Team
Experts committed to neonatal research
The NeoLab team is composed of highly skilled professionals united by a shared vision: to enhance the health and well-being of infants during the critical first 1,000 days of life. Each team member brings extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to scientific research. Our mission is to transform research into practical, innovative care, ensuring optimal development during these formative years.
Prof. Serafina Perrone
Principal Investigator, Associate Professor
Serafina Perrone is the Director of the Complex Operative Unit of Neonatology at the University Hospital of Parma and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. She graduated summa cum laude in Medicine from the University of Siena, followed by a residency in Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, and a PhD in growth factors. With over 500 scientific publications and an H-index of 40, she is a leading expert on oxidative stress markers for the early identification of newborns at high risk for brain damage. Her research also focuses on evaluating novel neuroprotective clinical strategies and therapies. Dr. Perrone coordinates innovative research projects funded by both the Ministry of Health and the European Community.
Dr. Virginia Beretta
PhD Student
Virginia Beretta is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and is actively involved in research within the field of Neonatology. Her research focuses on factors contributing to perinatal brain damage, with a particular emphasis on the role of the olfactory system and the neuroscientific foundations of neonatal brain development. Her work aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying early neurodevelopment, with the ultimate goal of identifying strategies to enhance neurocognitive outcomes in vulnerable infants.
Dr. Elena Scarpa
Research Fellow
Elena Scarpa is a research fellow at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, where she is actively involved in research projects within the neonatology laboratory. Her work centers on the trajectories of typical and atypical neurodevelopment in both preterm and term infants, with the aim of investigating the mechanisms that regulate early brain development. Specifically, her research focuses on physiological neurodevelopment, analyzing in detail the development and maturation of the central nervous system from prenatal to postnatal stages. Additionally, her efforts are dedicated to the early identification of deviations from normal neurodevelopment, both in infants with typical developmental pathways and those who have experienced perinatal distress.
Dr. Chiara Petrolini
Neonatologist
Chiara Petrolini is a neonatologist at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, specializing in both research and clinical practice within the field of neonatology. Her scientific interests include lactation and the study of mother-child co-regulation mechanisms, with a particular focus on the role of early interactions in promoting the well-being and development of newborns.
Dr. Valentina Giovanna Dell'Orto
Clinical Researcher
Valentina Dell’Orto is a researcher at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, with a scientific focus on the study of complex neonatal diseases. Her research primarily addresses chronic lung pathology and neonatal brain injury, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying these conditions and to develop innovative strategies for their treatment.
Dr. Maria Maddalena Brambilla
Research fellow
Maria Maddalena Brambilla is a research fellow at the University of Parma, specializing in perinatal psychology and physiology. Her research focuses on pre- and postnatal factors that influence neurobehavioral development and the caregiver-infant relationship, with a particular emphasis on the impact of endocrine disruptors and the mechanisms underlying early development.