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Alma universitas studiorum parmensis A.D. 962 - Università di ParmaAlma universitas studiorum parmensis A.D. 962 - Università di Parma People and Organization
Università degli Studi di Parma

Federica Fantuzzi

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Fixed-term researcher
Department of Medicine and Surgery
Clinical and Experimental Medicine Unit
SSD: Food and Dietetic Sciences (MEDS-08/C)

Presentazione

Researcher at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma. Her scientific activity is in the fields of diabetology, endocrinology and metabolism, with a particular interest in the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes and in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.

She teaches endocrinology, nutrition and metabolism in bachelor’s degree programmes, master’s degree programmes and specialty schools at the University of Parma.

Curriculum Vitae

Current position
Researcher (RTDa) at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma.

Education
Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology, University of Parma (2015).
PhD in Medical Sciences, University of Parma, with the title of Doctor Europaeus (2020).

Previous research experience
She carried out research activities at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, and at the ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, where she was first a visiting PhD student and subsequently a postdoctoral fellow.

Projects and funding

  • University Research Grant 2024 – Action B, University of Parma, for a project on the metabolic regulation of iPSC-derived β cells exposed to polyphenol metabolites under control and lipotoxic conditions.
  • Co-Principal Investigator of an EFSD/Boehringer Ingelheim European Research Programme project on the role of CCND2 gene variants in the adipose tissue–β-cell axis in type 2 diabetes and obesity.
  • F.R.S.-FNRS postdoctoral fellowship for the project “From β cell failure to functional recovery in type 2 diabetes”.
  • Albert Renold Travel Fellowship, European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes.
  • ULB fellowship supporting postdoctoral researchers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientific reviewing activity
Reviewer for international scientific journals, including Acta Diabetologica, Frontiers in Genetics, Frontiers in Nutrition, Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, Food & Function and Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

Awards
District 28 Zonta Women in STEM Award, Zonta International, 2026.
Young Researcher Award, 14th edition of Parma Diabetes, Italian Society of Diabetology and Italian Society of Endocrinology, 2025.
Inspiring Women Award, Zonta Club of Parma, 2023.
Best Oral Presentation, 3rd Research Day, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 2023.

Positions

  • Member of the Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
  • Member of the scientific committee of the multidisciplinary and multidimensional forum “Panorama Diabete” (2025) and of the annual meeting (2026) of the Italian Society of Diabetology.

Teachings

Research

Research areas

Her research activity is dedicated to the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes, with particular focus on the function, dysfunction and survival of pancreatic β cells.

One research line concerns the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells to generate β-pancreatic cellular models for the study of β-cell biology, insulin secretion and the pathogenic mechanisms associated with different forms of diabetes, including monogenic forms and type 2 diabetes.

A second research area focuses on the study of metabolic stress, with particular reference to glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity, in pancreatic β cells and in other cellular models relevant to the metabolic and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Her research also includes the study of the effects of food-derived bioactive metabolites, including polyphenol metabolites, on β-cell function and metabolic regulation, with the aim of identifying cellular mechanisms potentially relevant to the prevention or treatment of β-cell dysfunction.

The main research lines therefore include:

  • generation and functional characterization of pancreatic β cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells;
  • study of glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity mechanisms in human cellular models;
  • analysis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying monogenic and multifactorial forms of diabetes;
  • assessment of β-cell function through insulin secretion assays and functional analyses;
  • study of the effects of bioactive compounds and nutrition-derived metabolites on cellular models involved in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Publications

Full list of publications

Public Engagement Initiatives

Her public engagement activity is aimed at disseminating scientific knowledge in the fields of diabetes, endocrinology, nutrition and metabolism. In particular, it includes participation in outreach initiatives and meetings addressed to people with diabetes, patient associations, healthcare professionals and the general public, with the aim of promoting accurate information on the mechanisms of diabetic disease, prevention and innovation in biomedical research.