Nato nel 1990 a Firenze, si è laureato in Medicina e Chirurgia nel 2015 presso l'Università degli Studi di Firenze. Dal 2016 al 2020 ha completato la specializzazione in Neurologia presso l'Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS di Roma. Nello stesso Istituto ha iniziato il Dottorato di Ricerca in Neuroscienze (2020-2023), svolto in parte presso l'Università Charitè di Berlino, dove ha continuato a svolgere attività di ricerca come postdoc. Successivamente, dal Luglio 2024, ha preso incarico come Ricercatore presso il Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino dell'Università di Firenze, svolgendo attività clinica come Dirigente Medico Neurologo presso l'AOU Careggi. 

CURRICULUM VITAE ET STUDIORUM

Informazioni personali

Nome, Cognome: Gregorio, Spagni

Titolo accademico: M.D., Ph.D.

Data di nascita: 17 Gennaio 1990

Luogo di nascita: Fiesole (FI)

eMail: gregorio.spagni@unifi.it

Nazionalità: italiana

• Posizione attuale

2024 - in corso; Ricercatore a tempo determinato tipo A e dirigente medico neurologo presso SOD Neurologia 2 - Azeinda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Firenze (Italia), Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italia.

• Istruzione e formazione

2024, Dottorato in Neuroscienze (XXXVI ciclo), Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma. Tesi: “Disease mechanisms and biomarkers of antibody-mediated neurological disorders”. Data conseguimento titolo: 19/04/2024

2020, Diploma di Specializzazione in Neurologia (votazione finale 50/50 con lode), Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Roma. Tesi: “Malattie autoimmuni neurologiche associate al timoma”. Data conseguimento titolo: 26/10/2020

2015, Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia (votazione 110/110 e lode) - Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Firenze - Tesi in Neurologia: “Distribuzione perivenulare delle lesioni della sostanza bianca encefalica come marker di imaging con risonanza magnetica nella diagnosi differenziale tra Sclerosi Multipla e lesioni del SNC su base vasculopatica infiammatoria”. Data conseguimento titolo: 23/10/2015

2009, Diploma presso Liceo Scientifico G. Castelnuovo (votazione 100/100), Firenze

• Precedenti posizioni

2023-2024      Postdoc, Gruppo di ricerca diretto dal Prof. Harald Prüß, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) c/o Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlino, Germania

2020-2023      Dottorando in Neuroscienze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, supervisori: Prof.ssa Amelia Evoli, Dr. Raffaele Iorio (2020-2022); successivamente presso Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) - Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlino, Germania (Gruppo di ricerca: Prof. Harald Prüß) (2022-2023)

2016-2020      Specializzando in Neurologia, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Roma. Supervisore: Prof.ssa Amelia Evoli. Regolare partecipazione agli ambulatori per la miastenia gravis (e altre malattie neurologiche anticorpo-mediate) della Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS.

2016, Tirocinio Post-laurea, Dipartimento di Neurologia, Campus Benjamin-Franklin, Charitè Universtätsmedizin, Berlino, Germania

2014-2015, Medico frequentatore presso il Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Reparto di Neurologia 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze

2014, Internship in Neurologia nel contesto del Progetto ERASMUS, Reparto di Neurologia, Jüdisches Krankenhaus, Berlino, Germania

• Qualifiche professionali

21/03/2016 - Iscrizione all’Ordine Provinciale dei Medici Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri di Firenze (n. 14012)

18/08/2016 - Deutsche ärztliche Approbation (Abilitazione professionale medica in Germania) (id: 802761107682095)

• Borse di Studio

2024, European Academy of Neurology – Research Fellowship (Progetto: “Characterization of the in vitro and in vivo effects of encephalitis patient-derived anti-mGluR1 monoclonal antibodies”)

2020, Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca, Borsa di studio per il Dottorato in Neuroscienze

2014, Borsa di Studio ERASMUS presso Charitè Universtätsmedizin, Berlino

• Competenze Linguistiche

Italiano: madrelingua

Inglese: molto buono

Tedesco: molto buono

• Partecipazioni a congressi

Relatore presso:

-        European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC) Workshop #275 on "Seronegative MG: an updated paradigm for diagnosis and management", Febbraio 2024, Hoofddorp, Paesi Bassi

