Sandra Ceccatelli, M.D., Ph.D.

Sandra Ceccatelli, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Focus

Our group is interested in developmental neurotoxicology, with special reference to the issue of silent toxicity and long-term consequences induced by environmental factors acting during different stages of neurodevelopment. There is a lack of information on the overall magnitude of environmental neurotoxicity, and this has increased the concern that the etiology of some neurodevelopmental dysfunctions may be associated with exposure to neurotoxic events. We have directed our efforts toward the implementation of an experimental strategy that includes in vivo and in vitro models and applies methods stretching from behavioral to single cell analyses. We have introduced the observation of home cage behaviour as a key component of neurotoxicity testing. A major part of our work focuses on the mechanisms of cell defense and cell death induced by neurotoxic stimuli, including exposure to high levels of reactive oxygen species, steroid hormones, cytoskeletal disrupting agents, heavy metals and endocrine disruptors. A central aim is to provide mechanism-based endpoints for the identification and characterization of stimuli with neurotoxic potential.

Selected Publications