BioMS Centre:
Country: Italy
City: Verona
Institution: Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
Website: https://www.aovr.veneto.it/aree-tematiche/neuroimmunologia
PI/Co-PI: Sara Mariotto, MD PhD sara.mariotto@gmail.com
Team members (name, position and contact e-mail):
Sara Carta, MD srcrta@gmail.com
Our group’s primary research interest is the analysis of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in neuroimmunological disorders, with a specific focus on autoimmune encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, NMOSD, and MOGAD. In our laboratory we have established highly sensitive diagnostic assays (live cell-based assay, tissue-based assay) to test specific antibodies and to potentially detect novel unknown antigens, with a final aim to improve diagnostic sensitivity in NMOSD/MOGAD and autoimmune encephalitis. Our additional focus is the analysis of biomarkers associated with clinical disability/disease activity that would be able to predict disease course and outcome across various neurological conditions. We use highly sensitive techniques able to quantify axonal and glial damage and we are also developing novel assays to analyse additional markers.