Bianca De Filippis

Dr. B. De Filippis is a researcher with technical and cultural knowhow in the field of behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology. She obtained her European PhD in 2011 at the University of Florence (Italy). Since 2013, Dr. De Filippis has a position as research scientist at the Center of Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), the leading technical and scientific public body of the Italian National Health Service. Research focus. During the last ten years, Dr. De Filippis has focused her research on understanding the biological underpinnings of Rett syndrome (RTT) and of a related syndrome characterized by RTT-like symptoms, the CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD). This line of research is leading to the identification of several promising compounds with a therapeutic potential. In particular, the use of a bacterial protein from Escherichia Coli and a selective agonist of the serotonin receptor 7 have been patented for the treatment of RTT. Other achievements include a detailed phenotypic characterization of mouse models starting from the early phases of development to an advanced stage of the disease, and the identification of brain functional mitochondrial alterations. Recently, Dr. De Filippis has started a new complementary line of research focused on the role of MeCP2, the gene whose mutations cause RTT, in shaping vulnerability to develop Post Traumatic disorder. This has led to the publication of the first clinical and preclinical evidences on the potential involvement of this X-linked epigenetic modulator in trauma vulnerability.