-        20th National Congress of the Italian Society for Neuroscience, Torino, settebre 2023

-        8th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (contributo accettato per presentazione mediante poster), giugno 2022

-        14th MGFA International Conference On Myasthenia And Related Disorders, (poster), maggio 2022

-        25th World Congress Of Neurology (WCN), (poster), ottobre 2021

-        50° Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Neurologia (comunicazione orale), ottobre 2019

-        5th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (poster), giugno 2019

-        Giornata nazionale dello specializzando in Neurologia, Società Italiana di Neurologia (comunicazione orale), giugno 2019

-        71st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (poster), aprile 2019

-        49° Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Neurologia (poster), ottobre 2018

-        48° Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Neurologia (poster), ottobre 2017

• Premi e riconoscimenti

-        European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC) “Early Career Researcher” Programme, settembre 2023

-        EAN Bursary for the participation to the 8th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, marzo 2022

-        Travel Stipend for the 14th MGFA International Conference On Myasthenia And Related Disorders, febbraio 2022 

• Indici bibliometrici

Citazioni totali: 908; H-index: 14                             

Fonte: Google Scholar (consultato in data 24/09/2024)

• Pubblicazioni:

1. Spagni G, Vincent A, Sun B, Falso S, Jacobson L, Devenish S, Evoli A & Damato V. Serological markers of clinical improvement in anti-MuSK myasthenia gravis. Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 2024 Nov;11(6):e200313. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200313

2. Sechi, E, Deiana, GA, Puci M, Zara P, Ortu E, Porcu C, Carboni N, Chessa P, Nieddu A, Tacconi P, Russo A, Manca D, Sechi MM, Ricciardi R, Defazio G, Profice P, Saddi V, Melis M, Cocco E, Spagni G, Iorio R, Damato V, Maestri M, Evoli A, Sotgiu S, Sotgiu G, Solla P, High Risk of Myasthenia Gravis in Sardinia: A Population-based Study in the District of Sassari. Muscle Nerve. 2024 May;69(5):637-642. doi: 10.1002/mus.28077.

3. Reincke SM*, von Wardenburg N*, Homeyer MA*, Kornau H-C, Spagni G, Li LY, Kreye J, Sanchez-Sendin E, Stappert D, Radbruch H, Hauser AE, Künkele A, Edes I, Schmitz D, Pruss H, Chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells deplete NMDA receptor-specific B cells. Cell. 2023 Nov 9;186(23):5084-5097.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.001.

4. Spagni G, Modoni A, Primiano G, Luigetti M, Sun B, Falso S, Monte G, Distefano M, Granata G, Evoli A, Damato V, Iorio R, Clinical, neurophysiological and serological clues for the diagnosis of neuromyotonia and distinction from cramp-fasciculation syndrome. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023 Aug;33(8):636-642. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.06.010.

5. Falso S, Spagni G, Iorio R, Evoli A, Cancer detection after a 9-year course of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome complicated by anti-Hu associated Limbic Encephalitis. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023 Sep;33(9):90-92. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.06.011.

6. Campetella L, Papi C, Spagni G, Sabatelli E, Mariotto S, Gastaldi M, Masi G, Carta S, Ahmad L, Iorio R, A score that predicts aquaporin-4-IgG positivity in patients with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. European Journal of Neurology 2023 Aug;30(8):2534-2538. doi: 10.1111/ene.15863.

7. Marulli G, Lucchi M, Aprile V, Guida M, Ricciardi R, Rea F, Comacchio GM, Schiavon M, Marino MMC, Margaritora S, Meacci E, Spagni G, Evoli A, De Iaco G, De Palma A, Brascia D, Thymectomy In Severe (Mgfa Class IV-V) Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Is The Game Really Worth The Candle? European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2023 May 2;63(5):ezad179. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezad179.

