Giada Lavigna

Experience

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  Biblioteca comunale di Canegrate

  Feb 2013 - Jun 2015

  Library Assistant
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  Università degli Studi di Milano

  Sept 2015 - Dec 2016

  Master Thesis Project

  Master degree research project, working independently on the development of an original research in the field of molecular biology, under the supervision of Dr Lucio Conti. The research activity involved the vegetal model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, on which I carried out genetic profile analyses through the in-depth study of the nucleic acids and proteins. I analysed the DNA and RNA expression of specific transcription factors in different tissues of the plant and in different conditions (WT or mutant background, drought stress or normal watering conditions, different exposition to light), trying to understand when and where they were specifically present.Thanks to this experience I learned how to structure a research project, from the study of the literature to the actual lab-work. I learned some basic techniques, such as DNA/RNA/protein extraction, PCR, RealTime-qPCR, bacterial cultures growth, and generation of mutants via Gateway system cloning. Show less

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  WESTHOUSE ITALIA SRL

  Mar 2017 - Apr 2017

  It Support @ Whirlpool EMEA
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  Istituto Mario Negri

  Jul 2017 - now

  I am working with a murine model of Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome, developing a gene therapy using adeno-associated viruses to restore the functional gene. I am using this same model to also test the therapeutic efficacy of different molecules.TECHNICAL SKILLS ACQUIRED:- work with viruses in biosafety level 2 environment;- extensive work with animals (basic care and maintenance of mutant mice colonies, behavioural and cognitive tests, intravenous and intrajugular injections, perfusion and organ dissection)- use of the cryostat and the laser microdissector. Show less Scholarship holder for the Biomedical Research Specialist course, working in the Prion Neurobiology lab lead by Dr Roberto Chiesa in the Neuroscience Department.The main project that I am currently following consists in testing the antibiotic Doxycycline in a murine model of Fatal Familial Insomnia. I am conducting behavioural and cognitive tests, and biochemical and immunohistological analyses.I am also working on two side projects, involving an ex vivo prion infection model (cerebellar organotypic culture slices) to test the anti-prion activity of several compounds, and I am trying to better understand the role of Sortilin and Muskelin proteins in PrP metabolism.TECHNICAL SKILLS ACQUIRED:- Cell biology techniques, murine and human cell lines culture and maintenance;- Cells transfection, gene silencing using siRNAs;- Preparation, infection, maintenance and analysis (lysis, proteinase K assay, immunofluorescence analysis) of Cerebellar Organotypic Culture Slices;- Proteinase K and insolubility assays on cell lysates and tissue homogenates;- Basic work with fluorescence, confocal and Virtual Slide microscopes;- Work in specific pathogen free animal facility with mice, basic care and maintenance of a mutant mouse. gDNA extraction from tail or ear tissue and PCR screening. I can perform intraperitoneal injections, blood sampling, behavioural and cognitive tests (rotarod, beam walking, novel object recognition, Barnes maze), clinical evaluation of the animal’s well-being, and organ dissection;- Tissue fixation and paraffin-embedding; immunohistochemistry;- Work in a Biosafety Level 3 environment, with infectious prion strains;- Data analysis; writing Show less

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    Jan 2025 - now

  • Advanced course in pharmacological sciences PhD Student

    Jan 2022 - Dec 2024

  • Biomedical Research Specialist

    Jul 2017 - Dec 2021