Team Dr. Matteo Mariangeli He joined RaffaLab in December 2025, following a PhD in Physics focused on super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy applied to biological samples. At RaffaLab, he is part of the NEMESIS project, where he works on the characterization and validation of an inducible macromolecular switch designed to generate mechanical forces in neurons, triggering signal transduction pathways that promote axonal elongation and synaptic maturation. His work relies on biophysical techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanotransduction. Dr. Laura Talarico She joined RaffaLab in 2022 with a thesis on the role of miRNAs in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, later continuing during her Master’s in Molecular and Cellular Biology, where she investigated how mechanical stimulation can promote neuronal process elongation under inhibitory conditions. She subsequently obtained two research fellowships, national and international, to develop strategies combining mechanical stimulation and cell-based therapies for spinal cord injuries, building expertise in cellular and molecular biology, microscopy, and electrophysiology. A research stay at the CiRA Institute of Kyoto University further strengthened her experience in stem cell and iPS cell culture and differentiation. She is currently a first-year PhD student, focusing on generating 2D and 3D neuronal models from iPS cells and studying how mechanical cues, delivered via superparamagnetic nanoparticles, guide neuronal differentiation and maturation. Dr. Giorgia Maffei She joined Professor Raffa’s laboratory in 2025 as a first-year PhD student. She holds a BSc in Biological Sciences and an MSc in Applied Biology to Biomedicine, both obtained with top honours from the University of Pisa in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Her Master’s thesis focused on the inhibition of the NRAS Q61R mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in melanoma cells. She is currently investigating how mechanical forces applied to microtubules are sensed and converted into biochemical signals that regulate neuronal growth, combining nanotechnology and neuroscience to uncover new mechanisms underlying neuronal regeneration. Dr. Tommaso Neri He joined RaffaLab in October 2025, bringing a degree in Biological Sciences and a PhD from the University of Pisa, along with a solid scientific background built across both academic and hospital settings. At RaffaLab, he works as a Level II Technologist within the NEMESIS project, where he focuses on developing and optimizing protocols on neuronal cell models. Alongside his research activities, he also contributes to the communication and dissemination efforts related to the lab’s projects.