8. Damato V, Spagni G, Monte G, Scandiffio L, Cavalcante P, Zampetti N, Fossati M, Falso S, Mantegazza R, Battaglia A, Fattorossi A, Evoli A, Immunological response after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA vaccines in patients with myasthenia gravis treated with Rituximab. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023 Mar;33(3):288-294. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.02.005

9. Spagni G*, Sun B*, Monte G, Sechi E, Iorio R, Evoli A, Damato V, Efficacy and safety of rituximab in myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders compared with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2023 Jan;94(1):62-69. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330086.
10. Spagni G, Gastaldi M, Businaro P, Chemkhi Z, Carrozza C, Mascagna G, Falso S, Scaranzin S, Franciotta D, Evoli E & Damato V, Comparison of fixed and live cell-based assay for the detection of AChR and MuSK antibodies in myasthenia gravis. Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 2022 Oct 21;10(1):e200038. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200038.
11. Damato V, Spagni G, Monte G, Woodhall M, Jacobson L, Falso S, Smith T, Iorio R, Waters P, Irani SR, Vincent A & Evoli A, Clinical value of cell-based assays in the characterisation of seronegative myasthenia gravis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 2022Sep;93(9):995-1000. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329284.
12. Farina A, Falso S, Cornacchini S, Spagni G, Monte G, Mariottini A, Massacesi L, Barilaro A, Evoli A, Damato V, Safety and tolerability of SARS-Cov2 vaccination in patients with myasthenia gravis: a multicenter experience. European Journal of Neurology. 2022 Aug;29(8):2505-2510. doi: 10.1111/ene.15348
13. Damato V, Papi C, Spagni G, Evoli A, Silvestri G, Masi G, Sabatelli E, Campetella L, McKeon A, Andreetta F, Riso V, Monte G, Luigetti M, Primiano G, Calabresi P, Iorio R, Clinical features and outcome of patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia evaluated with the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. European Journal of Neurology. 2022 Feb;29(2):564-572. doi: 10.1111/ene.15161
14. Evoli A, Spagni G, Monte G, Damato V, Heterogeneity in myasthenia gravis: considerations for disease management. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 2021 Jul;17(7):761-771. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2021.1936500. Epub 2021 Jun 22.
15. Modoni A, Mastrorosa A, Spagni G^#, Evoli A, Cholinergic hyperactivity in patients with Myasthenia Gravis with MuSK antibodies: a neurophysiological study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021 Aug;132(8):1845-1849. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.04.019.
16. Masi G, Spagni G, Campetella L, Monte G, Sabatelli E, Evoli A, Papi C, Iorio R, Assessing the Role of a Tissue-based Assay in the Diagnostic Algorithm of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Journal of Neuroimmunology 2021 Jul 15:356:577601. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577601
17. Spagni G, Todi L, Monte G, Mariagrazia M, Di Sante G, Damato V, Marino M, Evoli A, Lantieri F, Provenzano C, Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II associations in late-onset Myasthenia Gravis. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2021 Mar;8(3):656-665. doi: 10.1002/acn3.51309.
18. Alboini PE, Spagni G, Evoli A, In sickness and in health: when myasthenia gravis is a conjugal matter. Neurological Sciences 2021May;42(5):2099-2101. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04944-y.
19. Monte G, Spagni G, Damato V, Iorio R, Marino M, Evoli A, Acetylcholine receptor antibody positivity rate in ocular myasthenia gravis: a matter of age? Journal of Neurology 2021May;268(5):1803-1807. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-10342-3
20. Spagni G, Tricoli L, Modoni A, Monforte M, Della Marca G, and Brunetti V, Clinical reasoning: a 71-year-old man presenting with acute onset dysarthria and dysphagia. Neurology, 2021,Jan 26;96(4):180-184. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010816.
21. Piano C, Di Stasio E, Primiano G, Janiri D, Luigetti M, Frisullo G, Vollono C, Lucchini M, Brunetti V, Monforte M, Guglielmi V, Calabresi P, Bentivoglio AR, Della Marca G, Evoli A, Marra C, Mirabella M, Quaranta D, Ricci E, Servidei S, Silvestri G, Bellavia S, Bortolani S, Bove F, Di Iorio R, Di Paolantonio A, Genovese D, Ialongo T, Lo Monaco MR, Marotta J, Patanella AK, Perna A, Petracca M, Presicce G, Riso V, Rollo E, Romano A, Romozzi M, Sancricca C, Scala I, Spagni G, Solito M, Tricoli L, and Zinzi P, An Italian neurology outpatient clinic facing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: data from 2167 patients. Frontiers in Neurology, 2020 May 29:11:564. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00564.
22. Papi C*, Spagni G*, Alexandre A, Calabresi P, Della Marca G, Broccolini A, Unprotected stroke management in an undiagnosed case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 20202020 Sep;29(9):104981. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104981
23. Iorio R, Damato V, Spagni G, Della Marca G, Vollono C, Masi G, Papi C, Campetella L, Monte G, Evoli A, Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with autoimmune encephalitis: clues for paraneoplastic etiology. European Journal of Neurology, 2020Oct;27(10):2062-2071. doi: 10.1111/ene.14325
24. Marino M, Basile U, Spagni G, Napodano C, Iorio R, Gulli F, Todi L, Provenzano C, Bartoccioni B, Evoli A, Long lasting rituximab-induced reduction of specific - but not of total- IgG4 in MuSK-positive myasthenia gravis, Frontiers in Immunology, 2020,May 5:11:613. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00613
25. Gastaldi M, Mariotto S, Giannoccaro MP, Iorio R, Zoccarato M, Nosadini M, Benedetti L, Casagrande S, Di Filippo M, Valeriani M, Ricci S, Bova S, Arbasino C, Mauri M, Versino M, Vigevano F, Papetti L, Romoli M, Lapucci C, Massa F, Sartori S, Zuliani L, Barilaro A, De Gaspari P, Spagni G, Evoli A, Liguori R, Ferrari S, Marchioni E, Giometto B, Massacesi L, Franciotta D, Subgroup comparison according to clinical phenotype and serostatus in autoimmune encephalitis: a multicenter retrospective study,European Journal of Neurology, 2020Apr;27(4):633-643. doi: 10.1111/ene.14139
26. Cassano V*, Spagni G*^#, Iorio R, Clinical reasoning: a 55-year-old woman presenting with ataxia and numbness one year after ileum resection. Neurology, 2019Oct 8;93(15):675-679. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008253.
27. Iorio R, Spagni G, Masi G, Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology, 2019 Jul;36(4):279-292. doi: 10.1053/j.semdp.2019.06.005.
28. Spagni G, Iorio R, Grading the severity of autoimmune encephalitis: advances and pitfalls. Annals of Neurology, 2019 Jul;86(1):150. doi: 10.1002/ana.25496.
29. Brunetti V, Della Marca G, Spagni G, Iorio R, Immunotherapy improves sleep and cognitive impairment in anti-IgLON5 encephalopathy.  Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, 2019 May 21;6(4):e577. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000577
30. Nicoletti T, Spagni G, Luigetti M, Iorio R, Teaching NeuroImages: Transient mutism associated with splenium lesion in capecitabine-induced leukoencephalopathy. Neurology, 2019 Feb 26;92(9):e1000-e1001. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007012.
31. Iorio R, Spagni G, Evoli A, Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with mediastinal tumors. Mediastinum, 2018;2:8.  
    
