Grazia Maugeri
Keywords
- Corneal biology and corneal diseases
- Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in corneal degeneration and regeneration
- Development of three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models of the cornea
- In vitro models for regenerative medicine and biomaterials research
- Evaluation of innovative therapeutic strategies for corneal disorders
- Effects of physical exercise on the central and peripheral nervous systems
- Neurobiological and neuroplastic mechanisms induced by physical activity
- Exercise-mediated modulation of inflammatory and metabolic pathways
- Neuroprotective effects of exercise in physiological and pathological conditions
Prof. Grazia Maugeri is currently Associate Professor for the Scientific Disciplinary Sector BIOS-12/A – Human Anatomy at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences of the University of Catania.
In 2013 she obtained the Master's Degree with honors in Pharmacy at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Catania, qualifying to practice as a Pharmacist. In 2018 she obtained the International Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences of the University of Catania. In 2019 she participated in the 4th Summer School of Anatomical Dissection, at the Medical University of Gdansk, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Gdansk, Poland. In 2023 she obtained the National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor (Frame I) for the Scientific Disciplinary Sector BIOS-12/A – Human Anatomy. From 2021 to 2024 she was a Researcher in Human Anatomy at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, and in 2020 she was a Research Fellow in Human Anatomy at the same Department as part of the project entitled: “New Therapeutic tools to prevent diabetic retinopathy” – PRIN. In 2020 she obtained a Master’s Degree in “Anthropo-psycho-pedagogical disciplines, methodologies and teaching technologies”.
In 2022 she was awarded the prestigious “Best Young Researcher” Award (under 40), for the excellence of the results obtained in the morphological field and for the quality of the scientific activity carried out in the field of neuroscience, conferred to her at the 75th National Congress of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (SIAI). Winner in 2020 of the “GISN Young Researcher Research Award”, awarded during the XXX National Conference of the Italian Group for the Study of Neuromorphology (GISN) and in 2015 of the “Best Oral Communication” award of the 69th SIAI Congress.
He is currently Associate Editor in 4 international scientific journals and reviewer for numerous international scientific journals. He is the Author of more than 96 scientific articles published in international journals and of over 35 abstracts presented at national and international conferences.
Grazia Maugeri’s research activity is mainly focused on the study of the cornea and corneal diseases, with particular interest in the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in degenerative and regenerative processes. In this field, she develops and employs innovative three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models aimed at reproducing the physiology and pathology of corneal tissue in vitro, with applications in regenerative medicine, biomaterials research, and the evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies.
Another research line focuses on the effects of physical exercise on the central and peripheral nervous systems, with special attention to the neurobiological and neuroplastic mechanisms induced by physical activity. Her studies aim to elucidate how exercise can modulate inflammatory, metabolic, and neuroprotective processes, contributing to the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis and the improvement of neurological health under both physiological and pathological conditions.