Alessandra BIGI

Ruolo attuale:: Ricercatore Legge 240/10 a tempo determinato
SSD:: BIOS-07/A - Biochimica
Afferenza organizzativa:: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio'

Recapiti

alessandra.bigi(AT)unifi.it

Ulteriori Recapiti

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	alessandra.bigi(AT)unifi.it
	https://www.sbsc.unifi.it/vp-209-gruppo-chiti.html

Alessandra BIGI

Biografia

La Dr. Alessandra Bigi si è laureata con il massimo dei voti e la lode in Biologia presso l'Università degli Studi di Firenze nel 2016. Ha conseguito il Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Biomediche presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, nel 2020. Durante il Dottorato le sue attività di ricerca hanno riguardato la relazione tra struttura e tossicità di aggregati proteici aberranti coinvolti in malattie da deposizione proteica quali il morbo di Alzheimer, il morbo di Parkinson e la sclerosi laterale amiotrofica. Dal 2020 al 2023 è stata Assegnista di Ricerca presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche dell'Università di Firenze. In questo periodo ha partecipato a numerosi progetti di ricerca volti allo studio dei pathways citotossici associati alle malattie da misfolding proteico, con l'obiettivo di identificare nuovi approcci diagnostici e terapeutici. Oggi è Ricercatrice (RTT) in Biochimica (SSD BIOS-07/A). Ha attualmente 27 pubblicazioni su riviste internazionali (JCR) e il suo indice h (Scopus) è 14. È membro della Società Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare (SIB) dal 2017.

Alessandra BIGI

Curriculum

Alessandra Bigi, PhD

E-Mail: alessandra.bigi@unifi.it

Data di nascita: 23 Maggio 1990

Luogo di nascita: Arezzo, Italia

Formazione

Aprile 2020 - Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Biomediche, curriculum “Biologia Funzionale di Biomolecole e Biosistemi” con tesi dal titolo “ Study of the relationship between structure and toxicity of different α-synuclein aggregates and related cellular dysfunctions”. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi. SSD: BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10 – BIOCHIMICA. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italia.
Luglio 2016 - Laurea Magistrale in Biologia (LM-6). Votazione finale: 110/110 con Lode e Complimenti della Commissione. Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italia.
Aprile 2013 - Laurea Triennale in Scienze Biologiche (L-13). Votazione finale: 110/110. Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italia.
Luglio 2009 - Diploma di Maturità Scientifica. Votazione finale: 100/100. Liceo Scientifico Francesco Redi, Arezzo, Italia.

Esperienza Lavorativa e di Ricerca

01/02/2026 - Ad oggi Ricercatore tenure track (RTT) in Biochimica (SSD BIOS-07/A) presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
01/02/2023 - 31/01/2026 Ricercatore (RTD-A) in Biochimica (SSD BIOS-07/A) presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, finanziato dal PNRR, Partenariato Esteso 8, Spoke 2, progetto Age-It, sotto la supervisione del Prof. Fabrizio Chiti.
01/03/2022 – 31/01/2023 Assegnista di Ricerca Post-dottorato presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Progetto di Ricerca: “Trodusquemine as a new therapeutic molecule for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10).
01/03/2021 – 28/02/2022 Assegnista di Ricerca Post-dottorato presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Progetto di Ricerca: “Single domain antibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for Alzheimer's disease”. Supervisor Dr. Roberta Cascella (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10).
01/03/2020 – 28/02/2021 Assegnista di Ricerca Post-dottorato presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Progetto di Ricerca: “Functional characterization of full-length TDP-43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. Supervisors Prof. Cristina Cecchi e Prof. Fabrizio Chiti (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10).
01/11/2016 - 31/10/2019 Studentessa di Dottorato in “Scienze Biomediche” presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10).

Attività Didattica

2025 - Ad oggi Università degli Studi di Firenze - Corso di Laurea Triennale in Infermieristica, Scuola di Scienze della Salute Umana, Università degli Studi di Firenze - Insegnamento B030209 - SCIENZE BIOMOLECOLARI - BIOCHIMICA, 2 CFU (SSD BIOS-07/A).
2023 - 2024 Università degli Studi di Firenze - Corso di Laurea Triennale in Infermieristica, Scuola di Scienze della Salute Umana, Università degli Studi di Firenze - Insegnamento B030209 - SCIENZE BIOMOLECOLARI - BIOCHIMICA, 1 CFU (SSD BIOS-07/A).
2023 - Ad oggi Università degli Studi di Firenze - Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche e Farmaceutiche - Insegnamento B029492 – TECNICHE DI BIOCHIMICA STRUTTURALE E CELLULARE, 1 CFU (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10).
2020 Nomina a Cultore della Materia in Biochimica (SSD BIOS-07/A, ex BIO/10) per il Corso di Laurea Triennale (DM 270/04) in Infermieristica, Scuola di Scienze della Salute Umana, Università degli Studi di Firenze. Titolare del corso Prof. Cristina Cecchi.
2017 - Ad oggi Attività di tutoraggio per studenti di laurea triennale e magistrale in Scienze Biologiche e Biotecnologie durante il loro tirocinio sperimentale sotto la supervisione della Prof.ssa Cristina Cecchi e del Prof. Fabrizio Chiti presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Firenze.

