Background

I received a PhD in Physiological and Nutritional Sciences (2004) and a degree in Biological Sciences mastered in Molecular Biology (1998) from the University of Florence, Italy.

I worked four years at the department of Pharmacology (University of Florence) studying stroke and serotonin related mood disorders as well as working as nutritionist in a medical centre.

In 2008 I moved to London as Research Associate in the Optoneuro Project, first at Imperial College, and then at Newcastle University. The aim of this multidisciplinary project was to develop an opto-electronic bionic eye for visually impaired retinitis pigmentosa patients. My role was to test the new opto-electronic devices in in-vitro biological models. 

In 2013 I became a member of the Trevelyan Lab focusing on Epilepsy research and I worked as research associate on the CANDO project, very closely related (technically wise), to the Optoneuro project.

Since November 2015 I'm Experimental Scientific Officer at the Bio Imaging Unit focusing my work on super-resolution microscopy and advanced image analysis methods.

Google scholar profile

ORCID research profile

ResearchGate

Research

Most of my work is on a specific super-resolution microscopy technique called STED (Stimulated emission depletion) that allows up to 20nm resolution on the XY planes and 80nm resolution on the axial plane. This is roughly an order of magnitude more that standard confocal microscopy where anything smaller than or closer than 250nm cannot be resolved.

I am constantly trying new imaging protocols as well as doing comparison between different kinds of super-resolution microscopes currently in use at the Bio-Imaging facility such as the Zeiss Airyscan and the Visitech iSim.

In parallel with STED I am developing advanced image analsys methods and workflows to optimize data collection from images helping researchers to design imaging experiments from sample preparation to image collection and data analysis.

Teaching

I was seminar leader module PED1003 (Pharmacology).

I regular train students and researchers on microscopy (theory, practice, hardware, software) and image analysis, as well as participating as speaker to microscopy workshops and seminars, nationally and internationally.

