PhD in NEUROSCIENCE

email: martorana@med.uniroma2.it
phone: 0039 3358432579
building: Torre 6 V piano PTV
room: 165

MD, PhD Nationality: Italian Date and place of birth: 05/11/1969, Palermo, Italy

Tel. +39.06-2090-3137 Mobile +39.335-8432579

Academic and Medical Qualifications

1994: Degree in Medicine and Surgery at Univeristà degli Studi di Palermo, awarded cum laude.

1995: Certificate of qualification to practice Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Palermo.

1999: Board certification in Neurology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, awarded cum laude.

1999-2000: Post-doc fellowship at the MRC Neuropharmacology Anatomy Unit, University of Oxford (UK) under the supervision of Prof. J.Paul Bolam.

2003: PhD in Neuroanatomy of the Basal Ganglia at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome , Italy.

2003-2017: Consultant in Neurology, Centro Alzheimer- Neurology Unit, System Medicine Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata.

2014: Italian National Qualification as associate professor in Neurology. Present position Head of the Centro Alzheimer -Neurology Unit, System Medicine Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata.

2018- Associate Professor in Neurology Teaching During the academic years 2003-2015 Prof. Martorana has been teaching Neuroanatomy and Neurology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata for Medicine and Surgery, Clinical Neurophysiology, Physical Therapy courses.

2015-present assistant professor of Neuropsichiatry for Human Nutrition Science faculty, at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

2016-2018: teaching for Master on Dementia at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Scientific Activity Prof. Martorana research activity is documented by several papers published on international journals with referees. He qualified his activity in both clinical and laboratory field. He developed interests in experimental neuroanatomical field with main expertise in light and electron microscopy. He dedicated his research on peptidergic changes and neuronal remodeling occurring in basal ganglia nuclei following dopamine depletion. He also studied striatal neuronal remodeling in different experimental models of neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington's diseases, metal intoxication (manganese, iron) and in models of Multiple Sclerosis. His main clinical interest focused on diagnostic and pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer’s dementia and other dementias. In particular, in diagnostic field, he developed his main interest in the study of cerebrospinal fluid disease biomarkers (Aβ42,t-Tau and p-Tau) studying their usefulness and limits in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia. In therapeutic field, he dedicated his interest on the study of effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in patients with Alzheimer's disease. He is also involved in the development of new potential pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's dementia and of other dementias. Recently he also developed interest in understanding the mechanisms of the synaptic plasticity machinery impairment by means of electrophysiological tools like the trancranial magnetic stimulation, evoked potentials and their relationship with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. He is currently Principal Investigator for the following clinical trials: study of Gantenerumab in Participants with Mild Alzheimer Disease (Roche) and CREAD study: A Study of Crenezumab Versus Placebo to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety in Participants With Prodromal to Mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (Roche) He has been working as study coordinator in other clinical trials on Alzheimer’s dementia (Progetto Cena-Novartis, Amivyd Eli-Lilly and several others). Bibliometric Indices -Publication Range: 2001-2017 -Citations: 2555 (scopus) 2433 (scholar) H-index: 30 (scopus) 33 (scholar) Reviewer of International Grants: Odysseus Research Foundation Flanders Czech Science Foundation Czech Republic Slovak Science Foundation Editorial Board member of CNS Neurological Disorders and drug Targets Bentham ed. And BioMedical International journal Hindawi ed. Ad hoc reviewer of the following International Journals: Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics Neurobiology of Aging Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia and other geriatric disorders Neurological Sciences Plos One Neuroscience Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Frontiers in Psychiatry Current Alzheimer’s Research Neurology Research Support 2006-Grant from PRIN (Ministry of Instruction and University) Italy- Structure, oligomerization, receptor dynamic and function of P2Y4 receptor in the central Nervous System in physiological and neurodegenerative conditions-role project scientific coordinator 2010- Grant from the Italian Ministry of Health, Italy –Plasmin system in Alzheimer’s disease- role PI 2014- Grant from the Italian Ministry of Health, Italy-Role of pyroglutamate Amyloid ß3-42 oligomers in Alzheimer's Disease: early diagnosis, patho-physiogenesis and epigenetic regulation. Role: collaborator 2014- Grant from European Union, for Health Program-Hold Project- study collaborator 2015-Grant from ADDF, USA for “dopaminergic therapy for Alzheimer’s disease patients- role Co-PI 2019- Grant from Bright Focus Foundation for "Precuneus rTMS: a novel therapy for mild AD patients" - role Co-PI 2019- Grant from ADDF for Rotigotine teatment for Fronto-Temporal Dementia patients"-role co PI Since 2014 membre of the Italian Neurological Society for demetia (sinDEM)