32. Maggi P, Absinta M, Grammatico M, Vuolo L, Emmi G, Carlucci G, Spagni G, Barilaro A, Repice AM, Emmi L, Prisco D, Martinelli V, Scotti R, Sadeghi N, Perrotta G, Sati P, Dachy B, Reich DS, Filippi M, Massacesi L, The central vein sign differentiates MS from CNS inflammatory vasculopathies. Annals of Neurology, 2018 Feb;83(2):283-294. doi: 10.1002/ana.25146.
33. Iorio R, Damato V, Evoli A, Gessi M, Gaudino S, Di Lazzaro V, Spagni G, Sluijs J A, Hol E M, Clinical and immunological characteristics of the spectrum of GFAP autoimmunity: a case series of 22 patients. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 2018Feb;89(2):138-146. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316583.

*co-first author; ^#corresponding author

Firenze, 24/09/2024

L'attività clinica e di ricerca del Dr. Gregorio Spagni si sono da sempre concentrate sulle malattie neuroimmunologiche del sistema nervoso centrale e periferico, quali la miastenia gravis, la sindrome di Lambert-Eaton, le encefaliti autoimmuni, le sindromi neurologiche paraneoplastiche, la neuromielite ottica, le malattie neurologiche associate ad anticorpi anti-MOG (MOGAD) e la sclerosi multipla. Oltre alla caratterizzazione clinica e sierologica di tali malattie, gli interessi di ricerca includono la caratterizzazione dei meccanismi patogenetici mediati dagli autoanticorpi, l'ottimizzazione dei test diagnostici anticorpali e l'identificazione di biomarker prognostici di risposta ai trattamenti, e lo sviluppo e applicazione di nuovi approcci terapeutici mirati nelle malattie neuroimmunologiche. 

