Women Researcher Award
| Fiorella Colasuonno | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | University of Rome Tor Vergata |
| Country | Italy |
| Scopus ID | 57196357192 |
| Documents | 15 |
| Citations | 2,581 |
| h-index | 8 |
| Subject Area | Neuroscience |
| Event | World Science Awards |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4894-5084 |
Fiorella Colasuonno is a researcher in neuroscience whose published work has addressed cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration, including riboflavin transporter deficiency, mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction, induced pluripotent stem cell models, motor neurons, and neuronal cell-death mechanisms. Her research record includes work conducted through institutions in Rome and collaborations involving rare genetic and neuromuscular disease research. [1] [2]
Abstract
This academic recognition profile presents the research activities of Fiorella Colasuonno in the field of neuroscience. Her scholarly contributions include investigations of mitochondrial abnormalities, energy dysmetabolism, cytoskeletal organization, oxidative stress, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal models, and cellular mechanisms relevant to neurodegenerative disorders. Her publications have particularly examined riboflavin transporter deficiency and related motor-neuron pathology, while more recent work has extended to the study of cell death in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons as models of neurodegeneration. [1] [3] [4]
Keywords
Neuroscience; neurodegeneration; motor neurons; induced pluripotent stem cells; riboflavin transporter deficiency; mitochondrial dysfunction; peroxisomal alterations; cellular metabolism; cytoskeletal organization; rare genetic diseases; cortical neurons; cell death.
Introduction
Fiorella Colasuonno’s research is situated at the intersection of cellular biology, neuroscience, and rare-disease research. Available scholarly records associate her work with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and earlier research affiliations with the University of Roma Tre and the IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù in Rome. Her doctoral research involved induced pluripotent stem cells and rare genetic diseases, including motor-neuron and neurometabolic disorders. [2]
Her published research provides a scientific basis for examining how metabolic, mitochondrial, peroxisomal, and structural cellular abnormalities may contribute to neurological disease. This research direction is relevant to neuroscience because cellular energy regulation and neuronal integrity are closely associated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. [3]
Research Profile
Colasuonno’s research profile is primarily associated with experimental neuroscience and cellular models of neurological disease. Her work has used induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated neuronal systems to investigate disease-associated phenotypes. In particular, studies involving riboflavin transporter deficiency have examined mitochondrial abnormalities, altered energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and cytoskeletal changes in affected cells and motor neurons. [1] [3] [5]
The research also reflects an interest in translating cellular and molecular observations into experimental models that can improve understanding of rare neurodegenerative diseases. More recent publication activity includes methodological work using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons to investigate cell death and neurodegeneration. [6]
Research Contributions
One major research contribution concerns the characterization of mitochondrial and peroxisomal alterations in riboflavin transporter deficiency. Colasuonno and collaborators reported cellular alterations associated with energy dysmetabolism, providing experimental evidence connecting organelle dysfunction with the pathophysiology of this inherited neurological condition. [3]
A related contribution is the study of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons as experimental systems for investigating disease mechanisms. Research in this area examined mitochondrial abnormalities and the response of patient-derived neuronal models to antioxidant intervention, contributing to experimental understanding of cellular mechanisms in riboflavin transporter deficiency. [1] [4]
Her work has also addressed structural changes in induced pluripotent stem cells and motor neurons, including cytoskeletal organization. Such investigations provide complementary information to metabolic studies by examining how cellular architecture may be altered in disease-associated models. [5]
Publications
Selected publications associated with Fiorella Colasuonno demonstrate a sustained research focus on cellular mechanisms of neurological disease. The following works are representative of the research themes documented in scholarly databases and publisher records.
| Year | Selected publication | Research focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | “Cell death detection in iPSC-derived cortical neurons as model of neurodegeneration.” [6] | Cortical neurons, cell death and neurodegeneration |
| 2022 | “New Insights into the Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Underlying Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD): Involvement of Energy Dysmetabolism and Cytoskeletal Derangement.” [5] | Neurodegeneration, energy metabolism and cytoskeletal changes |
| 2020 | “Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Motor Neurons from Patients with Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency.” [1] | Mitochondria, iPSC-derived motor neurons and RTD |
| 2020 | “Mitochondrial and Peroxisomal Alterations Contribute to Energy Dysmetabolism in Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency.” [3] | Mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction |
| 2017 | “Senescence-associated ultrastructural features of long-term cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).” [7] | iPSC biology and cellular ultrastructure |
Research Impact
The significance of Colasuonno’s research lies in its application of cellular and stem-cell-based experimental approaches to rare neurological disease. Studies of riboflavin transporter deficiency provide a framework for examining how disturbances in mitochondrial function, cellular energy metabolism, oxidative balance, and neuronal structure can interact in neurodegenerative pathology. [1] [3]
The use of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated motor-neuron models is particularly relevant to disease-oriented neuroscience because these systems can provide experimentally tractable models for investigating cellular phenotypes. Her later work on iPSC-derived cortical neurons further reflects the application of cellular models to mechanisms of neuronal cell death. [4] [6]
Award Suitability
Based on the documented research record, Fiorella Colasuonno presents a relevant scholarly profile for consideration in a Women Researcher Award within neuroscience. Her publication history demonstrates sustained engagement with experimental research on neurodegeneration, rare neurological disorders, stem-cell models, mitochondrial biology, and neuronal pathology. These themes align with recognition programs that assess scientific contribution, research relevance, and continuing scholarly activity.
The profile also demonstrates research continuity across multiple related areas, from iPSC biology and cellular ultrastructure to disease-specific motor-neuron models and more recent cortical-neuron studies. [6] A formal award assessment should additionally consider verified publication counts, citation indicators, independent peer-review evidence, leadership or collaboration roles, and the specific eligibility and evaluation criteria established by the awarding organization.
Conclusion
Fiorella Colasuonno’s research profile reflects a focused contribution to neuroscience through experimental investigation of neurodegenerative mechanisms and rare neurological diseases. Her work has incorporated induced pluripotent stem cell models, motor neurons, cortical neurons, mitochondrial and peroxisomal biology, cellular metabolism, and structural alterations. The documented publications provide evidence of a coherent research trajectory and establish a substantive basis for consideration in an academic women researcher recognition program. [1] [3] [6]
External Links
References
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- Colasuonno, F., Bertini, E., Tartaglia, M., Compagnucci, C., & Moreno, S. (2020). Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Motor Neurons from Patients with Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency. Antioxidants, 9(12), 1252.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121252
PubMed record
- Colasuonno, F., Bertini, E., Tartaglia, M., Compagnucci, C., & Moreno, S. (2020). Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Motor Neurons from Patients with Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency. Antioxidants, 9(12), 1252.
