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Francesca Tomatis completed her Bachelor's Degree in Medical Engineering at the University Tor Vergata in Rome (2016) and her Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Politecnico of Turin (2018). Her Master's thesis project, performed at the Italian Institute of Technology in Pontedera (Pisa), was about cell membrane-coated magnetic nanoparticles for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. This work resulted in the publication of an article that was orally presented during the E-MRS Fall Meeting 2018, in Warsaw (Poland). Currently, Francesca is a PhD student in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine at the University of Coimbra. She has been part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "NANOSTEM" funded by the European Commission and she won the FCT PhD fellowship to conclude her work. Her PhD projects are about the synthesis of CRISPR-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for gene editing applications in the brain to treat neurodegenerative diseases and the modulation of the blood-brain barrier with engineered extracellular vesicles. She has already visited three labs in different countries (France, Germany and Italy) to learn techniques useful for her projects and she presented her work in international conferences, winning the best oral presentation award during ESB2023 in Davos, Switzerland. She is extremely passionate about research and she is fascinated by the possibility to use nanoformulations to treat diseases in the brain.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Francesca Tomatis

Citation names

  • Tomatis, Francesca

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
A51E-A60C-D607
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7378-0752

Email addresses

  • francesca.tomatis@outlook.it (Professional)
  • ftomatis@cnc.uc.pt (Professional)

Telephones

Telephone
  • 23124917 (Professional)

Addresses

  • UC Biotech - Technological Park of Cantanhede Núcleo 4, Lote 8, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Cantanhede, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Cell Biology
  • Engineering and Technology - Nano-technology - Nano-materials

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Italian (Mother tongue)
French Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Portuguese Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Spanish; Castilian Elementary (A2) Upper intermediate (B2) Elementary (A2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2018/10/05 - 2024
Ongoing
 Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
2021/02
Concluded
 Professional Industrial Engineering Qualification (Postgraduate Certificate)
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
2016/11/01 - 2018/10/26
Concluded
 Biomedical Engineering (Laurea Magistrale)
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
""ROS-scavenging magnetic nanocubes as a novel theranostic for brain cancer"" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 105/110 (Converted to 19/20)
2013/09 - 2016/10/31
Concluded
 Medical Engineering (Laurea)
Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy
 105/110 (Converted to 19/20)
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/03/01 - 2024/02/29 Researcher (Research) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2021/09/01 - 2022/02/28 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/09/01 - 2021/08/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2020/01/13 - 2020/01/31 Research Trainee (Research) Université d'Artois Laboratoire de la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique, France
2019/11/04 - 2019/11/17 Research Trainee (Research) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Center for Micro BioRobotics, Italy
2018/11 - 2018/12 Research Trainee (Research) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Biomedizinisches Centrum München, Germany
2018/03/01 - 2018/08/31 Research Trainee (Research) Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Center for Micro BioRobotics, Italy
2015/12/01 - 2016/02/29 Research Trainee (Research) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Center for Life Nano Science, Italy
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2022/03/01 - 2024/02/29 Polymeric nanoparticles loaded with CRISPR/dCas9 for direct cell reprogramming
2021.06297.BD
PhD Student Fellow
Ongoing
2018/09/01 - 2021/08/31 NANOSTEM - Developing new NANOmaterials for neural STEM cells drug delivery
764958
PhD Student Fellow
Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Université d'Artois, France

Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE Campus dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Germany