Appartenenza a Società Professionali

Dal 2017 Membro della Società Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare (SIB).

Premi e riconoscimenti

2025 Medaglia SIB conferita dalla Società Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare ad un suo Socio Giovane under 35 come riconoscimento per una rilevante attività scientifica.
2024 FEBS Open Bio Poster Prize al 48° Congresso FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) “Mining Biochemistry for Human Health and Well-Being”, Milano (Italia), 29 Giugno - 3 Luglio 2024.
2024 Borsa SIB (Società Italiana di Biochimica) per l'iscrizione al 48° Congresso FEBS “Mining Biochemistry for Human Health and Well-Being”, Milano (Italia), 29 Giugno - 3 Luglio 2024.
2022 “FEBS Bursary” (€ 680) per la partecipazione all'IUBMB-FEBS-PABMB 2022 Congress “The Biochemistry global summit”, Lisbona (Portogallo), 9-14 Luglio 2022.
2021 Poster Prize al 61° Congresso SIB 2021 (interamente virtuale), 23-24 Settembre 2021, per la presentazione dell'abstract “Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of single-domain antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease”.

Presentazioni orali a Congressi Nazionali e Internazionali

2025 Relazione su invito per il conferimento della Medaglia SIB 2025. From protein misfolding to disease - Molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of neurodegeneration. Palermo (Italia), 12 settembre 2025.
2024 Bigi A, Chiti F. “Modelling the aging-associated loss of proteostasis leading to proteinopathy”. PNRR Age-It “Ageing well in an ageing society” 1° Incontro Generale del Programma, Venezia (Italia), 20-22 Maggio 2024.
2022 Bigi A, Cascella R, Ermini E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. “Mechanistic insights into the protective role of trodusquemine in TDP-43-associated proteinopathies”. TUM Congress 2022, Perugia (Italia), 1 Dicembre 2022, organizzato dalla sottosezione Toscana Umbria Marche (TUM) della Società Italiana di Biochimica.
2022 Bigi A, Cascella R, Lombardo E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. “Trodusquemine prevents TDP-43 inclusion formation and suppresses its toxicity in vitro and in vivo”. Presentazione orale “on demand” caricata sulla piattaforma virtuale della “Hybrid AD/PD™ 2022, Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases Conference” – Barcellona (Spagna), 15-20 Marzo 2022.
2021 Bigi A, Napolitano L. Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. “Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of single domain antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease”. “SIB 2021 61° Congresso”, 23-24 Settembre 2021.
2019 Bigi A, Cascella R, Chen SW, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Molecular basis of neuronal calcium dyshomeostasis caused by $α$ -synuclein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease. “SIB 2019 60° Congresso” Lecce (Italia), 18-20 Settembre 2019.
2017 Bigi A, Evangelisti E, Stefani M, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. A$beta$42 oligomers interact with GM1 ganglioside inducing neuronal calcium overload. “SIB 2019 59° Congresso” Caserta (Italia), 20-22 Settembre 2017.

Finanziamenti

2025 Fondi di Ateneo (RICATEN) - Università degli Studi di Firenze. Titolo del Progetto: hallmarks of aging: DNA damage, telomere dysfunction, loss of proteostasis, and the search continues. Principal Investigator.
2024 Fondi di Ateneo (RICATEN) - Università degli Studi di Firenze. Titolo del Progetto: hallmarks of aging: DNA damage, telomere dysfunction, loss of proteostasis, and the search continues. Principal Investigator.

