Silvia Coco

Dr. Silvia Coco is a tenured Researcher in Pharmacology at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, where she has held a permanent position since 2005. She graduated in Biological Sciences (1994) at the University of Milan, where she also specialized in Pharmacology and completed a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology (2001). During her PhD, she gained international research experience as a visiting student at Yale University. Her academic career has been dedicated to understanding molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmission, synaptogenesis, and neuropeptide action, with a current focus on pharmacological applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and their Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS

Her research focuses on experimental pharmacology applied to the nervous system, particularly on the paracrine effects of MSC-derived EVs as pharmacological tools to modulate CNS cell function. Current projects investigate MSC-EVs in restoring altered GABAergic signaling during brain development and their neuroprotective and immunomodulatory roles in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. She integrates molecular, cellular, and pharmacological approaches using in vitro and in vivo models.

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR PhD PROJECTS

PhD candidates may explore the mechanisms of action of MSC-EVs in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative models, focusing on signaling pathway modulation and therapeutic efficacy, as well as EV cargo characterization (e.g., miRNAs, proteins). Multidisciplinary approaches combining molecular biology, pharmacology, and neuroscience techniques are encouraged to identify innovative treatments for CNS disorders.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Dr. Coco leads the MSC-EV NeuroLab as part of a PRIN PNRR-funded research project and maintains active collaborations with different institutions, including Humanitas Research Institute, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), CNR Institute of Neuroscience, and the Universities of Verona and Torino. She is actively involved in teaching pharmacology and provides mentorship to students at multiple academic levels.