MJR PHARMJET, Germany

Sanofi SA Recherche & Développement, France

HCSPharma, France
European Commission
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Santos, Liliana; Tomatis, Francesca; Ferreira, Hugo R. S.; Almeida, Sara F.F.; Ribeiro, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, Lino; Ana Paula F. da Silva; et al. "Unraveling the role of HER2+ breast cancer cells-derived secretome on blood-brain barrier dysfunction in premetastatic niche formation". Paper presented in EACR Conference ’The Tumour Ecosystem: Cellular Interactions and Therapeutic Opportunities’ , Bergamo, Italy, 2024.
  2. Tomatis, Francesca; Susana Margarida Neto Simões; Rosa, Susana; Emanuel Barth; Manja Mars; Ferreira, Lino. "Engineering extracellular vesicles with microRNAs to cross the blood-brain barrier". Paper presented in 3rd RESETageing Conference, 2023.
  3. Tomatis, Francesca; Susana Margarida Neto Simões; Rosa, Susana; Emanuel Barth; Manja Mars; Ferreira, Lino. "Engineering extracellular vesicles to modulate the blood-brain barrier". Paper presented in ETRS & SPCE-TC Joint Meeting 2023, 2023.
  4. Ferreira, Hugo R. S.; Tomatis, Francesca; Almeida, Sara F.F.; Ribeiro, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, Lino; Ana Paula Silva; Moreira, João Nuno; et al. "Evaluating Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Changes during Premetastatic Niche Formation for HER2+ Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis". Paper presented in EACR 2023 Congress, 2023.
  5. Tomatis, Francesca; Susana Margarida Neto Simões; Susana Rosa; Emanuel Barth; Manja Mars; Ferreira, Lino. "Engineering extracellular vesicles to cross the blood-brain barrier". Paper presented in FENS Regional Meeting, 2023.
  6. Santos, Liliana; FERREIRA, HUGO; Tomatis, Francesca; Sereno, José Vitor Oliveira; Almeida, Sara F.F.; Ferreira, Lino; Ana Paula Silva; et al. "Impact of HER2+ brain-tropic breast cancer cells in blood-brain barrier permeability during the pre-metastatic niche formation". Paper presented in Champalimaud Research Symposium 2022, 2022.
  7. Santos, Liliana; Tomatis, Francesca; Ferreira, Hugo R. S.; Sereno, José Vitor Oliveira; Almeida, Sara F.F.; Ferreira, Lino; Ana Paula Silva; et al. "Trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ Brain Tropic Breast Cancer Cells Disrupt the Blood-Brain Barrier: a Potential Route for Brain Drug Delivery". Paper presented in 5th ASPIC International Congress, 2022.
  8. Eleonora Rizzi; Susana Margarida Neto Simões; Rosa, Susana; Tomatis, Francesca; MP. Dehouck; Ferreira, Lino; C. Mysiorek. "Tackling stroke in vitro: characterization of a triculture human Blood-Brain Barrier model and its suitability for nanogels studies. E. Rizzi, F. Traldi, S. Simoes, S. Rosa, F. Tomatis, MP. Dehouck, F. Gosselet, L. Ferreira, M. Resmini, C. Mysiorek". Paper presented in Signal transduction at the Blood-Brain Barrier symposium, 2021.
Journal article
  1. Simões, Susana; Lino, Miguel; Barrera, Angela; Rebelo, Catarina; Tomatis, Francesca; Vilaça, Andreia; Breunig, Christopher; et al. "Near-Infrared Light Activated Formulation for the Spatially Controlled Release of CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein for Brain Gene Editing". Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202401004.
    10.1002/anie.202401004
  2. Santos, Liliana; Tomatis, Francesca; Ferreira, Hugo R.S.; Sereno, José Vitor Oliveira; Almeida, Sara F.F.; Ferreira, Lino; Ana Paula F. da Silva; et al. "Impact of HER2+ brain-tropic breast cancer cells in blood-brain barrier permeability". Fluids and Barriers of the CNS 20 S1 (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12987-023-00417-4.
    10.1186/s12987-023-00417-4
  3. Tomatis, Francesca. "Engineered extracellular vesicles as brain therapeutics". Journal of Controlled Release (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.08.037.
    10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.08.037
  4. Sara Bernardo-Castro; Inês Albino; Ángela María Barrera-Sandoval; Francesca Tomatis; João André Sousa; Emanuel Martins; Susana Simões; et al. "Therapeutic Nanoparticles for the Different Phases of Ischemic Stroke". Life 11 6 (2021): 482-482. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060482.
    10.3390/life11060482