Abstract e poster presentati a Congressi

Bigi A, Panzi A, Ermini E, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Neuronal models of the aging-associated loss of proteostasis leading to proteinopathy. AD/PD™ 2025 Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. Vienna (Austria), April 1-5, 2025.
Cecchi C, Bigi A, Ermini E, Gennari M, Banchelli M, Staderini T, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cascella R. Trodusquemine prevents the formation of TDP-43 inclusions and their associated neurotoxicity. Accepted abstract. AD/PD™ 2025 Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. Vienna (Austria), April 1-5, 2025.
Bigi A, Panzi A, Ermini E, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Aging-associated loss of proteostasis leads to parallel events of senescence and proteinopathy. Protein misfolding and aggregation in disease meeting. February 12-14, 2025. Mantova (Italy).
Cascella R, Bigi A, Ermini E, Gennari M, Banchelli M, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Trodusquemine prevents the formation of insoluble neurotoxic tdp-43 inclusions. Protein misfolding and aggregation in disease meeting. February 12-14, 2025. Mantova (Italy).
Catalano F, Troilo F, Bigi A, Gabriele F, Giardina, Asteriti IA, Guarguaglini G, Angelucci F, Chiti F, Travaglini-Allocatelli C, Di Matteo A. Unraveling phase separation behavior of the structured portion of FMRP and the impact of FXS-linked mutations. Protein misfolding and aggregation in disease meeting. February 12-14, 2025. Mantova (Italy).
Ermini E, Gennari M, Bigi A, Cascella R, Chiti F. Investigating the impact of estrogens on TDP-43 aggregation in ALS: a multi-model approach. Protein misfolding and aggregation in disease meeting. February 12-14, 2025. Mantova (Italy).
Gennari M, Ermini E, Bigi A, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Trodusquemine modulates the aggregation of TDP-43. Protein misfolding and aggregation in disease meeting. February 12-14, 2025. Mantova (Italy).
Ristori S, Bientinesi E, Bigi A, Monti D. Effects of Aβ oligomers on human astrocytes from healthy subjects and Alzheimer’s disease patients. SIPMeT 2024 Translational Pathophysiology Congress. September 19-21, 2024; Udine (Italy).
Bigi A, Ermini E, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Modelling the aging-associated loss of proteostasis leading to proteinopathy. 48^th FEBS Congress “Mining Biochemistry for Human Health and Well-Being”. June 29^th - July 3^rd, 2024; Milano (Italy).
Cascella R, Bigi A, Ermini E, Staderini T, Conti AC, Banchelli M, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Targeting the insoluble inclusions of TDP-43 by trodusquemine as a potential therapeutic strategy for ALS and FTLD. 48^th FEBS Congress “Mining Biochemistry for Human Health and Well-Being”, June 29^th - July 3^rd. 2024; Milano (Italy).
Bientinesi E, Ristori S, Bigi A, Cecchi C, Chiti F, Monti D. Different effects of Aβ oligomers on human astrocytes from healthy subjects and Alzheimer’s disease patients. PNRR Age-It “Ageing well in an ageing society” 1^st General Meeting of the Programme. May 20-22, 2024; Venezia (Italy).
Tenori L, Vignoli A, Neri L, Bigi A, Chiti F. Metabolomic investigation of the effects of Alzheimer’s molecular stressors on neuroblastoma cells. PNRR Age-It “Ageing well in an ageing society” 1^st General Meeting of the Programme. May 20-22, 2024; Venezia (Italy).
Ristori S, Bientinesi E, Bigi A, Lulli M, Monti D. Astrocyte senescence as a general mechanism underlying sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease onset. SIPMeT Young Scientists Meeting 2023 “General pathology: the trunk of the tree of medicine”. September 22-23, 2023; Parma (Italy).
Bigi A, Fani G, Bessi V, Napolitano L, Neri L, Cascella R, Matteini P, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Novel promising CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease based on protein misfolding, protein aggregation and proteotoxicity. 62° SIB Congress – 2023. September 7-9, 2023; Firenze (Italy).
Napolitano L, Bigi A, Vadukul D, Aprile F, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Single domain antibodies as promising tools for the selective detection and neutralization of neurotoxic Aβ42 oligomers in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® 2023 (AAIC®), July 16-20, 2023; Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Bigi A, Cascella R, Ermini E, Staderini T, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Trodusquemine: a promising therapeutic molecule for TDP-43-associated proteinopathies. AD/PD™ 2023, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 28^th – April 1^st, 2023; Gothemburg (Sweden).
Napolitano L, Bigi A, Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Neurotoxic Aβ₄₂ oligomers can be selectively detected and neutralized by single domain antibodies. AD/PD™ 2023, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 28^th – April 1^st, 2023; Gothemburg (Sweden).
