a.naghshbandieh1@campus.unimib.it
ORCID ID: 0009-0007-1256-9834
Curriculum: Experimental Neuroscience
Tutor: Professor Arianna Scuteri
Supervisor: Dr Cristina Meregalli and Dr Elisabetta Donzelli
Workplace: Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, Monza, 20900, MB, Italy
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from Guilan University of Medical Sciences in Rasht. I later pursued a master’s degree in Anatomical Sciences at Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, achieving 4th place nationally in the entrance examination. My thesis investigated the effects of deprenyl on the induction and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into neurospheres and then into neuron-like cells. My research background includes a full-time position at Shefa Khatam Neuroscience Research Center in Tehran, where I worked on stem cells and neurobiology projects.
Alongside my research, I have been a university lecturer, teaching anatomical sciences to nursing students. I have co-authored preparatory textbooks to support students preparing for national university entrance examinations.
I have authored a scientific publication titled: “Assessment of the level of apoptosis in differentiated pseudo-neuronal cells derived from neural stem cells under the influence of various inducers.”
I am a PhD student in Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Milano-Bicocca. My doctoral project, “Broader iPSC Sensory Neuron Characterization: Comparison to Human and Mouse DRG, Application to Peripheral Neuropathies Research,” focuses on developing physiologically relevant in vitro models using iPSC-derived sensory neurons to investigate peripheral neuropathies and their responses to chemotherapeutic agents.
PhD research project
Broader iPSC Sensory Neuron Characterization: Comparison to Human and Mouse DRG, Application to Peripheral Neuropathies Research
My project aims to evaluate the potential of iPSC-derived sensory neurons as a reliable in vitro model for studying chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Peripheral neuropathies, including CIPN, are common and painful conditions that currently lack effective treatments and accurate preclinical models. Since sensory neurons located in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are the main target in CIPN, and there are essential differences between human and mouse DRG, human iPSC-derived neurons could offer a more physiologically relevant model.
In this study, I plan to measure the diameter of neuronal cell bodies to identify different subtypes, use immunofluorescence and real-time PCR to evaluate specific neuronal markers, and assess neurite elongation as an indicator of neuronal development, function, and response to chemotherapy drugs. I will also compare these human iPSC-derived neurons with rat DRG models (organotypic and primary cultures) regarding cell type distribution, marker expression, size, and neurite growth. Furthermore, I will test the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin, and Bortezomib on both models.
The goal is to validate iPSC-derived sensory neurons as a human-based model for CIPN research, explore the differences between human and animal systems, and identify pathways and molecules involved in neuropathy. This work may support future therapeutic discoveries and improve tools for drug screening and personalized medicine.