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  4. Alessandra Princivalle

Doctor Alessandra Princivalle BSc, PhD, FHEA

Senior Lecturer

Summary

I was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ after completing a Laurea in Molecular Biology at the University of Milan (IT), and a Professional Body course and examination at University of Pavia (IT) and a PhD at University of Birmingham. I have taught molecular biology at the University of Milan at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology at Sheffield Hallam. I am an internationally known researcher in the area of epilepsy.

Alessandra Princivalle

About

I was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ after completing a Laurea in Molecular Biology at the University of Milan (IT), and a professional body course and examination at the University of Pavia (IT) and a PhD at the University of Birmingham. I have taught molecular biology at the University of Milan at the Faculty of Pharmacy. During my time at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, I have mainly taught neurobiology and molecular pharmacology plus molecular biology. I have always been interested in curriculum development and have developed and I had lead a Masters Course in pharmacology and biotechnology. Also I have been nominated Inspirational Teacher for four years in a row.

I was an Invited Professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), Department of Biomedical Science, International Doctorate School (PhD) in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and International Doctorate School (PhD) in Neuroscience (2008-2012). Currently, I am also a member of the International Scientific Committee.

I am collaborating with different groups in the UK, both scientists and clinicians, on molecular biomarkers and pathways basis of epilepsy. I have published over 90 papers and abstracts and regularly present my work at national and international meetings.

I act as a referee for numerous journals and grant awarding bodies including the MRC and Wellcome Trust.

I have active memberships to various scientific societies such as Epilepsy Ï㽶ÊÓƵ UK.

I am also the Ethics Lead in the School of Bioscience and Chemistry.

Teaching

School of Biosciences and Chemistry

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Course Leader for MSc Pharmacology and Biotechnology, L6 Neurobiology, Neuropharmacology and Molecular Pharmacology

Healthe and Disease subject group.

MSc, MRes Pharmacology and Biotechnology, BSc Biochemistry, Bioscience, BMS, Biomedicine and Health Science

Neurobiology and Neurophysiology; Biotechnological Approaches for Pharmacology; Molecular Biology, Applaied Laboratory Practice; Advance Laboratory and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Practise; Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Project UG; Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Project PG; Advanced Professional skills.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

  • Health Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Institute

MOLECULAR SIGNATURE OF EPILEPSY

The project aims to study the heterogeneity in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients who are resistant to drug therapy and undergo surgical treatment. There is currently no understanding of the molecular basis of such resistance and no valid criteria to guide a therapeutic strategy. A microarray technique is being employed to identify molecular substrates which we can then investigate further.

Sheilabi, M.A., Takeshita, L.Y., Sims, E.J., Falciani, F., & Princivalle, A. (2020). The Sodium Channel B4-Subunits are Dysregulated in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Drug-Resistant Patients. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (8), e2955. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082955

Salman, M., Sheilabi, M.A., Bhattacharyya, D., Kitchen, P., Conner, A.C., Bill, R.M., ... Princivalle, A. (2017). Transcriptome analysis suggests a role for the differential expression of cerebral aquaporins and the MAPK signalling pathway in human temporal lobe epilepsy. The European Journal of Neuroscience, 46 (5), 2121-2132. http://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13652

TESTING NEW DRUGS TO TREAT TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY

Selection by monoamine oxidase isoforms, dissected in terms of functional groups by mixed double mutant cycles. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. http://doi.org/10.1039/c9ob01558b

MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF NEURODEGENERATION

Princivalle, A.P. (2021). GABAB Receptors in Neurodegeneration. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. http://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2021_222

Molecular pathology of epilepsy

  • Molecular and physiological, aspects of brain.
  • The role of inhibitory and excitatory circuits in epilepsy as primary pharmacological targets.
  • Studies on hippocampal genes expression and inter-correlation in normal and pathological conditions.

The emphasis of my research is on neuronal plasticity in epilepsy using wide genome approach to identify how genes interact with each other and consequently to get insight into new more specific and effective pharmacological, bio-pharmacological and pharmaco-genetics therapies.

Prof. F. Falciani, Bioscience, University of Liverpool

Mr D. Bhattacharyya, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield

Prof. NM Barnes, Neuropharmacology, University of Birmingham.

Dr Simon Turega BMRC, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

Publications

Journal articles

Princivalle, A.P. (2021). . Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences.

Sheilabi, M.A., Takeshita, L.Y., Sims, E.J., Falciani, F., & Princivalle, A. (2020). . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (8), e2955.

Hudspith, L., Shmam, F., Dalton, C.F., Princivalle, A., & Turega, S. (2019). . Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry.

Sheilabi, M., Battacharyya, D., Caetano, L., Thom, M., Reuber, M., Duncan, J.S., & Princivalle, A. (2018). . Neuropharmacology, 136 (A), 117-128.

Salman, M., Sheilabi, M.A., Bhattacharyya, D., Kitchen, P., Conner, A.C., Bill, R.M., ... Princivalle, A. (2017). . The European Journal of Neuroscience, 46 (5), 2121-2132.

Princivalle, A., Parker, R.M., Dover, T.J., & Barnes, N.M. (2012). . Methods in Molecular Biology, 897 (897), 261-302.