Staderini T, Bigi A, Mongiello D, Chiti F. Phase separation of Full Length recombinant TAR DNA-Binding Protein (FL TDP43). AriSLA Meeting 2022 - Research, development and innovation in ALS. November 3-4, 2022; Milano (Italy).
Staderini T, Bigi A, Mongiello D, Chiti F. Phase separation of Full Length recombinant TAR DNA-Binding Protein (FL TDP43). The Leuven Protein Aggregation Meeting. September 21-23, 2022; Leuven (Belgium).
Bigi A, Cascella R, Ermini E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Insights into the protective role of natural aminosterols in TDP-43-associated proteinopathies. IUBMB–FEBS–PABMB Congress 2022- The Biochemistry global summit. July 9-14, 2022; Lisbon (Portugal).
Staderini T, Bigi A, Mongiello D, Chiti F. Biophysical characterization of Full Length recombinant TAR DNA-Binding Protein (FL TDP43) phase separation and aggregation. IUBMB–FEBS–PABMB Congress 2022 – The Biochemistry global summit. July 9-14, 2022; Lisbon (Portugal).
Napolitano L, Bigi A, Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Single domain antibodies as new detectors of neurotoxic Aβ₄₂ oligomers. Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2022. July 31 – August 4, 2022; San Diego, CA (USA).
Napolitano L, Bigi A, Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Selective targeting of neurotoxic Aβ₄₂ oligomers by single domain antibodies. AD/PD™ 2022, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 15-20, 2022; Barcelona (Spain).
Cascella R, Bigi A, Lombardo E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C Therapeutic effects of Trodusquemine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 61° SIB 2021 Congress. Virtual edition. September 23-24, 2021.
Bigi A, Napolitano L, Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of single domain antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease. 61° SIB 2021 Congress. Virtual edition. September 23-24, 2021. Poster and oral presentation.
Bigi A, Cascella R, Loffredo G, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Targeting pathological amyloid aggregates with antibodies. AAT-AD/PD™ 2020, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference Focus Meeting (entirely virtual). 2-5 April, 2020.
Cascella R, Bigi A, Moretti M, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Functional characterisation of TDP-43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AAT-AD/PD™ 2020, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference Focus Meeting (entirely virtual). 2-5 April, 2020.
Bigi A, Cascella R, Moretti M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. The impairment of autophagy-lysosomal pathway in TDP-43 associated diseases. The European Conference on Recent Advances in Lysosomal Diseases (Med-Lysosomal). October 24-25, 2019; London (UK).
Bigi A, Cascella R, Chen S.W., De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Molecular basis of neuronal calcium dyshomeostasis caused by α-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease. SIB 2019 60^° Congress. September 18-20, 2019; Lecce (Italy). Poster and short oral presentation.
Bigi A, Cascella R, Chen SW, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. The mechanism of neurotoxicity associated with α-synuclein aggregation. 44^th FEBS Congress “From molecules to living systems”. July 6-11, 2019; Krakow (Poland).
Capitini C, Bigi A, Cascella R, Maggi L, Cecchi C, Pavone F, Calamai M. Effect of cholesterol on the proteolytic processing of APP and protein dynamics in living cells. AD/PD™ 2019, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 26-31, 2019; Lisbon (Portugal).
Cascella R, Bigi A, Chen SW, Fusco G, Perni M, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Targeting the toxicity of α-synuclein oligomers by antibodies. AD/PD™ 2019, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 26-31, 2019; Lisbon (Portugal).
Bigi A, Cascella R, Fani G, Bruno M, Bernacchioni C, Cencetti F, Chiti F, Donati C, Cecchi C. Bioactive lipids rescue neuronal degeneration induced by amyloid beta oligomers. AD/PD™ 2019, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. March 26-31, 2019; Lisbon (Portugal).
Capitini C, Bigi A, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Pavone F, Calamai M. Investigation of the APP, BACE1 and ADAM10 dynamics on the plasma membrane by single molecule tracking experiments. ASCB/EMBO Annual Meeting, December 8-12, 2018; San Diego (CA, USA).
Cascella R, Bigi A, Chen SW, Cremades N, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. The mechanism of neuronal toxicity by oligomers and fibrils of α-synuclein. FISV 2018. September 19-20, 2018, Roma (Italy).
Bigi A, Cascella R, Chen SW, Fusco G, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cremades N, Cecchi C. Molecular basis of neuronal toxicity by alfa-synuclein oligomers and fibrils. AAT-AD/PD™ 2018, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference Focus Meeting, March 15-18, 2018; Torino (Italy).

