Antonella Borreca is a Research Scientist at CNR Institute of Neuroscience in Milan, based at the Neurocenter of Humanitas Research Hospital and Humanitas University. She got a Degree in Molecular Biology at University of Naples “Federico II”. Then she moved in Rome for her PhD in Neuroscience at University of Rome “Tor Vergata” with a thesis entitled: “Clinical and molecular study of autosomal recessive form of hereditary spastic paraparesis”. After her PhD she moved in Belgium at Catholic University of Leuven when she improved her background in Neuroscience focusing on Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes cognitive impairment and behavioral abnormalities, characterized by the absence of protein FMRP which alters dendritic spine density and morphology.

Specifically, she worked on a project aimed at identifying potential therapeutic targets for the disorder by studying the molecular mechanisms underlying altered synaptic plasticity in FXS. Thanks to her experience in FXS, Borreca has investigated also the role of FMRP in Alzheimer’s disease, as there is evidence suggesting that the two conditions share some pathological features.

Borreca has focused on the role of FMRP in the regulation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is a key protein involved in the formation of the amyloid plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Antonella’s long-term career goal is to continue to contribute to the field of neuroscience research. She plans to continue to investigate the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders and to develop novel therapeutic strategies for these disorders.