Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca (CFR)
The Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca (CFR) – whose original name, until July 1st, 2014, was Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche is a private non ‐ profit organization originally founded by a number of local organizations in the Ferrara area to develop and manage research projects on several themes, including health and medicine. The institutional activities performed by CFR consist in carrying out research activities through highly specialized personnel in the specific areas of interest foreseen by the projects, the conclusion and technical ‐ administrative management of research contracts, in the coordination of scientific events, and in the organization of educational events on behalf of public and private companies on a local, national or international scale. CFR and the University of Ferrara has been performing excellently activities on academic and research field. CFR can count on the competences of the Medical Genetics section of Ferrara (Unife), an “excellent center” in Italy for the study of neuromuscular disorders, funded by several national and international grants. Within the BIND Project, CFR is involved in the RNA localisation of dystrophin isoforms in human brain (WP 2) and in the deep functional phenotyping of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy patients (WP5); CFR will also perform several tasks related to the data integration (WP 7)
Website
Team
Prof. Alessandra Ferlini
Position in Organisation
CFR’s Project leader
Profile and role in the project
Prof. Alessandra Ferlini (MD) is specialized in Medical Genetics (University of Ferrara) and Neurology (University of Bologna) and PhD in genetics (Imperial College, London). Her special interest and major research effort is concentrated on dystrophinopathies and hereditary neuromuscular pathologies. She is also member of several European research groups that in particular are studying new therapeutic approaches of dystrophinopathies and other neuromuscular pathologies as well as innovative aspects of molecular diagnostics. She is provided with all ethical aspects referring to medical genetics and therapy of genetic diseases. Prof. Ferlini will participate to WP2 (task 1, 2, 3, 4), WP5 (Task 1 and 2) and WP7 supervising all the research, and in the WP8, providing dissemination of the results.
Dr. Maria Sofia Falzarano
Position in Organisation
Senior post-doc researcher
Profile and role in the project
Dr. Maria Sofia Falzarano, PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, is a senior post-doc researcher. She is involved in molecular and genetics studies of neuromuscular disorders, in particular dystrophinopathies. She was and is currently involved in several national and international research projects and is experienced in technical research work of: i) in vitro model for cell transfection with oligonucleotides antisense naked and loaded into nanoparticles, ii) RNA and DNA analysis for detection of mutation, efficacy of AON treatment, iii) protein extraction and analysis in tissues from human and mice for efficacy of AON treatment and efficiency of AON delivering by nanoparticles in vivo and ex-vivo. She will carry out detailed research and analysis by in situ hybridization using BaseScope and RNAScope on human and mouse brain tissues to detect dystrophin isoforms localisation (WP 2).
Third Party Unife profiles
Dr. Rita Selvatici
Position in Organisation
Researcher of the Medical Genetics Unit
Profile and role in the project
Dr. Rita Selvatici (PhD) is researcher in medical genetics with specialization in molecular genetics. She acquired specific skills in the molecular diagnosis of hereditary diseases such as Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy, triplet repeat diseases (i.e. SCAs, FXN, SBMA, HD) and arrhythmic and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. Her specific skills and competences concern techniques of genomics and molecular biology and the massive genomic analysis of data derived from High Throughput Sequencing. Rita Selvatici will participate in WP2 (Task 1, 2, 3 and 4). Major effort will be directed in the providing patients samples (tissues, cells, USCs), performing RNAScope and BaseScope analyses and all RNA-based methods (microfludics, realtime etc) and contributing to the analysis of how loss of different dystrophin isoforms impacts CNS comorbidities in patients (WP5).
Dr. Fernanda Fortunato
Position in Organisation
Fellowship of the Medical Genetics Unit
Profile and role in the project
Dr. Fernanda Fortunato (MD) is specialized in Medical Genetics (University of Padua, Italy). In 2014 she held a Post-graduate course (Masters degree 2nd-level) on diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases (Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy).
During her residency program in Medical Genetics (from 2015 to 2019) at Medical Genetics Unit- University of Ferrara (Italy), she had an intensive clinical and research training experience in Medical Genetics with a particular focus on Neurogenetics.
Her special interest is concentrated on neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, especially on dystrophinopathies and new therapeutic approaches. Fernanda Fortunato will participate in WP2 and WP5 with a major effort in contributing to the analysis of how loss of different dystrophin isoforms impacts CNS comorbidities in patients.
Dr. Rachele Rossi
Position in Organisation
Post-doc researcher at the Section of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences
Profile and role in the project
Rachele Rossi holds a master degree in Biomolecular and Cellular Science and a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine and Pharmacology. She is a post-doc researcher at the Section of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara. From 2010 to 2012 she was involved in molecular and genetics studies and diagnosis of endocrine disorders. Since 2013 she is involved in molecular and genetics studies of neuromuscular disorders, inparticular collagenopathies and distrophinopaties. She was and is currently involved in some national and international research projects and is experienced in technical research work of i) RNA and DNA analysis (PCR, Sanger Sequencing, RT-PCR, Real-Time PCR, Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer, Fluidic card, NGS) for detection of mutation and study of their effects, ii) protein analysis in human fluids (Elisa assay, Luminex antibody-beads assay), iii) cytogenetic methods (QF-PCR, FISH, whole chromosome CGH and DMD-CGH
Ms. Courtney King
Position in Organisation
Research Data Curator
Profile and role in the project
Ms. Courtney King is a research data curator. She is involved in research data collection and management as well as the use of BIND repository tools.