Altre attività scientifiche

2025 Membro del comitato organizzatore del Congresso SIB-TUM 2025 che si terrà a Firenze (Italia) il 9 giugno 2025 (sito web del meeting: http://bioserver2.sbsc.unifi.it/SibTUM/SIB.html).

Dal 2023 Editor per Frontiers in Neuroscience (sito web del tema di ricerca: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/55791/promising-therapeutic-strategies-for-alzheimers-disease-a-focus-on-amyloid--targeting).

Dal 2019 Revisore per Advanced Science, Alzheimers Research and Therapy, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Biomedicines, Cell & bioscience, Cells, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, International journal of biological macromolecules, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Metabolic brain disease, Neurochemistry international, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutics, Review Commons. L'attività di revisione paritaria è consultabile sulla pagina ORCID 0000-0002-1067-6288.

Corsi e certificati

2022 Corso di formazione di 4 ore sui rischi derivanti dall'uso di gas criogenici – Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italia).

2021 Corso di formazione di 5 ore sulla manipolazione sicura di sorgenti radioattive non sigillate – Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italia).

Competenze personali

Madrelingua Italiano

Altre lingue Inglese: ottime capacità di lettura, scrittura e conversazione.

Francese: buone capacità di lettura, scrittura e conversazione.

Competenze digitali e informatiche

Ottima conoscenza dei sistemi operativi Windows e MacOS.
Utilizzo avanzato dei programmi del pacchetto Microsoft Office^TM (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Ottima padronanza di Adobe Photoshop.
Ottima padronanza delle applicazioni di statistica, grafica e analisi dei dati GraphPad Prism, Origin e Kaleidagraph e CellProfiler.

Competenze tecniche

Manipolazione del liquido cerebrospinale (CSF) umano per l'individuazione di biomarcatori della malattia di Alzheimer.
Coltura e mantenimento di linee cellulari primarie e immortalizzate.
Coltura e mantenimento di cellule staminali pluripotenti indotte (iPS) umane.
Trasfezione di DNA plasmidico e siRNA in cellule in coltura.
Utilizzo della microscopia confocale e STED.
Tecniche di biochimica e biologia molecolare: frazionamento cellulare; elettroforesi su gel di poliacrilammide; Western blotting; saggi colorimetrici, luminometrici, fluorimetrici e spettrofotometrici; trasfezione proteica in cellule; estrazione DNA/RNA; PCR; elettroforesi su gel di agarosio).
Utilizzo del nematode C. elegans come modello in vivo per lo studio delle malattie neurodegenerative.

Alessandra BIGI

Interessi

Gli interessi di ricerca della Dr. Alessandra Bigi riguardano lo studio della relazione tra struttura e tossicità di aggregati proteici aberranti coinvolti in malattie da misfolding proteico (morbo di Alzheimer, morbo di Parkinson, sclerosi laterale amiotrofica) con l'obiettivo di identificare potenziali biomarcatori e molecole terapeutiche per il loro trattamento.

Alessandra BIGI

Pubblicazioni

Legenda

Contributo su rivista |

Articolo su libro |

Libro |

Contributo in atti di convegno (proceeding) |

Brevetto |

Curatela | Altro

Altro |

Tesi di Dottorato

Liliana Napolitano, Devkee M. Vadukul, Alessandra Bigi, Pasquale Palladino, Cristina Cecchi, Fabrizio Chiti, Roberta Cascella, Francesco A. Aprile (In corso di stampa). Engineering a dimeric single-domain antibody for improved detection and neutralization of amyloid-β oligomers. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2399-3642

Bigi, Alessandra; Chiti, Fabrizio (2026). Understanding liquid-liquid phase separation through TDP-43: fundamental principles, subcellular compartmentalisation, and role of solid inclusion formation. GENOME BIOLOGY, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1474-760X DOI

Ristori S.; Bertoni G.; Bigi A.; Cecchi C.; Sollazzo M.; Iommarini L.; Monti D.; Bientinesi E. (2025). Human astrocytes from healthy individuals and Alzheimer's patients respond differently to Aβ1–42 oligomers, triggering distinct paths of reactivity and senescence. MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT, vol. 228, pp. 1-20, ISSN:1872-6216 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Bigi A.; Conti A.C.; Napolitano L.; Fusco G.; De Simone A.; Chiti F.; Cascella R.; Cecchi C. (2025). Cellular prion protein and calcium ions trigger the neurotoxicity of α-synuclein aggregates. CELL & BIOSCIENCE, vol. 15, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2045-3701 DOI

Sepe S.; Rey F.; Mancheno-Ferris A.; Bigi A.; Fani G.; Damiani D.; Cabrini M.; Marinelli E.; Aguado J.; Contu L.; di Lillo A.; Boggio S.; Tavella S.; Rosso I.; Gustincich S.; Chiti F.; d'Adda di Fagagna F. (2025). Telomeric DNA damage response mediates neurotoxicity of Aβ42 oligomers in Alzheimer’s disease. EMBO JOURNAL, vol. 44, pp. 6078-6111, ISSN:1460-2075 DOI

Staderini, Tommaso; Bigi, Alessandra; Lagrève, Clément; Marzi, Isabella; Bemporad, Francesco; Chiti, Fabrizio (2024). Biophysical characterization of the phase separation of TDP-43 devoid of the C-terminal domain. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LETTERS, vol. 29, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1689-1392 DOI

Bigi, Alessandra; Fani, Giulia; Bessi, Valentina; Napolitano, Liliana; Bagnoli, Silvia; Ingannato, Assunta; Neri, Lorenzo; Cascella, Roberta; Matteini, Paolo; Sorbi, Sandro; Nacmias, Benedetta; Cecchi, Cristina; Chiti, Fabrizio (2024). Putative novel CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease based on the novel concept of generic protein misfolding and proteotoxicity: the PRAMA cohort. TRANSLATIONAL NEURODEGENERATION, vol. 13, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2047-9158 DOI

Serene W. Chen, Joseph D. Barritt, Roberta Cascella, Alessandra Bigi, Cristina Cecchi, Martina Banchelli, Angelo Gallo, James A. Jarvis, Fabrizio Chiti, Christopher M. Dobson, Giuliana Fusco, and Alfonso De Simone (2024). Structure-toxicity relationship in intermediate fibrils from lα-Synuclein condensates. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, vol. 146, pp. 10537-10549, ISSN:0002-7863 DOI

