PERSONAL DATA Date of birth: January 20, 1976 Place of birth: Parma, Italy Nationality: Italian Mailing address: Department of Food and Drug University of Parma Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy EDUCATION 2006. Ph.D. in Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 2002. Doctor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, "Magna cum Laude", University of Parma, Parma, Italy. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Since 2018 Research Assistant Professor (RTD-B), Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma Italy; 2013-2018 Research Assistant Professor (RTD-A), Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma Italy; 2008-2013 Post-doctoral researcher, Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 2006-2007 Post-doctoral researcher, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, USA, laboratory of lipid metabolism directed by Dr. Rothblat. 2004-2006 PhD student, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, USA, laboratory of lipid metabolism directed by Dr. Rothblat. 2002-2003 Research Fellowship, Department of Pharmacological and Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. HONORS 2013 Award for the best oral presentation at the 36th national congress of the Italian Society of Pharmacology Torino, Italy; 2013 Award by the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) for the best research project of Pharmacology in cardio-metabolic area; 2012 Award for the best oral presentation at the Convegno Monotematico della Società Italiana di Farmacologia (SIF) “Nuove frontiere nella terapia dell’aterosclerosi”; 2006 Young Investigator Poster Award at the XIV International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (ISA), Rome, Italy; Milano, Italy; 2005 New Investigator Travel Award at the 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Washington, DC, USA. RESEARCH ACTIVITY The background of the applicant focuses on the cardiovascular system area, regarding both basic and applied research, aimed to the investigation of mechanisms regulating lipid homeostasis and its modulation for the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. These studies are performed both in vitro and ex vivo by using cell-based assays and different techniques (radioisotopic, colorimetric, fluorimetric) and evaluating several cholesterol metabolism-related parameters. Research activity also focuses on the study of HDL cholesterol efflux capacity and its modulation in several clinical conditions associated to higher cardiovascular risk. Recently, the research interest has moved to the study of lipid metabolism and its potential alterations in Alzheimer's disease. MEMBERSHIPS Member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF), the Italian Society of Atherosclerosis (SISA), the International Society of Arteriosclerosis (ISA), the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and the European Lipoprotein Club (ELC). MEETINGS Francesca Zimetti participated at several (more than 100) national and international scientific meetings with both poster and oral presentations, including invited oral lectures. PROJECTS 2018 Scientific project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. Title of the project: AGAINST-AD - tArGeting brAIn cholesterol traNSporT in Alzheimer’s Disease. Role: Responsible of Operative Unit; 2018 Scientific project funded by Amgen Inc. (PCSK9 Competitive Grant Program) Title of the project: EXplorIng the paThophysological role of PCSK9 in Alzheimer’s Disease: focus on inflammation and lipid metabolism (EXIT-AD). Role: Co-Investigator; 2018 Finanziamento delle attività base di ricerca – FFABR MIUR; 2016 Scientific project funded by the Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Title of the project: Role of gut microbiota in calcific aortic valve stenosis pathogenesis. Role: co-investigator; 2014 Scientific project funded by the University of Parma. Title of the project: Potential mechanisms of increased cardiovascular risk related to alterations of HDL cholesterol efflux capacity in patients with vasculitides. Role: PI. PUBLICATIONS Author of 41 peer reviewed-publications H-INDEX: 17 (Scopus) Total citations: 1315 (Scopus)