EMPLOYMENTS
- From 2020 – present
Associate Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neuroscience ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, Università di Torino (University of Turin, Italy). Main activities include: lecturing in several teaching courses and tutoring/supervising undergraduate and post-graduate students, and residents in Neurology; PhD students’ supervision; translational research in the areas of neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and autonomic nervous system investigation applied to a range of neurological conditions, with a special interest in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation; participation to clinical trials.
- From 2020 – present
Honorary consultant in Neurology at the University Hospital “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” (Turin, Italy). Main activities include inpatient and outpatient clinical work with a special interest in inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system.
- From 2019 – 2022
Full Professor in Neurology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom. Main activities included teaching neurology to medical students; supervising PhD students; running research in the area of neuroimaging and neurophysiology.
- From 2017 – 2019
Senior Lecturer in Neurology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex and Honorary Consultant in Neurology at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Brighton, United Kingdom. Main activities included teaching, research in the area of neuroimaging, leading the MS clinical service (hub-centre).
- From 2006 – 2020
Lead of the Clinical Science Theme of the Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
- From 2006 – 2017
Consultant in Neurology at the Department of Neurology and Behavioural Disorders, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Main activities included outpatient and inpatient clinical work with a special interest in MS and neurodegeneratve dementias.
- From 2004 – 2006
Honorary Consultant in Neurology at the Department of Neurorehabilitation, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom. Main activity included outpatient clinical work in the area of MS.
- From 2003 – 2006
Clinical Research Fellow at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College of London, London, United Kingdom. Main activities included: 1) running pharmacological and non-pharmacological fMRI experiments in healthy volunteers with a focus on the investigation of memory function; 2) running structural MRI studies in patients with focal brain lesions with the aim of developing new fMRI paradigms to inform cognitive model.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC DEGREES
2021 - PhD in Neuroscience by publication obtained at the University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom.
2019 - Promotion to Full Professor of Neurology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School,
University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
2019 - Italian qualification for Full Professorship in Neurology.
2003 - Completion of Specialist Neurology Training awarded cum laude by Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan, Italy).
1997 - Certificate of Qualification to practice medicine and surgery: Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan, Italy).
1997 - Degree in Medicine and Surgery: Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan, Italy)
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
11/2012 - Prize for the best oral presentation at the Scientific Meeting “Giornate Neurologiche Torinesi”, Turin, Italy.
11/2008 - Prize for the presentation of the best poster presentation at the XXXIX Scientific Meeting of the Italian Society of Neurology.
05/2001 - “De Visart” prize for scientific contribution in research in Multiple Sclerosis
Editorial activity
From 2018 – present Associated Editor: Frontiers Cellular From 2012 – present Neuroscience. Associated Editor: Functional Neurology.
From 2013 – present Associated Editor: BioMed Research International.
From 2010 – present Senior Associated Editor: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
Brief selection of invited presentations
10/2019 Opening Lecture entitled : “Imaging the autonomic nervous system”, Diagnosis and therapies of the autonomic nervous system, 50th Annual Meeting of the Italian Society of Neurology, Bologna, Italy.
03/2014 Lecture entitled “Anatomical connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease patients”, NiBS – Aging and dementia – when cortical efficacy matters”, 30th International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology (ICCN) of the IFCN”, Berlin, Germany.
05/2007 Lecture entitled “Volumetrics of aging”, Sixteenth Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Toronto, Canada.
03/2004
Lecture entitled “Diffusion tensor MRI in neurological and psychiatric diseases”, New Horizons session, Diffusion Tensor Imaging”, European Congress of Radiology’(ECR), Vienna, Austria.
Grants obtained (last 5 years)
Neurobiological fingerprinting of Parkinson's disease to identify trajectories and personalised therapeutic targets from prodromal to advanced disease stages: a clinical, genetic, biochemical and MRI study”, Italian Ministry of Health (€1.000.000) PI: Bozzali. PNRR-MAD- 2022-12376496.
“Mapping connectivity changes across AD progression using Bayesian modelling: the impact of ApoE4 and environmental factors”. Sussex Dementia Doctoral Training Centre PhD Studentship” (£ 84.863) PI: Cercignani, Bozzali Co-applicant.