I was born in 1990 in Florence, and I graduated in Medicine in 2015 at the University of Florence. From 2016 to 2020, I completed my specialisation in Neurology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ IRCCS of Rome. During this time I have focused my clinical and research interest on myasthenia gravis, autoimmune encephalitis and other antibody-mediated and paraneoplastic disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system. At the same Institution I started the PhD in Neuroscience (2020-2023), working in the research group of Prof. Amelia Evoli. I carried out part of my PhD at the Charitè University of Berlin (Research group: Prof. Harald Prüss), where I continued my research activities as a postdoctoral fellow. Subsequently, from July 2024, I got a position as Researcher at the Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmaceuticals and Child Health of the University of Florence, carrying out clinical activities as a Consultant Neurologist at the Emergency Neurology Unit (Director: Prof. L. Massacesi), AOU Careggi.

 CURRICULUM VITAE ET STUDIORUM

PERSONAL INFORMATION

First name, family name, title: Gregorio Spagni, M.D.

Affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del “Sacro Cuore”

e-mail: gregorio.spagni@gmail.com / gregorio.spagni@unicatt.it

Nationality: Italian

• CURRENT POSITION

2024-                  Researcher and consultant neurologist, SOD Neurologia 2 - Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Firenze (Italia), Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italia.

• EDUCATION

2024                    Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Thesis: “Antibody biomarkers of autoimmune neurological disorders”.

2020                                  Specialty degree in Neurology.

                              Department of Neuroscience, Section of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Thesis: “Autoimmune neurological diseases associated with thymoma”.

2015                   Medical Doctor degree.

                              Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

                             Thesis in Neurology: “Evaluation by brain MRI of white matter perivenular lesions in inflammatory micro-angiopathic ischemia and in demyelinating multiple sclerosis lesions”.

2009                   High school leaving qualification in scientific studies, G. Castelnuovo Lyceum, Florence (FI), Italy

• PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2023-2024                       Postdoc, Research Group headed by Prof. Harald Prüß, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) c/o Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany           

2020-2023        PhD candidate in Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Section of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8 – 00168 – Rome, Italy

2016-2020        Residency in neurology; Department of Neuroscience, Section of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8 – 00168 – Rome, Italy

2016                   Post graduate Trainee

                             Department of Neurology, Campus Benjamin-Franklin, Charitè Universtätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany

2014-2015   Clinical Research Fellow, Multiple Sclerosis Centre (supervisor: Prof. L. Massacesi), Department of Neurology 2, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

2014                   Internship in Neurology

                              Department of Neurology, Jüdisches Krankenhaus, Berlin, Germany

• SCHOLARSHIPS and BURSARY

2024                                   EAN Research Training Scholarship 2024

2022                                    8^th EAN Congress, Vienna, 25-28 June 2022, Congress bursary

2022                                   14^th MGFA International Conference – Travel Stipend

2020-2023                        Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, PhD      Program Bursary

2013-2014                       ERASMUS Scholarship at Charitè Universtätsmedizin, Berlin

• LANGUAGES COMPETENCIES

Italian: mother tongue

English (spoken, written, read): very good

German (spoken, written, read): good (Goethe-Zertifikat C1, March 2016)

• PUBLICATIONS:

