Dr Gabriele Deidda

Profile

I got my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Palermo (Italy) in 2007, my Master in Neurobiology at the University of Pisa (Italy) in 2009, and my PhD in Neuroscience at the Italian Institute of Technology in 2014 (Genoa, Italy). Afterwards, from 2015 till 2021 I moved abroad for my postdoctoral training at Cardiff University (UK), at the University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris, France) and at the University of Malta (Malta).

During my Master, PhD and postdoc studies, I studied neuro(mal)development and plasticity of the brain by using in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, behavior, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. I shed light on the role of depolarizing GABA both in critical period plasticity and maturation of the visual system, and in the pathology of Down syndrome finding preclinical evidence for new therapeutic targets easily translatable to humans. I participated in the development of patents for new pharmacological and technical tools. Moreover, I investigated new therapeutic avenues for childhood absence epilepsy. Results of these studies were published in high impact-factor journals and awarded with the European “Excellent Paper in Neuroscience Award” in 2016, and the “ItalyMadeMe” Research Award from Italian Embassy (London, UK) in 2017.

In 2022, I became Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Padova (Italy) and raised - as Junior PI - a NeuroLab counting now 12 members to investigate pediatric and adult stroke in preclinical models using in vivo optogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology and behavior. I lectured in Neurophysiology at the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery to international students. In 2024, I was awarded the “Seal of Excellence in Teaching for the Academic Year 2022-2023” based on students’ appreciation of the courses.

Since April 2024 I am Lecturer in Basic Medical Sciences at the Queen Mary University of London Malta Campus.

Research