  5. Tapeinos, C.; Larrañaga, A.; Tomatis, F.; Bizeau, J.; Marino, A.; Battaglini, M.; Pandit, A.; Ciofani, G.. "Advanced Functional Materials and Cell-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke and Postischemic Stroke Effects". Advanced Functional Materials 30 1 (2020): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85074799170&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1002/adfm.201906283
  6. Tapeinos, C.; Tomatis, F.; Battaglini, M.; Larrañaga, A.; Marino, A.; Telleria, I.A.; Angelakeris, M.; et al. "Cell Membrane-Coated Magnetic Nanocubes with a Homotypic Targeting Ability Increase Intracellular Temperature due to ROS Scavenging and Act as a Versatile Theranostic System for Glioblastoma Multiforme". Advanced Healthcare Materials 8 18 (2019): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85070713265&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1002/adhm.201900612
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/09/07 Engineering extracellular vesicles to cross the blood-brain barrier 33rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials
European Society for Biomaterials (Davos, Switzerland)
2022/09/16 Engineering extracellular vesicles with microRNAs to cross the blood-brain barrier 2nd RESETageing conference. Biology of ageing: senescence and cell stress
Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)
2022/05/09 CRISPR/dCas9-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for direct cell reprogramming in the brain NANOSTEM End of Network Meeting
2021/09/06 Engineering extracellular vesicles to cross the blood-brain barrier 31st Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials, ESB 2021
European Society for Biomaterials (Portugal)
2021/07/09 CRISPR/dCas9-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for direct cell reprogramming in the brain 3rd NANOSTEM Intenational Meeting
2020/07/16 Gene editing of neural cells by nanoformulations 2nd NANOSTEM International Meeting
2020/01/30 Inducing the alteration of mammalian neural stem cells using gene editing tools coupled to nanoformulations
University of Artois (Lens, France)
2019/07/01 Inducing the alteration of mammalian neural stem cells using gene editing tools coupled to nanoformulations NANOSTEM Mid-term Check Meeting
Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Campus
2018/09/20 Cell membrane-coated magnetic nanoparticles as a novel theranostic for glioblastoma E-MRS Fall Meeting
European Materials Research Society (Warsaw, Poland)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2020/11 - Current Organization of the annual TEDxCuneo events as a volunteer member of the no-profit association Anima Silvae (2021/05/15 - 2023/06/23)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Anima Silvae, Italy
2020/07/13 - 2020/07/17 2nd NANOSTEM International Meeting (2020/07/13 - 2020/07/17)
Conference (Co-organisor)
 Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/06/28 - 2019/06/29 Conference "Ageing: Models, mechanisms and therapies" promoted under the project EraChair@UC, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (2019/06/28 - 2019/06/29) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/12/06 - 2023/12/07 Participation in the 3rd RESETageing conference
Conference
 3rd RESETageing conference
2023/10/11 - 2023/10/13 Participation in the annual meeting of the European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) and the Portuguese Society of Stem Cells and Cell Therapies (SPCE-TC).
Conference
 ETRS & SPCE-TC Joint Meeting 2023
Sociedade Portuguesa de Células Estaminais e Terapia Celular, Portugal
2023/09/04 - 2023/09/08 33rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB2023), Davos, Switzerland
Conference
 33rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials
European Society for Biomaterials, France
2023/05/03 - 2023/05/05 FENS Regional Meeting, Albufeira, Portugal
Conference
 FENS Regional Meeting 2023
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, Belgium
2023/05/02 - 2023/05/02 Participation in the "VII Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network" in Albufeira, as side event of the FENS Regional Meeting
Symposium
 VII Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network
Portuguese Glial Network, Portugal
2022/09/16 - 2022/09/17 2nd RESETageing conference. Biology of ageing: senescence and cell stress
Conference
 2nd RESETageing conference. Biology of ageing: senescence and cell stress
