Alice Sartini

My research focuses on understanding the cellular and functional alterations of the Neurovascular Unit (NVU) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) using physiologically relevant in vitro models.

I completed my Master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Trieste in 2022 and subsequently worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Siena, where I deepened my interest in neurological disorders and disease modeling. In 2023, I began my PhD in Neurophysiology Lab at the University of Urbino, working on the development of a carbon-based Organ-on-a-Chip platform to study NVU impairments in TBI. This project examines how carbon nanomaterials interact with the different components of the NVU and their ability to restore cellular crosstalk following mechanical injury. To achieve this, I employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates 3D printing, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation and electrophysiological recordings. During my research stay with the Salman Group in Oxford, I am investigating the effects of TBI on human iPSC-derived neurons to characterize neuronal dysfunction and explore potential therapeutic strategies. In parallel, I work with iPSC-derived Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells to model blood–brain barrier dynamics under different flow conditions, using a 3D-printed Organ-on-a-Chip platform.