Publications

• Zorkau M, Albus CA, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers ZMA, RN Lightowlers. High-resolution imaging reveals compartmentalisation of mitochondrial protein synthesis in cultured human cells. PNAS 2021, 118(6), e2008778118.
• Zorkau M, Proctor-Kent Y, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Hamilton A, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers ZM, Lightowlers RN. Visualizing Mitochondrial Ribosomal RNA and Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis in Human Cell Lines. In: Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana Press Inc, 2021, pp.159-181.
• White MG, Maheshwari RR, Anderson SJ, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Jones C, Richardson SJ, Rotti PG, Armour SL, Ding Y, Krasnogor N, Engelhardt JF, Gray MA, Morgan NG, Shaw JAM. In situ analysis reveals that CFTR is expressed in only a small minority of β-cells in normal adult human pancreas. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020, 105(5), 1366-1374.
• Prendergast L, McClurg UL, Hristova R, Berlinguer Palmini R, Greener S, Veitch K, Hernández-López I, Pasero P, Rico D, Higgins JMG, Gospodinov A, Papamichos-Chronakis M. Resolution of R-loops by INO80 promotes DNA replication and maintains cancer cell proliferation and viability. Nature Communications 2020, 11, 4534.
• Anzilotti C, Swan DJ, Boisson B, Deobagkar-Lele M, Oliveira C, Chabosseau P, Engelhardt KR, Xu X, Chen R, Alvarez L, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Bull KR, Cawthorne E, Cribbs AP, Crockford TL, Dang TS, Fearn A, Fenech EJ, de Jong SJ, Lagerholm C, Ma CS, Sims D, Van Den Berg B, Xu Y, Cant AJ, Kleiner G, Leahy TR, de laMorena MT, Puck JM, Shapiro RS, van der Burg M, Chapman JR, Christianson JC, Davies B, McGrath JA, Przyborski S, Santibanez Koref M, Tangye SG, Werner A, Rutter GA, Padilla-Parra S, Casanova JL, Cornall RJ, Conley ME, Hambleton S. An essential role for the Zn²⁺ transporter ZIP7 in B cell development. Nature Immunology 2019, 20, 350-361.
• Anderson R, Lagnado A, Maggiorani D, Walaszczyk A, Dookun E, Chapman J, Birch J, Salmonowicz H, Ogrodnik M, Jurk D, Proctor C, Correia-Melo C, Victorelli S, Fielder E, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Owens WA, Greaves L, Kolsky K, Parini A, Douin-Echinard V, LeBrasseur N, Arthur H, Tual-Chalot S, Schafer M, Roos C, Miller J, Robertson N, Mann J, Adams P, Tchkonia T, Kirkland J, Mialet-Perez J, Richardson GD, Passos J. Length‐independent telomere damage drives post‐mitotic cardiomyocyte senescence. The EMBO Journal 2019, 38(5), e100492.
• Dong N, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Soltan A, Ponon N, O'Neil A, Travelyan A, Maaskant P, Degenaar P, Sun X. Opto‐electro‐thermal optimization of photonic probes for optogenetic neural stimulation. Journal of Biophotonics 2018, 11(10), e201700358.
• Stathopoulou C, Gangaplara A, Mallett G, Flomerfelt FA, Liniany LP, Knight D, Samsel LA, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Yim J, Felizardo TC, Eckhaus MA, Edgington-Mitchell L, Martinez-Fabregas J, Zhu J, Fowler DH, van Kasteren SI, Laurence A, Bogyo M, Watts C, Shevach EM, Amarnath S. PD-1 inhibitory receptor downregulates asparaginyl endopeptidase and maintains Foxp3 transcription factor stability in induced regulatory T cells. Immunity 2018, 49(2), 247-263.e7.
• Park H, Han KS, Seo J, Lee J, Dravid SM, Woo J, Chun H, Cho S, Bae JY, An H, Koh W, Yoon BE, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Mannaioni G, Traynelis SF, Bae YC, Choi SY, Lee CJ. Channel-mediated astrocytic glutamate modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity by activating postsynaptic NMDA receptors. Molecular Brian 2015, 8, 7.
• Mlinar B, Montalbano A, Baccini G, Tatini F, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Corradetti R. Nonexocytotic serotonin release tonically suppresses serotonergic neuron activity. Journal of General Physiology 2015, 145(3), 225-251.
• Felici R, Lapucci A, Cavone L, Pratesi S, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Chiarugi A. Pharmacological NAD-boosting Strategies Improve Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Human Complex I-mutant Fibroblasts. Molecular Pharmacology 2015.
• Berlinguer-Palmini R, Narducci R, Merhan K, Dilaghi A, Moroni F, Masi A, Scartabelli T, Landucci E, Sili M, Schettini A, McGovern B, Maskaant P, Degenaar P, Mannaioni G. Arrays of MicroLEDs and Astrocytes: Biological Amplifiers to Optogenetically Modulate Neuronal Networks Reducing Light Requirement. PLoS One 2014, 9(9), 7.
• Berlinguer-Palmini R, Masi A, Narducci R, Cavone L, Maratea D, Cozzi A, Sili M, Moroni F, Mannaioni G. GPR35 Activation Reduces Ca²⁺ Transients and Contributes to the Kynurenic Acid-Dependent Reduction of Synaptic Activity at CA3-CA1 Synapses. PLoS One 2014, 8(11), e82180.
• Barrett John, Berlinguer-Palmini Rolando, Degenaar Patrick. Optogenetic approaches to retinal prosthesis. Visual Neuroscience 2014, 31(4-5), 345-354.
• Chaudet L, Neil M, Degenaar P, Mehran K, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Corbet B, Maaskant P, Rogerson D, Lanigan P, Bamberg E, Roska B. Development of optics with micro-LED arrays for improved opto-electronic neural stimulation. In: Optogenetics: Optical Methods for Cellular Control. 2013, San Francisco, CA, USA: International Society for Optical Engineering.
• Al-Atabany W, McGovern B, Mehran K, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Degenaar P. A processing platform for optoelectronic/optogenetic retinal prosthesis. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 2011, 60(3), 781-791.
• McGovern B, Drakakis EM, Neil N, O'Brian P, Corbett B, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Degenaar P. Individually addressable optoelectronic arrays for optogenetic neural stimulation. In: IEEE Conference on Biomedical Circuits and Systems. 2011, San Diego, California, USA: IEEE.
• McGovern B, Palmini RB, Grossman N, Drakakis E, Poher V, Neil MAA, Degenaar P. A New Individually Addressable Micro-LED Array for Photogenetic Neural Stimulation. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems 2010, 4(6, part 2), 469-476.
• Degenaar P, McGovern B, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Vysokov N, Grossman N, Pohrer V, Drakakis E, Neil M. Individually addressable optoelectronic arrays for optogenetic neural stimulation. In: IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference, BioCAS 2010. 2010, IEEE.
• Grossman N, Poher V, Grubb MS, Kennedy GT, Nikolic K, McGovern B, Palmini RB, Gong Z, Drakakis EM, Neil MAA, Dawson MD, Burrone J, Degenaar P. Multi-site optical excitation using ChR2 and micro-LED array. Journal of Neural Engineering 2010, 7(1), 016004.
• Degenaar P, Grossman N, Berlinguer-Palmini R, McGovern B, Pohrer V, Drakakis E, Dawson M, Toumazou C, Burrone J, Nikolic K, Neil M. Optoelectronic microarrays for retinal prosthesis. In: IEEE Conference on Biomedical Circuits and Systems. BioCAS 2009. 2009, Beijing: IEEE Xplore.
• Berlinguer-Palmini R, Landucci E, Baccini G, Moroni F, Pellegrini-Giampietro D-E, Mannaioni G. Interplay between group I mGlu receptors and the endocannabinoid system in the CA1 hippocampal area: An electrophysiological study. In: 6th International Meeting on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. 2008, PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD.
• Mannaioni G, Orr AG, Hamill CE, Yuan H, Pedone KH, McCoy KL, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Junge CE, Yepes M, Hepler JR, Traynelis SF. Plasmin Potentiates Synaptic N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Function in Hippocampal Neurons through Activation of Protease-activated Receptor-1. Normal 0 false false false IT ZH-CN X-NONE. J BIOL CHEM 2008, 283(29), 20600-11.
• Colombini B, Bagni MA, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Cecchi G. Crossbridge formation detected by stiffness measurements in single muscle fibres. Adv Exp Med Biol 2005, 565, 127-140.
• Bagni MA, Colombini B, Colomo F, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Cecchi G. Non cross-bridge stiffness in skeletal muscle fibres at rest and during activity. Adv Exp Med Biol 2005, 141-154.
• Bagni MA, Colombini B, Geiger P, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Cecchi G. Non-cross-bridge calcium-dependent stiffness in frog muscle fibers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2004, 286)6).
• Bagni MA, Colombini B, Colomo F, Geiger P, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Cecchi G. Force response to stretches in activated frog muscle fibres at low tension. Adv Exp Med Biol 2003, 538, 429-438.