Alessandra Bigi, Ryan Limbocker, Cristina Cecchi (2024). Editorial: Promising therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease: a focus on amyloid-β targeting. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 18, pp. 1-2, ISSN:1662-4548 DOI

Alessandra Bigi, Liliana Napolitano, Devkee M. Vadukul, Fabrizio Chiti, Cristina Cecchi, Francesco A. Aprile, Roberta Cascella (2024). A single-domain antibody detects and neutralises toxic Aβ42 oligomers in the Alzheimer's disease CSF. ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH & THERAPY, vol. 16, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1758-9193 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Bigi A, Cascella R, Fani G, Bernacchioni C, Cencetti F, Bruni P, Chiti F, Donati C, Cecchi C. (2023). Sphingosine 1-phosphate attenuates neuronal dysfunction induced by amyloid-β oligomers through endocytic internalization of NMDA receptors. THE FEBS JOURNAL, vol. 290, pp. 112-133, ISSN:1742-4658 DOI

Roberta Cascella, Martina Banchelli, Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami, Diletta Ami, Maria Cristina Gagliani, Alessandra Bigi, Tommaso Staderini, Davide Tampellini, Katia Cortese, Cristina Cecchi, Antonino Natalello, Hadi Adibi, Paolo Matteini, Fabrizio Chiti (2023). An in situ and in vitro investigation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions reveals the absence of a clear amyloid signature. ANNALS OF MEDICINE, vol. 55, pp. 72-88, ISSN:1365-2060 DOI

Cascella R, Banchelli M, Abolghasem Ghadami S, Ami D, Gagliani MC, Bigi A, Staderini T, Tampellini D, Cortese K, Cecchi C, Natalello A, Adibi H, Matteini P, Chiti F. (2023). An in situ and in vitro investigation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions reveals the absence of a clear amyloid signature. ANNALS OF MEDICINE, vol. 55, pp. 72-88, ISSN:1365-2060 DOI

Alessandra Bigi, Eva Lombardo, Roberta Cascella, Cristina Cecchi (2023). The Toxicity of Protein Aggregates: New Insights into the Mechanisms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, vol. 24, pp. 1-4, ISSN:1661-6596 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Alessandra Bigi, Roberta Cascella, Cristina Cecchi (2023). α-Synuclein oligomers and fibrils: partners in crime in synucleinopathies. NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH, vol. 18, pp. 2332-2342, ISSN:1673-5374 DOI

Claudia Capitini, Alessandra Bigi, Niccolo' Parenti, Marco Emanuele, Niccolò Bianchi, Roberta Cascella, Cristina Cecchi, Laura Maggi, Francesco Annunziato, Francesco Saverio Pavone, Martino Calamai (2023). APP and Bace1: Differential effect of cholesterol enrichment on processing and plasma membrane mobility. ISCIENCE, vol. 26, pp. 1-21, ISSN:2589-0042 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Roberta Cascella, Alessandra Bigi, Dylan Giorgino Riffert, Maria Cristina Gagliani, Emilio Ermini, Matteo Moretti, Katia Cortese, Cristina Cecchi, Fabrizio Chiti (2022). A quantitative biology approach correlates neuronal toxicity with the largest inclusions of TDP-43. SCIENCE ADVANCES, vol. eabm6376, pp. 1-13, ISSN:2375-2548 DOI

Tommaso Staderini, Alessandra Bigi, Daniele Mongiello, Cristina Cecchi, Fabrizio Chiti (2022). Biophysical characterization of full-length TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) phase separation.. PROTEIN SCIENCE, vol. 31, pp. e4509-e4509, ISSN:0961-8368 DOI

Roberta Cascella, Alessandra Bigi, Nunilo Cremades, Cristina Cecchi (2022). Effects of oligomer toxicity, fibril toxicity and fibril spreading in synucleinopathies. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES, vol. 79, pp. 1-20, ISSN:1420-682X DOI

Alessandra Bigi, Roberta Cascella, Fabrizio Chiti, Cristina Cecchi (2022). Amyloid fibrils act as a reservoir of soluble oligomers, the main culprits in protein deposition diseases. BIOESSAYS, vol. Volume 44, pp. 1-11, ISSN:1521-1878 DOI

Bigi A.; Ermini E.; Chen S.W.; Cascella R.; Cecchi C. (2021). Exploring the release of toxic oligomers from α-synuclein fibrils with antibodies and sted microscopy. LIFE, vol. 11, pp. 1-16, ISSN:2075-1729 DOI

