Francesco Resta

PostDOC

Dr. Francesco Resta obtained a master degree in cellular and molecular biology in 2011 at the University of Florence. From 2011 to 2012 he hold a fellowship granted by the company Drugs Minerals and Generics (DMG). The goal of the research project was to study the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glycyrrhetinic acid. From 2012 to 2016 he attended the International PhD in Pharmacology and Innovative Treatments granted by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research at the University of Florence. During the PhD he investigated the role of the Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels in the nervous system, by coupling in vivo treatments and electrophysiological techniques. The main goal of the project was to study the HCN channels pathophysiology, focusing on peripheral neuropathy and Parkinson’s disease. Moreover the research activity covered the development and evaluation of selective HCN channels blocker as potential new targeted pain killers. In the 2016 Dr. Resta obtained a post-doc fellowship in the Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health in the Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Florence. The research project was focused on the study of the role of the HCN channels in the Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Since November 2016 Dr. Resta hold a post-doc position at European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) in Florence granted by the Human Brain Project (HBP). His research interests are focused on cortical and subcortical network circuitry, focusing on motor control and slow waves propagation. In this context, his activities cover in vivo fluorescence microscopy, wide-field and two-photon imaging, combined with genetically encoded fluorescent reporters, optogenetics and in vivo electrophysiology.