“Objective and Subjective Assessment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis”. Centre for regenerative medicine and devices (CRMD) Pump priming funding scheme” (£7000) PI: Cercignani, Bozzali Co- applicant.
“A novel structural and functional MRI-derived index of axonal myelination: application to MS and correlation with neurophysiology” Italian Ministry of Health (€ 261648) PI: Cercignani (Bozzali co- applicant). RF13.228 “Functional and molecular neuroimaging for AD diagnosis in predementia phase and recognition of atypical forms”, Italian Ministry of Health (€ 600000). PI: Perani (Bozzali Co- applicant). NET-2011-02346784
“Morphofunctional visual pathways evaluation in multiple sclerosis: possible identification of neurodegenerative bio-markers”, Italian Ministry of Health (€ 135000). PI: Parisi (Bozzali Co- applicant). RF11.114
“Promoting motor re-learning after stroke by non- invasive cerebellar stimulation: a novel integrated TMS/EEG approach”, Italian Ministry of Health (€ 318800). PI: Koch (Bozzali Co-applicant). RF11.116
Recent clinical Trials
MS STAT 2: Phase 3, double-blind, randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of di Simvastatin against placebo in patients with secondary progressive MS. (PI: Bozzali)
AFFINITY: Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial in patients with “relapsing- remitting” MS to evaluate safety and efficacy in promoting remyelination of BIIBB033 as add-on therapy to immunomodulation and immunosuppression (PI: Bozzali)
LemQol: Perspective, observational study to evaluate quality of life in “relapsing-remitting” patients treated with Lemtrada (Alentuzumab). (Co-PI: Bozzali)
LemPass: Multicentric, observational perspective study to evaluate the long-term safety profile of Lemtrada (Alentuzumab) in patients with in “relapsing-remitting” MS (Co-PI: Bozzali)
C9ORF72 – Phase 1 study to evaluate safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamic characteristics of BIIB078 administered by intrathecal infusion in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (C9ORF72 variant) (Co-PI: Bozzali)
Research Interest
Main focus of research has always been the development and application of quantitative MR techniques to neurological and psychiatric conditions, with the final goal to increase comprehension of the underlying patho-physiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations. Currently, the main research areas include the investigation of neurodegenerative dementias and multiple sclerosis, using both structural and functional quantitative MR techniques. More recent interests include the combination of different techniques, such as MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or MRI
and stimulation of the autonomic nervous system
Publications
Total number of publications in peer-review journals: 263 Total number of citations (Scopus): 10336
H index (Scopus): 55
Selection of 10 relevant publications
1. Bozzali M, Falini A, Franceschi M, Cercignani M, Zuffi M, Scotti G, Comi G, Filippi M. White matter damage in Alzheimer's disease assessed in vivo using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002 Jun;72(6):742-6. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.72.6.742. PMID: 12023417; PMCID: PMC1737921.
2. Bozzali M, Cercignani M, Sormani MP, Comi G, Filippi M. Quantification of brain gray matter damage in different MS phenotypes by use of diffusion tensor MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002 Jun-Jul;23(6):985-8. PMID: 12063230; PMCID: PMC7976912.
3. Bozzali M, Falini A, Cercignani M, Baglio F, Farina E, Alberoni M, Vezzulli P, Olivotto F, Mantovani F, Shallice T, Scotti G, Canal N, Nemni R. Brain tissue damage in dementia with Lewy bodies: an in vivo diffusion tensor MRI study. Brain. 2005 Jul;128(Pt 7):1595-604. doi: 10.1093/brain/awh493. Epub 2005 Apr 7. PMID: 15817515.
4. Bozzali M, Filippi M, Magnani G, Cercignani M, Franceschi M, Schiatti E, Castiglioni S, Mossini R, Falautano M, Scotti G, Comi G, Falini A. The contribution of voxel-based morphometry in staging patients with mild cognitive impairment. Neurology. 2006 Aug 8;67(3):453-60. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000228243.56665.c2. PMID: 16894107.