Ryan Limbocker, Roxine Staats, Sean Chia, Francesco S Ruggeri, Benedetta Mannini, Catherine K Xu, Michele Perni, Roberta Cascella, Alessandra Bigi, Liam R Sasser, Natalie R Block, Aidan K Wright, Ryan P Kreiser, Edward T Custy, Georg Meisl, Silvia Errico, Johnny Habchi, Patrick Flagmeier, Tadas Kartanas, Jared E Hollows, Lam T Nguyen, Kathleen LeForte, Denise Barbut, Janet R Kumita, Cristina Cecchi, Michael Zasloff, Tuomas P J Knowles, Christopher M Dobson, Fabrizio Chiti, Michele Vendruscolo (2021). Squalamine and its derivatives modulate the aggregation of amyloid-β and α-synuclein and suppress the toxicity of their oligomers. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 15, pp. 1-17, ISSN:1662-453X DOI

Roberta Cascella, Serene W Chen , Alessandra Bigi, José D Camino, Catherine K Xu, Christopher M Dobson, Fabrizio Chiti, Nunilo Cremades, Cristina Cecchi (2021). The release of toxic oligomers from α-synuclein fibrils induces dysfunction in neuronal cells. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 12, pp. 1-16, ISSN:2041-1723 DOI

Ryan Limbocker, Benedetta Mannini, Francesco S. Ruggeri, Roberta Cascella, Catherine K. Xu, Michele Perni, Sean Chia, Serene W. Chen, Johnny Habchi, Alessandra Bigi, Ryan P. Kreiser, Aidan K. Wright, J. Alex Albright, Tadas Kartanas, Janet R. Kumita, Nunilo Cremades, Michael Zasloff, Cristina Cecchi, Tuomas P. J. Knowles, Fabrizio Chiti, Michele Vendruscolo, Christopher M. Dobson (2020). Trodusquemine displaces protein misfolded oligomers from cell membranes and abrogates their cytotoxicity through a generic mechanism. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, vol. 3, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2399-3642 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Alessandra Bigi, Gilda Loffredo, Roberta Cascella, Cristina Cecchi (2020). Targeting pathological amyloid aggregates with conformation-sensitive antibodies. CURRENT ALZHEIMER RESEARCH, vol. 17, pp. 722-734, ISSN:1567-2050 DOI

Alessandra Bigi (2020). Study of the relationship between structure and toxicity of different α-synuclein aggregates and related cellular dysfunctions. (Tutor: Cristina Cecchi)

Cascella R, Fani G, Bigi A, Chiti F, Cecchi C. (2019). Partial Failure of Proteostasis Systems Counteracting TDP-43 Aggregates in Neurodegenerative Diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, vol. 20, pp. 0-0, ISSN:1661-6596 DOI

Po L.; Rollo F.; Viqueira J.R.R.; Lado R.T.; Bigi A.; Lopez J.C.; Paolucci M.; Nesi P. (2019). TRAFAIR: Understanding traffic flow to improve air quality. In: 5th IEEE International Smart Cities Conference, ISC2 2019, mar, 2019, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 36-43, ISBN:978-1-7281-0846-9 DOI

La Manna, Sara; Scognamiglio, Pasqualina; Roviello, Valentina; Borbone, Fabio; Florio, Daniele; Di Natale, Concetta ; Bigi, Alessandra; Cecchi, Cristina; Cascella, Roberta; Giannini, Cinzia; Sibillano, Teresa; Novellino, Ettore; Marasco, Daniela (2019). The acute myeloid leukemia-associated nucleophosmin 1 gene mutations dictate amyloidogenicity of the C-terminal domain. THE FEBS JOURNAL, vol. 286, pp. 2311-2328, ISSN:1742-4658 DOI

Hassan Ramshini , Reza Tayebee, Alessandra Bigi, Francesco Bemporad, Cristina Cecchi, Fabrizio Chiti (2019). Identification of Novel 1,3,5-Triphenylbenzene Derivative Compounds as Inhibitors of Hen Lysozyme Amyloid Fibril Formation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, vol. 20, pp. 1-18, ISSN:1661-6596 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Cascella, Roberta; Evangelisti, Elisa; Bigi, Alessandra; Becatti, Matteo; Fiorillo, Claudia; Stefani, Massimo; Chiti, Fabrizio; Cecchi, Cristina (2017). Soluble Oligomers Require a Ganglioside to Trigger Neuronal Calcium Overload. JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, vol. 60, pp. 923-938, ISSN:1387-2877 DOI

Pierucci, F; Sassoli, C; Tani, A; Frati, A; Bigi, A; Chellini, F; Matteini, F; Anderloni, G; Nosi, D; Mazzanti, B; Zecchi-Orlandini, S; Meacci, E (2016). Secreted sphingosine 1-phosphate exerts a novel autocrine action in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell signalling. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, vol. 27, pp. 65-66, ISSN:1043-0342

Alessandra BIGI

Biography

Dr. Alessandra Bigi graduated with highest marks et encomium in Biology at the University of Florence in 2016. She obtained the PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, in 2020. During the PhD her research activities concerned the relationship between structure and toxicity of aberrant protein aggregates in protein deposition diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She has been Postdoctoral Research fellow (Assegnista di Ricerca) at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, from 2020 to 2023. In this period, she has been involved in several research projects focused on the study of the cytotoxic pathways associated with protein misfolded diseases, with the aim to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches against age-associated pathologies. Today she is a Researcher (RTD-A) in Biochemistry (SSD BIO/10).She has 27 international publications (JCR) and her h index (Scopus) is 14. She is a member of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB) since 2017.