Newcastle University, United Kingdom
2022/06/03 - 2022/06/03 I International Meeting on the Brain Vasculature
Conference
 I International Meeting on the Brain Vasculature
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Portugal
2021/09/06 - 2021/09/09 31st Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials
Conference
 31st Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials, ESB 2021
European Society for Biomaterials, France
2021/08/27 - 2021/08/31 Participation in the conference "NanoGagliato". NanoGagliato is a first-of-its-kind scientific conference merging intense but informal discussion, STEM education for youths, technological problem-solving, artistic expression, and a solid dose of fun and exploration in vibrant southern Italian coastal communities.
Conference
 NanoGagliato 2021
Accademia di Gagliato Globale, Italy
2020/12/18 - 2020/12/18 Participation in the "First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease"
Symposium
 "First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease"
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2020/12/10 - 2020/12/11 Participation in the Workshop in Translational Neurology
Workshop
 Workshop in Translational Neurology - Blood-Brain Barrier in the Clinical setting
2020/10/20 - 2020/10/20 Participation in the "World CRISPR day 2020" event organized by Synthego
Conference
 World CRISPR day 2020
2020/10/06 - 2020/10/06 Participation in the digital event "Adult neurogenesis" organized by Abcam
Symposium
 Adult neurogenesis
Abcam Inc, United States
2020/09/22 - 2020/09/22 Participation in the online event "MIT Aging Brain Initiative's bi-annual symposium, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration"
Symposium
 "MIT Aging Brain Initiative's bi-annual symposium, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration"
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, United States
2020/09/03 - 2020/09/04 Participation in the NANOSTEM-NANOCARB Joint Training School
Workshop
 NANOSTEM-NANOCARB Joint Training School
2020/07/13 - 2020/07/15 Participation in the 2nd Summer School of the NANOSTEM network
Workshop
 NANOSTEM 2nd Summer School
2019/09/27 - 2019/09/27 Outreach event addressed to general audience
Festival
 Researchers' night
2019/07/03 - 2019/07/05 Participation in the 1st Summer School of the NANOSTEM network
Workshop
 NANOSTEM 1st Summer School
Queen Mary University of London - Mile End Campus, United Kingdom
2019/03/18 - 2019/03/18 Outreach activity addressed to primary school students
Festival
 Escola Ciência Viva
2019/03/03 - 2019/03/05 Participation in the first NANOSTEM ESR Workshop
Workshop
 NANOSTEM ESR Workshop
Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
2018/10/04 - 2018/10/04 Outreach event addressed to children
Festival
 Festival de Ciência de Oliveira do Bairro
2018/03/02 - 2018/03/02 Participation in the conference "Smart tools for caring: Nanotechnology meets medical challenges" organized by the Politecnico di Torino in Pontedera.
Conference
 Smart tools for caring: Nanotechnology meets medical challenges’
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Distinctions

Award

2023 ESB2023 Best Oral Presentation Award
European Society for Biomaterials, France
2021 Scholarship in nanomedicine "Salvatore Venuta" for the participation in the conference "NanoGagliato 2021"
Accademia di Gagliato Globale, Italy
2017 Merit-based scholarship from the University of "Tor Vergata"
Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy
2014 Merit-based scholarship at the Collegio Universitario "Lamaro Pozzani"
Federazione Nazionale dei Cavalieri del Lavoro, Italy
2013 Merit-based scholarship at the Collegio Universitario "Lamaro Pozzani"
Federazione Nazionale dei Cavalieri del Lavoro, Italy
2013 Merit-based scholarship "Fabrizio Parola" from the Association of voluntary Italian blood donors
AVIS - Associazione Volontari Italiani del Sangue, Italy

Other distinction

2023 IBRO National Travel Award for the participation in the FENS Regional Meeting 2023
International Brain Research Organization, France
2022 Travel Grant for the participation in the "2nd RESETageing conference. Biology of ageing: senescence and cell stress"
RESETageing, Portugal
2021 Bursary for the participation in the conference "Vesicle Trafficking & Pathways to Neurodegeneration 2021"