PEOPLE | BSR-Laboratory

BSR Lab Lunch - March 2025

BSR Lab Members - Oct 2024

Celebration December 2024

Michele Bellesi, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

I am a neurologist who obtained his M.D. degree at the University of Ancona in Italy. After completing my residency in Neurology, I pursued a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, which prompted me to join the Center for Sleep and Consciousness at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, I developed a cohesive research program to study the complex reciprocal interaction between the sleep/wake cycle and glial cells. After a period spent at the University of Bristol as independent PI, I joined the University of Camerino (Italy) as associate professor in 2020. Here, I am currently investigating the cellular consequences of sleep disruption and enhancement in health and disease.

Luisa de Vivo, PhD

Principal Investigator

I am a biologist fascinated by sleep. I obtained my PhD in Neuroscience at University of Ancona (Italy) in 2010. I then moved to Pisa (Italy) to work with Dr Gian Michele Ratto at NEST - CNR Nanoscience, where I received training in in vivo electrophysiology and two-photon microscopy that I applied to study synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex. In 2012, I joined Profs. Giulio Tononi and Chiara Cirelli's laboratory at University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), where I investigated the effects of sleep and sleep loss at the cellular level, defining morphological and molecular changes in neurons across different physiological states. Since 2019, I have established my independent research laboratory, at University of Bristol first, and then at University of Camerino, where I study the link between sleep loss and mental health.

Demetrio Grollero, PhD

Post-doctoral researcher

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine of the Università Politecnica delle Marche. My research focuses on sleep physiology, with particular interest in mixed states of vigilance during wakefulness and in characterizing overnight variations in brain activity across sleep stages in both healthy individuals and neurological patients. I got a Ph.D. in Cognitive, Computational and Social Neuroscience from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca and I conducted research at the ICM – Paris Brain Institute. My work combines experimental and computational approaches for the analysis of EEG signals during both wakefulness and sleep.

Daniele Marchei

Post-doctoral researcher

I am a computer scientist with a wide range of interests, and I have been affiliated with the University of Camerino (Italy) since 2014. I received my Bachelor's Degree in 2018 with a thesis on Knot Theory, then travelled to Iceland for a Double Degree at the Reykjavik University and graduated in 2020 with a thesis on General Game Playing. In 2024 I earned my PhD, which focused on studying an algebraic model for RNA secondary structures, while also working on phylogenetic networks in collaboration with the Western Sydney University (Australia).
During my PhD, I was one of the developers of Sogniario, an app designed to facilitate recording dreams in textual form.
I am currently part of the Brain Sleep Research Laboratory team and my main focus is to improve the Sogniario app and study how changes in pupil dynamics could reflect fatigue of the noradrenergic system.

Matteo Andreozzi

PhD Candidate

I am Matteo, a passionate and dedicated researcher who is currently pursuing a PhD in Theoretical and Apllied Neuroscience with a focus on sleep and neural plasticity. I have always had a strong interest in science, which led me to study Biotechnology as an undergraduate and later pursue a Master's degree in Molecular Diagnostics. During my time in graduate school, I conducted research on Alzheimer's Disease Astrocytes, where I characterized their proteolytic systems. This experience sparked my passion for neurobiology and neuroscience and led me to pursue a career in the field. My current research focuses on the relationship between sleep, alcohol addiction and neural plasticity, utilizing advanced techniques such as calcium imaging. Through my research, I hope to contribute to our understanding of how sleep modulates addictive behavior, how it affects mental health and neurodisorders

Carlos Pérez Hernández

PhD Student

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience at the University of Camerino (Italy), where I investigate the interplay between chronic sleep loss during adolescence and alcohol consumption. I holds a dual honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience from Keele University (UK) and completed an M.Sc. in Systems Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield (UK), focusing on the role of the superior colliculus–pulvinar–amygdala pathway in anxiety and sleep quality using task-based fMRI. I contributed to neurodegeneration research at the Hospital Universitario de Canarias (Spain), developing protocols to assess TDP-43 dysfunction in ALS cellular models.

I am currently expanding his training in in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and systems-level approaches to sleep and arousal regulation, aiming to bridge molecular mechanisms with network dynamics in translational models of neuropsychiatric disease.

Luyan Zhang

PhD Student

I got my master degree from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in Food science and Engineering, China. Thereafter, I joined Zhengzhou University of Light Industry as an experimental assistant teacher at the School of Food and Bioengineering. I focused my research on development and utilization of natural antioxidants, and I mainly studied the antioxidant active substances in the Maillard reaction products (MRPs). Currently, I am a Ph.D. student at the Brain Sleep Research Laboratory where I investigate the effects of sleep enhancement in Alzheimer's disease.

Letizia Santoni

PhD Student

I’m an enthusiastic PhD student in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience, who decided to focus her work on sleep and how this affects neurodegeneration. During my Master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Trieste, I joined the laboratory of Professor Tongiorgi, where I deepened my passion for neuropathologies and the study of their mechanisms. There, I learnt how to work with different types of cell cultures and how to perform many different assays and analyses. In general, I’m a person that aspires to learn as much as possible from the people around her.

Currently, I am working in the BSR laboratory undertaking a project on Alzheimer’s disease and sleep enhancement.

Anusa Ganguly

PhD Student

I am a PhD scholar in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience who is motivated to delve deeper into the multifaceted nature of sleep. I obtained my Master’s degree in Microbiology from University of Calcutta. I have always been fascinated by the complexities of brain function and the intricacy of neuronal networks that underlie the diverse aspects of human cognition and behaviour. My aspiration of becoming a Neuroscientist was fuelled by my research experience in the laboratory of Prof. James P. Clement Chelliah at JNCASR, India, where my main project focused on identifying a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease, with a specific focus on novel EAAT-2 activators. I am deeply passionate to work on neurological disorders, given their significant global impact affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Currently, I am pursuing my doctoral studies in the BSR laboratory and I aim to explore the complex interplay between sleep enhancement and epilepsy.

Ester Biecher

PhD Student

I have worked as a research assistant at the BSR Lab for 9 months and I have become a PhD student in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience here since Dec 2025. I completed my university studies at the University of Trieste (Italy) and gained my first research experience at SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies). My background in neuropsychology fostered a strong interest in brain function and neurophysiology, particularly in the domains of plasticity and memory. Working in this lab is providing me with valuable skills to deepen my understanding of sleep, a fundamental cognitive process that supports many other cognitive functions. I am enthusiastic about conducting my PhD in this lab, where I aim to explore the interdependent relationship between inhibitory synapses and sleep.

Kiana Abdolrahman Kolahdooz

Research Assistant

I’m Kiana Abdolrahman Kolahdooz, an undergraduate biotechnology student at the University of Camerino, Italy, currently in my second year. I started my research work at the age of 14 in Royan Institute, focusing on neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases. My experience includes working on cognitive rehabilitation for MS patients and conducting Alzheimer’s research. Through internships and laboratory projects, I’ve developed strong skills in molecular biology, gene manipulation, and cell culture. Recently, I joined the Brain Sleep Research laboratory as a research assistant, where I am investigating synaptic structures and changes during and after torpor.

Former members:

Monika Chaulagain

Daniela Franchini

Sabrina Galizia

Amina Aboufares El Alaoui

Federico Del Gallo (→ senior scientist at Evotec, Italy)

Nam Ahn Ngo (→ PhD candidate at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität)

Marco Rendine (→ PhD candidate at the University of Milan)

Oluwatomisin Faniyan (→ PostDoc at the UConn Health)

Alessandra Ottaviani

Eleonora Ficiarà

Reyila Simayi (→ PostDoc at Aarhus University, Denmark)