1. Falso S, Zara P, Marini S, Puci M, Sabatelli E, Sotgiu G, Marini M, Spagni G, Evoli A, Solla P, Iorio R, Sechi E, Seasonal Variation in Myasthenia Gravis Incidence. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2025 Jan 9:399:578524. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2025.578524.
2. Evoli A, Palace P, Spagni G, Cheli M, Ruiter A, Verschuuren J, Maggi L and the 275 th ENMC study group, 275th ENMC international workshop: Seronegative Myasthenia Gravis: an update paradigm for diagnosis and management. Neuromuscular Disorders 2024 Nov:44:104468. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.104468.
3. Spagni G, Vincent A, Sun B, Falso S, Jacobson L, Devenish S, Evoli A & Damato V. Serological markers of clinical improvement in anti-MuSK myasthenia gravis. Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 2024 Nov;11(6):e200313. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200313
4. Sechi, E, Deiana, GA, Puci M, Zara P, Ortu E, Porcu C,  Carboni N, Chessa P, Nieddu A, Tacconi P, Russo A, Manca D, Sechi MM, Ricciardi R, Defazio G, Profice P, Saddi V, Melis M, Cocco E, Spagni G, Iorio R, Damato V, Maestri M, Evoli A, Sotgiu S, Sotgiu G, Solla P, High Risk of Myasthenia Gravis in Sardinia: A Population-based Study in the District of Sassari. Muscle & Nerve 2024; ePub: 8 Mar 2024; doi: 10.1002/mus.28077.
5. Reincke SM*, von Wardenburg N*, Homeyer MA*, Kornau H-C, Spagni G, Li LY, Kreye J, Sanchez-Sendin E, Stappert D, Radbruch H, Hauser AE, Künkele A, Edes I, Schmitz D, Pruss H, Chimeric Autoantibody Receptor T cells targeting pathogenic autoreactive B cells in NMDA receptor encephalitis. Cell. 2023 Nov 9;186(23):5084-5097.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.001. Epub 2023 Nov 1.
6. Spagni G, Modoni A, Primiano G, Luigetti M, Sun B, Falso S, Monte G, Distefano M, Granata G, Evoli A, Damato V, Iorio R, Clinical, neurophysiological and serological clues for the diagnosis of neuromyotonia and distinction from cramp-fasciculation syndrome. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023 Jun 28;S0960-8966(23)00167-0. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.06.010.
7. Falso S, Spagni G, Iorio R, Evoli A, Cancer detection after a 9-year course of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome complicated by anti-Hu associated Limbic Encephalitis. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023 Jun 30;S0960-8966(23)00168-2. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.06.011.
8. Campetella L, Papi C, Spagni G, Sabatelli E, Mariotto S, Gastaldi M, Masi G, Carta S, Ahmad L, Iorio R, A score that predicts aquaporin-4-IgG positivity in patients with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.European Journal of Neurology 2023 May 12. doi: 10.1111/ene.15863. Online ahead of print
9. Marulli G, Lucchi M, Aprile V, Guida M, Ricciardi R, Rea F, Comacchio GM, Schiavon M, Marino MMC, Margaritora S, Meacci E, Spagni G, Evoli A, De Iaco G, De Palma A, Brascia D, Thymectomy In Severe (Mgfa Class IV-V) Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Is The Game Really Worth The Candle? European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2023 May 2;63(5):ezad179. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezad179
10. Damato V, Spagni G, Monte G, Scandiffio L, Cavalcante P, Zampetti N, Fossati M, Falso S, Mantegazza R, Battaglia A, Fattorossi A, Evoli A, Immunological response after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA vaccines in patients with myasthenia gravis treated with Rituximab. Neuromuscular Disorders 2023, ePub: February 11, 2023; doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.02.005
11. Spagni G*, Sun B*, Monte G, Sechi E, Iorio R, Evoli A, Damato V, Efficacy and safety of rituximab in myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders compared with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2023 Jan;94(1):62-69. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330086. Epub 2022 Oct 25
12. Spagni G, Gastaldi M, Businaro P, Chemkhi Z, Carrozza C, Mascagna G, Falso S, Scaranzin S, Franciotta D, Evoli E & Damato V, Comparison of fixed and live cell-based assay for the detection of AChR and MuSK antibodies in myasthenia gravis.Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 2022 Oct 21;10(1):e200038. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200038.
13. Damato V, Spagni G, Monte G, Woodhall M, Jacobson L, Falso S, Smith T, Iorio R, Waters P, Irani SR, Vincent A & Evoli A, Clinical value of cell-based assays in the characterisation of seronegative myasthenia gravis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.2022 Sep;93(9):995-1000. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329284. Epub 2022 Jul 14.
14. Farina A, Falso S, Cornacchini S, Spagni G, Monte G, Mariottini A, Massacesi L, Barilaro A, Evoli A, Damato V, Safety and tolerability of SARS-Cov2 vaccination in patients with myasthenia gravis: a multicenter experience. European Journal of Neurology. 2022 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ene.15348. [Online ahead of print]
15. Damato V, Papi C, Spagni G, Evoli A, Silvestri G, Masi G, Sabatelli E, Campetella L, McKeon A, Andreetta F, Riso V, Monte G, Luigetti M, Primiano G, Calabresi P, Iorio R, Clinical features and outcome of patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia evaluated with the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. European Journal of Neurology. 2022 Feb;29(2):564-572. doi: 10.1111/ene.15161. (Epub 2021 Nov 9)
16. Evoli A, Spagni G, Monte G, Damato V, Heterogeneity in myasthenia gravis: considerations for disease management. Expert Opinion of Clinical Immunology, 2021 Jul;17(7):761-771. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2021.1936500. (Epub 2021 Jun 22)
17. Modoni A, Mastrorosa A, Spagni G^#, Evoli A, Cholinergic hyperactivity in patients with Myasthenia Gravis with MuSK antibodies: a neurophysiological study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021 Aug;132(8):1845-1849
18. Masi G, Spagni G, Campetella L, Monte G, Sabatelli E, Evoli A, Papi C, Iorio R, Assessing the Role of a Tissue-based Assay in the Diagnostic Algorithm of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Journal of Neuroimmunology 2021 Jul 15;356:577601. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577601.( Epub 2021 Apr 30).
19. Spagni G, Todi L, Monte G, Mariagrazia M, Di Sante G, Damato V, Marino M, Evoli A, Lantieri F, Provenzano C, Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II associations in late-onset Myasthenia Gravis. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2021 [First published: 05 February 2021] https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.51309
20. Alboini PE, Spagni G, Evoli A, In sickness and in health: when myasthenia gravis is a conjugal matter. Neurological Sciences 2021 Jan 7. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04944-y. Online ahead of print.
21. Monte G, Spagni G, Damato V, Iorio R, Marino M, Evoli A, Acetylcholine receptor antibody positivity rate in ocular myasthenia gravis: a matter of age? Journal of Neurology 2021, Jan 2. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-10342-3. [Online ahead of print]
22. Spagni G, Tricoli L, Modoni A, Monforte M, Della Marca G, and Brunetti V, Clinical reasoning: a 71-year-old man presenting with acute onset dysarthria and dysphagia. Neurology, 2021, Jan 26; 96 (4); [ePub: September 11, 2020, DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010816]

