Martina Giambra

Martina Giambra was born on January 12, 1996, and hails from Como, Italy. Her academic journey began at Teresa Ciceri High School in Como, where she graduated with top honors in 2015. Martina then attended the University of Milano-Bicocca, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques in 2018 and a Master’s degree in Biology in 2021, both with the highest distinction. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Milan, Italy. During her undergraduate studies, Martina undertook an internship at Pio XI Desio Hospital, ASST Monza, where she worked on a molecular biology thesis project involving liquid biopsy in patients with colon and pancreatic cancer. In 2019, Martina began working in the Medical Genetic Laboratory at the University of Milano-Bicocca, first as a Master’s student and later as a volunteer. Her Master’s thesis involved a comprehensive genomic analysis of gliomas and their peritumoral zones to identify biomarkers for tumor progression and recurrence. Here, she honed her skills in genomic profiling, contributing to research on high-grade gliomas. Her dedication to understanding the molecular underpinnings of cancer led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, where she is currently investigating glioma stem cells. Her thesis project aims to characterize DNA ploidy and genomic profiles of glioma stem cells to develop new therapeutic strategies, investigating them both in vitro and in vivo, in the Danio rerio model. Martina has also broadened her research experience internationally. From September to December 2023, she participated in a short-term International Mobility Student Program in the Good Manufacturing Practice Laboratory at the Junta de Andalucía Fundación Pública Progreso y Salud in Sevilla, Spain. During this experience, she acquired expertise in developing brain organoids and generating glioblastoma 3D models. In addition to her formal education and training, Martina has authored several scientific publications as the first author. Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and the Journal of Neuroscience Research. These publications include studies on the drug resistance phenotype of glioma stem cells and the genomic instability of these cells, which have implications for developing targeted cancer therapies. Martina has presented her research findings at prestigious events such as the NeuroMI Annual Meeting, the XXVI Congresso Nazionale SIGU, and the European Cytogenomics Conference.

PhD research project

Glioma-stem cells: from DNA ploidy analysis, passing through genomic profile characterization, to find new therapeutic strategy

The research project undertaken by Martina Giambra at the University of Milano-Bicocca, under the supervision of Prof.ssa Angela Bentivegna, aims to explore novel therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma (GBM) by studying glioma-stem cells (GSCs). The central focus is to analyze the ploidy status and genomic profiles of GSCs derived from patients with high-grade gliomas, with the objective of identifying new treatment approaches. The study begins with the isolation and characterization of primary GSC cultures from patients. These cultures are subjected to conventional cytogenetics and flow cytometry to examine nuclear characteristics and chromosomal aberrations. Previous research has shown that targeting Aurora kinases with Danusertib can induce a senescent state in glioma cells with marked ploidy, specifically in polyploid giant cells (PGCs), suggesting a potential therapeutic approach. In this project, a novel multimodal therapeutic strategy combining Temozolomide and Danusertib is being tested with the aim of generalizing the effects observed when administering Danusertib alone. The biological mechanisms underlying the efficacy of the proposed treatment are being investigated using a 2-D GSC model. Additionally, the efficacy of the drug combination is being tested in more complex models, such as GBM tumoroids and organoids, and xenograft models in zebrafish embryos. Through a combination of cytogenetic, molecular, and bioinformatics approaches, the project seeks to address the complexities of GBM treatment and contribute to more effective and personalized therapies.