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Dr Gabriele Lignani
Associate Professor
Clinical & Experimental Epilepsy
UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
- Joined UCL
- 1st Feb 2014
Research summary
The main focus of my lab is finding novel gene therapy approaches for intractable neurological diseases, with rapid potential for translation. We start by investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease and then use novel insights to develop and improve therapeutic tools to cure them.
We use cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR and synthetic promoters to overcome current limitations to gene therapy and develop new approaches for curing currently untreatable genetic diseases such as Dravet Syndrome and Episodic Ataxia-1, and acquired pharmaco-resistant temporal lobe epilepsies.
We use techniques ranging from molecular biology to in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, in both cell lines and animal models, and iPSC-derived neurons from patients. We collaborate with several groups worldwide to complement our techniques and to accelerate our goal of finding innovative cures for devastating pathologies.
Teaching summary
2019-Present: Module Convenor for MSc courses, UCL Institute of Neurology
2014-Present: MSc Clinical Neuroscience/MSc Clinical Neurology/ MSc in Brain & Mind Sciences, UCL Institute of Neurology
2015-Present: Neuropharmacology practical for Diploma/MSc in Pharmacology and Diploma/MSc in Biomedical Science, UCL
2010-2013 Neurophysiology Course for Medical Students, University of Genova School of Medicine
2010-2013 Neurophysiology Course for Biomedical Engineering Students, University of Genova
2009-2013 Neurophysiology Course for Biotechnology Students, University of Genova School of Medicine
Biography
Current and previous positions:
2019-2022: MRC New Investigator at University College of London (UCL), Institute of Neurology. London
2018-2021: Principal Investigator: Epilepsy Research UK fellowship at University College of London (UCL), Institute of Neurology. London
2016-2018: Research Fellow: Horizon 2020- Marie Curie Individual fellowship at University College of London (UCL), Institute of Neurology. London, UK
2014-2016: Research Associate at University College of London (UCL), Institute of Neurology. London, UK
2012-2014: Junior Post-doc at Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department.
2009-2011: PhD Student at University of Genoa and Italian Institute of Technologies (IIT), Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department.
Studies:
2012: PhD degree in Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Genova in collaboration with Italian Institute of Technology
2008: MSc in Medical-pharmaceutical Biotechnologies (Neuroscience) at the University of Genova
2006: BSc in Medical Biotechnologies at the University of Milan