1. Piano C, Di Stasio E, Primiano G, Janiri D, Luigetti M, Frisullo G, Vollono C, Lucchini M, Brunetti V, Monforte M, Guglielmi V, Calabresi P, Bentivoglio AR, Della Marca G, Evoli A, Marra C, Mirabella M, Quaranta D, Ricci E, Servidei S, Silvestri G, Bellavia S, Bortolani S, Bove F, Di Iorio R, Di Paolantonio A, Genovese D, Ialongo T, Lo Monaco MR, Marotta J, Patanella AK, Perna A, Petracca M, Presicce G, Riso V, Rollo E, Romano A, Romozzi M, Sancricca C, Scala I, Spagni G, Solito M, Tricoli L, and Zinzi P, An Italian neurology outpatient clinic facing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: data from 2167 patients. Frontiers in Neurology, 2020; 11: 564. Published online 2020 May 29. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00564

1. Papi C*, Spagni G*, Alexandre A, Calabresi P, Della Marca G, Broccolini A, Unprotected stroke management in an undiagnosed case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2020; 29 (9), 104981; Published online: May 23, 2020 ; doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104981

1. Iorio R, Damato V, Spagni G, Della Marca G, Vollono C, Masi G, Papi C, Campetella L, Monte G, Evoli A, Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with autoimmune encephalitis: clues for paraneoplastic etiology. European Journal of Neurology, 2020; 27 (10): 2062-2071;ePub:15 May 2020; doi: 10.1111/ene.14325

1. Marino M, Basile U, Spagni G, Napodano C, Iorio R, Gulli F, Todi L, Provenzano C, Bartoccioni B, Evoli A, Long lasting rituximab-induced reduction of specific - but not of total- IgG4 in MuSK-positive myasthenia gravis, Frontiers in Immunology, 2020,05 May 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00613

