• valentina.bruno@unicamillus.org

Valentina Bruno

Gynecology and Obstetrics - MEDS-21/A (formerly MED/40)

Biography

Graduated with honors in Medicine and Surgery in 2011 at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Completed the Leonardo da Vinci Project and Research Fellowship in Reproductive Immunology in 2012 at Linköping University in Sweden. Specialized with honors in Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2018 at the same university. Obtained a Ph.D. in 2020 from Linköping University in the field of Reproductive Immunology.

Currently working as a Gynecologic Oncologist, serving as a Medical Manager at the National Cancer Institute “Regina Elena” in Rome (IFO), where activities include clinical, surgical, and research tasks focusing on translating knowledge of immune tolerance processes at the maternal-fetal interface to immune escape in cancer. Engaged in both basic and translational research activities at Linköping University, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and the National Cancer Institute “Regina Elena” in Rome (IFO).

Author of numerous scientific articles in prominent international journals. Serving as a reviewer for major international journals since 2017. Presented at several notable international conferences, including ASRI 2016, SIGO 2016, AGUI 2016, EBCOG 2018, ESRI 2018, SERGS 2018, PSOGI 2019, ESHRE 2019, AGUI 2018. Member of the SEGi YOUNG national working group, as the SEGi YOUNG CENTRO coordinator, and the MITO (Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies) group.

Recipient of several scientific awards and recognitions, including the “Clinical Young Investigator Awards in Reproductive Immunology 2018” and the “Post-Doctoral Fellowships – Year 2021” grant from the Umberto Veronesi Foundation. She has contributed to research projects funded by the University of Rome Tor Vergata’s “Mission Sustainability” grant in 2016 and the Ministry of Health’s targeted research grant in 2019, under the Young Researcher section, as the Principal Investigator.

Acquired expertise and autonomy in laboratory techniques of basic immunological research applied to reproduction at Linköping University, particularly focusing on isolating cell lines and cell cultures (macrophages, T lymphocytes, trophoblastic cell line HTR-8, placental explants, trophoblast cells from chorionic villi cultures, cell lines from endometrial biopsies), immunophenotyping, flow cytometry, functional immunological studies, ELISA, and Luminex (multiplex bead assay for cytokine and chemokine assay).

Engaged in teaching activities, serving as the course lecturer for “Methodology of Scientific Research” (A.Y. 2017-2018) and “Human Reproduction Pathophysiology” (A.Y. 2018-2019 and 2019-2020) in the Obstetrics Degree Program, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata. External Lecturer for the course “Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy” in the Biochemical Nanotechnologies Degree Program, within the Biomedical Engineering Degree Program, University of Rome Tor Vergata, during the A.Y. 2018-2019 and 2021-2022. Expert Lecturer for “Gynecological and Reproductive Immunology” in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialization School at the Catholic University of Tirana “Our Lady of Good Counsel,” Tirana, Albania, during the A.Y. 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023. Currently serving as a lecturer in the Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, since 2023.

Prof. Bruno has the National Scientific Qualification as a Professor of II level in the fifth trimester session of 2021-2023, MUR.