Alessandra BIGI

Curriculum

Education and training

April 2020	PhD in “Biomedical Sciences”, curriculum “Functional Biology of Biomolecules and Biosystems” with a thesis entitled “Study of the relationship between structure and toxicity of different α-synuclein aggregates and related cellular dysfunctions”. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
July 2016	Master’s Degree in Biology (LM-6). Final mark: 110/110 cum laude and Complimenti della Commissione University of Florence, Italy.
April 2013	Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences (L-13). Final mark: 110/110 University of Florence, Italy.
July 2009	*Scientific High School Diploma. Final mark: 100/100* Liceo Scientifico Francesco Redi, Arezzo, Italy.

Research experience

01/02/2026- Present	Tenure track researcher (RTT) in Biochemistry, at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence.
01/02/2023 - 31/01/2026	Researcher (RTD-A) in Biochemistry, at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence.
01/03/2022 - 31/01/2023	Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence. Research Project: “Trodusquemine as a new therapeutic molecule for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi.
01/03/2021 –28/02/2022	Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence. Research Project: “Single domain antibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for Alzheimer's disease”. Supervisor Dr. Roberta Cascella.
01/03/2020 – 28/02/2021	Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence. Research Project: “Functional characterization of full-lenght TDP-43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. Supervisors Prof. Cristina Cecchi and Prof. Fabrizio Chiti.
01/11/2016 - 31/10/2019	PhD student in “Biomedical Sciences” at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence. Supervisor Prof. Cristina Cecchi.

Professional Membership

2017 - Present

Member of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB).

Honours

2025

Medaglia SIB 2025 Awarded by the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to a Young Member in recognition of outstanding scientific activity.

2024

FEBS Open Bio Poster Prize at the 48th FEBS Congress “Mining Biochemistry for Human Health and Well-Being”, Milano (Italy), June 29th - July 3rd, 2024.

2021

Poster Prize at the “SIB 2021 61^° Congress” (entirely virtual), September, 23-24, 2021, for presenting the abstract “Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of single-domain antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease”.

Selected speaker at national and international conferences

2025	Invited lecture for the award of the SIB Medal 2025. From protein misfolding to disease: molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of neurodegeneration. Palermo, Italy, September 12, 2025.
2024	Bigi A, Chiti F. “Modelling the aging-associated loss of proteostasis leading to proteinopathy”. Programma di Ricerca PNRR Age-It “Ageing well in an ageing society” 1^st General Meeting of the Programme, Venezia (Italy) May 20-22, 2024.
2022	Bigi A, Cascella R, Ermini E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. “Mechanisticinsights into the protective role of trodusquemine in TDP-43-associated proteinopathies”. TUM Congress 2022, Perugia (Italy), December 1^st, 2022.
2022	Bigi A, Cascella R, Lombardo E, Barbut D, Zasloff M, Chiti F, Cecchi C. “Trodusquemine prevents TDP-43 inclusion formation and suppresses its toxicity in vitro and in vivo”. Oral “on demand” uploaded in the virtual Conference platform of the “Hybrid AD/PD™ 2022, Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases Conference” – Barcelona (Spain), March 15-20, 2022.
2021	Bigi A, Napolitano L. Vadukul D, Aprile FA, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. “Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of single domain antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease”. “SIB 2021 61° Congress” (entirely virtual) September 23-24, 2021 (poster and short oral presentation).
2019	Bigi A, Cascella R, Chen SW, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Cecchi C. Molecular basis of neuronal calcium dyshomeostasis caused by α-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease. “SIB 2019 60^° Congress” Lecce (Italy), September 18-20, 2019 (poster and short oral presentation).
2017	Bigi A, Evangelisti E, Stefani M, Chiti F, Cecchi C, Cascella R. Aβ₄₂ oligomers interact with GM1 ganglioside inducing neuronal calcium overload. “SIB 2019 59^° Congress” Caserta (Italy), September 20-22, 2017.

Other scientific activities

Since 2019

Reviewer for Neural Regeneration Research, Biomedicines, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Cells, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Review Commons, Scientific Reports, Pharmaceuticals, Neurochemistry International, BBA - Molecular Cell Research.

Alessandra BIGI

Interest

The research interests of Dr. Alessandra Bigi focus on the study of the relationship between structure and toxicity of aberrant protein aggregates involved in protein misfolded diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) with the aim to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic molecules for their treatment.