Francesco Difato Email & Phone Number

Genoa, It

Genoa, Liguria, Italy

Revision activity for international ISI journals: - Microscopy Research and Techniques- Journal of Biomedical Optics- Optic Express- Optics Letters- Biophysical Journal- PlosOne- Review Scientific Instruments- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences- Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Journal- International Journal of Nanomedicine- Journal of visualized experiments- Scientific Reports- Frontiers in Neuroscience

Genoa, Liguria, Italy

Review Editor in Nanobiotechnology, Journal of Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Materials.

Italy

▪ PI of a research group composed of: 1 PhD, 1 PostDoc, 2 Master students▪ Financial and administrative coordination of the own laboratory activities▪ Training, supervision, grants proposal preparation. ▪ IPR protection/patenting, licensing policies, exploitation possibilities.▪ Development of novel Neuro-technological paradigm for stimulating specific populations of neurons, overexpressing Mechano-sensitive ion channel, by the use of ultrasound pressure waves. The idea is that a low-intensity mechanical stimulation, provided by remotely generated Ultrasound-pressure waves, could be used to selectively activate electrical activity of neurons expressing the mechanically activated channels (analogous to how light is used to activate light-sensitive channels in optogenetics). This approach could allow non-invasive selective activation of specific cell types in deep brain structures that cannot be illuminated by light without an invasive approach, such as inserting a fiber optic in the brain.▪ 3D in-vitro Neuronal networks: Production of 3D neuronal networks in hydrogels to develop Brain on chip models and/or implantable scaffolds, which could be eventually controlled by remote Ultrasound stimulation. ▪ Development of optical systems for the precise and controlled spatio-temporal optical stimulation/manipulation of biological samples, and on the integration of optical setups with electrophysiological recording devices to study the central nervous system at various levels of complexity.▪ Development of Ultrasound based remote stimulation protocols of neuronal circuits of intact Brain tissues

Genoa Area, Italy

▪ Organization, development and onset of research activities within the new NBT department during the start-up period (3 years)▪ Financial decisions and investments for the new facilities and laboratory spaces ▪ Financial and administrative coordination of the laboratory activities▪ Training, supervision, grants proposal preparation. ▪ IPR protection/patenting, licensing policies, exploitation possibilities. ▪ Structural and functional fluorescence imaging: wide-field, one-photon and two-photon confocal system, TIRF microscopy, two-photon SPIM microscopy. Long term live imaging: study of neuronal differentiation. Optical tweezers: design and development of optical tweezers systems integrated with electrophysiology and fluorescence imaging. Fluorescence techniques: in-vivo and in-vitro calcium imaging, Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), Fluoresence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)▪ Holography: design and development of holographic modules based on spatial light modulators, for optical tweezers and two-photon microscopy applications.▪ Laser dissection: design and development of laser dissection system to study axonal regeneration, and modulate the activity of neuronal networks. Force spectroscopy: design and development of interferometric tracking system operating in position or force clamp condition, to study the growth cone motility at high spatial and temporal resolution.▪ Biophysics: study the physiological response of neurons to mechanical and chemical stimuli, at single cell and network level. Replace with main activities and responsibilities

Trieste Area, Italy

▪ Acquisition of goods, design and development of a new optical laboratory space▪ Management of laboratorys’ funds▪ Co-supervision of two postdocs▪ Optical tweezers: design and development of remote controllable optical tweezers system integrated with fluorescence imaging.▪ Holography: design and development of holographic modules based on spatial light modulators, for optical tweezers applications.Replace with main activities and responsibilities

Trieste Area, Italy

▪ Co-supervision of two postdocs▪ Organization of research activities, reporting of research results▪ Optical tweezers: design and development of remote controllable optical tweezers system integrated with fluorescence imaging.▪ Holography: design and development of holographic modules based on spatial light modulators, for optical tweezers applications.Replace with main activities and responsibilities

Prague, The Capital, Czech Republic

▪ Training to access the optical laboratory, ▪ Consultation and assistance to laboratory users▪ Courses to master students▪ Long term live imaging of intracellular trafficking of virion particles

Prague, The Capital, Czech Republic

▪ Organization of laboratory space, data handling and storage, and laboratory accesses, security▪ Training to access the optical laboratory, ▪ Consultation and assistance to laboratory users▪ Courses to master students▪ Image acquisition, Deconvolution, analysis▪ Multimodal In-vitro and in-vivo two photon imaging of cancer tissues

Genoa Area, Italy

▪ Image acquisition, Deconvolution, analysis

National Scientific Qualification As Associate Professor In Applied Physics

National Scientific Qualification As Associate Professor In Bioengineering

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Molecular Biology, Phd

Master'S Degree, Bioengineering And Biomedical Engineering

Diploma Electronic Engineer