1. Gastaldi M, Mariotto S, Giannoccaro MP, Iorio R, Zoccarato M, Nosadini M, Benedetti L, Casagrande S, Di Filippo M, Valeriani M, Ricci S, Bova S, Arbasino C, Mauri M, Versino M, Vigevano F, Papetti L, Romoli M, Lapucci C, Massa F, Sartori S, Zuliani L, Barilaro A, De Gaspari P, Spagni G, Evoli A, Liguori R, Ferrari S, Marchioni E, Giometto B, Massacesi L, Franciotta D, Subgroup comparison according to clinical phenotype and serostatus in autoimmune encephalitis: a multicenter retrospective study, European Journal of Neurology, 2020 Apr;27(4):633-643. [Epub 2020 Jan 14. Dec 8. doi: 10.1111/ene.14139]

1. Cassano V*, Spagni G*^#, Iorio R, Clinical reasoning: a 55-year-old woman presenting with ataxia and numbness one year after ileum resection. Neurology, 2019 Oct 8;93(15):675-679.

1. Iorio R, Spagni G, Masi G, Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology, 2019 Jul;36(4):279-292..

1. Spagni G, Iorio R, Grading the severity of autoimmune encephalitis: advances and pitfalls. Annals of Neurology, 2019 Jul;86(1):150. 2019 [Epub: May 2. doi: 10.1002/ana.25496]

1. Brunetti V, Della Marca G, Spagni G, Iorio R, Immunotherapy improves sleep and cognitive impairment in anti-IgLON5 encephalopathy.  Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, 2019 May 21;6(4):e577. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000577.

1. Nicoletti T, Spagni G, Luigetti M, Iorio R, Teaching NeuroImages: Transient mutism associated with splenium lesion in capecitabine-induced leukoencephalopathy. Neurology, 2019 Feb 26;92(9):e1000-e1001

1. Iorio R, Spagni G, Evoli A, Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with mediastinal tumors. Mediastinum, 2018;2:8.

1. Maggi P, Absinta M, Grammatico M, Vuolo L, Emmi G, Carlucci G, Spagni G, Barilaro A, Repice AM, Emmi L, Prisco D, Martinelli V, Scotti R, Sadeghi N, Perrotta G, Sati P, Dachy B, Reich DS, Filippi M, Massacesi L, The central vein sign differentiates MS from CNS inflammatory vasculopathies. Annals of Neurology, 2018 Feb;83(2):283-294.

1. Iorio R, Damato V, Evoli A, Gessi M, Gaudino S, Di Lazzaro V, Spagni G, Sluijs J A, Hol E M, Clinical and immunological characteristics of the spectrum of GFAP autoimmunity: a case series of 22 patients. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 2018 Feb;89(2):138-146. Epub 2017 Sep 26.

*=shared first authorship; #=corresponding author.

Participation to clinical trials:

-        ECU-MG-302, role: Sub-Investigator

-        BioMarin LEMS Registry, role: sub-investigator (observational study)

-        MSK-002, role: Sub-Investigator  

-        MSK-003, role: Sub-Investigator

-        ALXN1210-MG-306, role: Sub-Investigator

-        MG0003, role: Sub-Investigator

-        MG0004, role: Sub-Investigator

-        MG0007, role: Sub-Investigator

-        RAISE (RA101495-02.301), role: Sub-Investigator

-        RAISE-XT, role: Sub-Investigator

-        TAK079-1005, role: Sub-Investigator

-        AIE001/LEGIONE UCB study, role: Sub-Investigator

My clinical and research activities have always focused on neuroimmunological diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, neuromyelitis optica, neurological diseases associated with anti-MOG antibodies (MOGAD) and multiple sclerosis. In addition to the clinical and serological characterisation of these diseases, research interests include the characterisation of autoantibody-mediated pathogenetic mechanisms, the optimisation of antibody diagnostic tests and the identification of prognostic biomarkers of response to treatments, and the development and application of novel targeted therapeutic approaches, based on chimeric autoantibody receptor-T (CAAR-T) cells, in neuroimmunological diseases.