuve S, Brunello N, Wolfer DP, Limatola C, Tremblay MÈ*, Maggi L*, Branchi I*. “Fluoxetine treatment affects the inflammatory response and microglial function according to the quality of the living environment” (2016) Brain Behav Immun. 58:261-271. Citation Index: 80, Impact factor: 5.964
- Milior G, Castro MA, Sciarria LP, Garofalo S, Branchi I, Ragozzino D, Limatola C, Maggi L. Electrophysiological Properties of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons along the Longitudinal Axis of the Mouse Hippocampus. Sci Rep. (2016) 6;6:38242. Citation Index: 61, Impact factor: 4.259
- Alboni S, van Dijk RM, Poggini S, Milior G, Perrotta M, Drenth T, Brunello N, Wolfer D, Limatola C, Dr. Amrein I, Cirulli F, Maggi L*, Branchi I*. “Fluoxetine effects on molecular, cellular and behavioral endophenotypes of depression are driven by the living environment”. (2017) Molecular Psychiatry 22(4):552-561 Citation Index: 134, Impact factor: 11.64
- Paolicelli RC, Bolasco G, Pagani F, Maggi L, Scianni M, Panzanelli P, Giustetto M, Ferreira TA, Guiducci E, Dumas L, Ragozzino D, Gross CT. “Synaptic pruning by microglia is necessary for normal brain development “. (2011) Science. 333:1456-8. Citation Index: 2127, Impact factor: 31.201
On-going Grants
| Project Title | Funding source | Amount (Euros) | Period | Role of the PI |
| Microglial remodelling of the extracellular matrix: outcomes on synaptic plasticity and behaviour | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)” Canadian grant. | 78k CAD/annuo, per 5 anni | 2024-2029 | Key personnel, responsabile degli esperimenti di elettrofisiologia su topi. |
| The key role of hippocampal microglia at the interface between peripheral inflammation and depressive-like behaviour | Anna Tramontano “CALL 2024” Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti) | 20.000 | 2025-2027 | PI (30 % of time) |
Complete list of published work in MyBibliography:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=galun+e
Scopus:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57200608616#
Googlescholar:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=it&user=0YkFuYcAAAAJ
KEYWORDS:
Microglia, hippocampus, electrophysiology, neuronal plasticity, stress.