5. Gili T, Cercignani M, Serra L, Perri R, Giove F, Maraviglia B, Caltagirone C, Bozzali M. Regional brain atrophy and functional disconnection across Alzheimer's disease evolution. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;82(1):58-66. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2009.199935. Epub 2010 Jul 16. PMID: 20639384.
6. Koch G, Cercignani M, Bonnì S, Giacobbe V, Bucchi G, Versace V, Caltagirone C, Bozzali M. Asymmetry of parietal interhemispheric connections in humans. J Neurosci. 2011 Jun 15;31(24):8967-75. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6567-10.2011. PMID: 21677180; PMCID: PMC6622945.
7. Borroni B, Alberici A, Cercignani M, Premi E, Serra L, Cerini C, Cosseddu M, Pettenati C, Turla M, Archetti S, Gasparotti R, Caltagirone C, Padovani A, Bozzali M. Granulin mutation drives brain damage and reorganization from preclinical to symptomatic FTLD. Neurobiol Aging. 2012 Oct;33(10):2506-20. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.10.031.
8. Serra L, Silvestri G, Petrucci A, Basile B, Masciullo M, Makovac E, Torso M, Spanò B,
Mastropasqua C, Harrison NA, Bianchi ML, Giacanelli M, Caltagirone C, Cercignani M, Bozzali M. Abnormal functional brain connectivity and personality traits in myotonic dystrophy type 1. JAMA Neurol. 2014 May;71(5):603-11. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.130. PMID: 24664202.
9. Koch G, Bonnì S, Pellicciari MC, Casula EP, Mancini M, Esposito R, Ponzo V, Picazio S, Di Lorenzo F, Serra L, Motta C, Maiella M, Marra C, Cercignani M, Martorana A, Caltagirone C, Bozzali M. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the precuneus enhances memory and neural activity in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage. 2018 Apr 1;169:302-311. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.048. Epub 2017 Dec 19. PMID: 29277405.
10. Cercignani M, Dipasquale O, Bogdan I, Carandini T, Scott J, Rashid W, Sabri O, Hesse S, Rullmann M, Lopiano L, Veronese M, Martins D, Bozzali M. Cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis is associated with alterations in the functional connectivity of monoamine circuits. Brain Commun. 2021 Mar 5;3(2):fcab023. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab023. PMID: 33842886; PMCID: PMC8023545.
Institutional responsibilities
2023-2025: President of the Executive Committee; Italian Society of the Autonomic Nervous System (AINV).
2022: President of the Executive Committee; Italian Society of the Autonomic Nervous System (AINV).
From 2019 – present: President (elected) of the Executive Committee; Italian Society of Neurology, Dementia section (SINDEM).
From 2018 – present :Member of the Executive Committee; Italian Society of the Autonomic Nervous System (AINV).
From 2017 – present : Board Member of the PhD program in Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Educational Research; La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
From 2012 – present: Member of the Expert Consortium on Progressive MS trials; MS Society, UK. Member of the Executive Committee; Italian Society of Neurology, Dementia section. (SINDEM).
From 2012 – 2018: Member of the Steering Committee; Italian Chapter of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM).
Organization of scientific meetings
From 2012 – 2024 Initiation and organisation for 8 consecutive years of the international conference on dementia and neurodegenerative disorders, specifically designed towards early career researchers (Brixen, Italy).
2016 - Organisation of the XI National Meeting of the Italian Society of Neurology – Dementia Section, Florence, Italy.
Teaching activities
From 2020 – 2022: Professor of Neurology; Università di Torino, Turin, Italy. Activities include lecturing in several teaching courses and tutoring/supervising undergraduate and post-graduate students.
From 2017 – 2022: Professor of Neurology; Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, UK. Activities include lecturing in several teaching courses and tutoring/supervising undergraduate and post-graduate students.
Brief Selection of active international collaborations
- Prof. M. Cercignani (topic: neuroimaging), Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- Prof A. Venneri (topic: dementias) Department of Neuroscience, Brunel University, London, UK.
- Prof L. Cipolotti (topic: neuropsychology), Department of Neuropsychology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Prof G. Robinson (topic: dementia), Quennsland University, Australia.