Trim, P.J., Henson, C.M., Avery, J.L., McEwen, A., Snel, M.F., Claude, E., ... Clench, M.R. (2008). . Analytical chemistry, 80 (22), 8628-8634.

Trim, P.J., Atkinson, S.J., Princivalle, A.P., Marshall, P.S., West, A., & Clench, M.R. (2008). . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 22 (10), 1503-1509.

Brady, C.A., Dover, T.J., Massoura, A.N., Princivalle, A.P., Hope, A.G., & Barnes, N.M. (2007). Identification of 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunits in human hippocampus. Neuropharmacology, 52 (5), 1284-1290.

Princivalle, A.P., Parker, R.M.C., Dover, T.J., & Barnes, N.M. (2005). mRNA: detection by in situ and northern hybridization. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 306, 51-91.

Chandler, K.E., Princivalle, A.P., Fabian-Fine, R., Bowery, N.G., Kullmann, D.M., & Walker, M.C. (2003). . Journal of neuroscience, 23 (36), 11382-11391.

Princivalle, A.P., Duncan, J.S., Thom, M., & Bowery, N.G. (2003). . Neuroscience, 122 (4), 975-984.

Princivalle, A.P., Richards, D.A., Duncan, J.S., Spreafico, R., & Bowery, N.G. (2003). . Epilepsy research, 55 (1-2), 39-51.

Princivalle, A.P., Duncan, J.S., Thom, M., & Bowery, N.G. (2002). . British journal of pharmacology, 136 (8), 1099.

Monk, S.A., Desai, K., Brady, C.A., Williams, J.M., Lin, L., Princivalle, A., ... Barnes, N.M. (2001). . Neuropharmacology, 41 (8), 1013-1016.

Princivalle, A.P., Pangalos, M.N., Bowery, N.G., & Spreafico, R. (2001). . Neuroreport, 12 (3), 591-595.

Towers, S., Princivalle, A., Billinton, A., Edmunds, M., Bettler, B., Urban, L., ... Bowery, N.G. (2000). . The European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (9), 3201-3210.

Princivalle, A., Regondi, M.C., Frassoni, C., Bowery, N.G., & Spreafico, R. (2000). . Brain Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Bulletin, 52 (5), 397-405.

Princivalle, A., Spreafico, R., Bowery, N., & De Curtis, M. (2000). . The European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (4), 1516-1520.

Cavadini, P., Diblasi, C., Baratta, S., Princivalle, A., Didonato, S., Battaglia, G., ... Taroni, F. (1997). Expression and mitochondrial localization of frataxin, the Friedreich's ataxia gene product. Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 18 (4), 25.

Battaglia, G., Princivalle, A., Forti, F., Lizier, C., & Zeviani, M. (1997). Expression of the SMN gene, the spinal muscular atrophy determining gene, in the mammalian central nervous system. Human molecular genetics, 6 (11), 1961-1971.

Di Luca, M., Caputi, A., Cinquanta, M., Cimino, M., Marini, P., Princivalle, A., ... Cattabeni, F. (1995). Changes in protein kinase C and its presynaptic substrate B-50/GAP-43 after intrauterine exposure to methylazoxy-methanol, a treatment inducing cortical and hippocampal damage and cognitive deficit in rats. The European journal of neuroscience, 7 (5), 899-906.

Battaglia, G., Lizier, C., Colacitti, C., Princivalle, A., & Spreafico, R. (1994). A reticuloreticular commissural pathway in the rat thalamus. The Journal of comparative neurology, 347 (1), 127-138.

Balduini, W., Cimino, M., Renò, F., Marini, P., Princivalle, A., & Cattabeni, F. (1993). Effects of postnatal or adult chronic acetylcholinesterase inhibition on muscarinic receptors, phosphoinositide turnover and m1 mRNA expression. European journal of pharmacology, 248 (4), 281-288.

CIMINO, M. (1992). Effects of chronic organophosphate administration on muscarinic and nicotinic neurotransmission at different stages of postnatal development of the rat brain. Pharmacological Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 26, 48.

Conference papers

Massoura, A.N., Brady, C.A., Dover, T.J., Princivalle, A.P., Hope, A.G., & Barnes, N.M. (2006). The human hippocampus displays the potential to express both homomeric and heteromeric 5-HT3 receptors. JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 101, 121.

Bowery, N.G., Whitehead, K.J., Pangalos, M.N., Price, G.W., Amantea, D., Princivalle, A., ... Pearce, S.M. (2003). Inhibition of absence seizures in rats (GAERS) by thalamic administration of a GABAB1 antisense ligand. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 138, U1.

Bowery, N., Meza-Toledo, S., Bowery, B., Amantea, D., & Princivalle, A. (2002). Mammalian presynaptic GABAB receptors. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 136.

Princivalle, A., Bowery, N.G., Pangalos, M., & Spreafico, R. (2001). Expression of GABAB(1a), GABAB(1b) and GABAB2 subunit proteins in the cortex and thalamus of rat. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 133, U92.

Giavazzi, A., Princivalle, A., Cavadini, P., Taroni, F., & Battaglia, G. (1998). Expression of frataxin gene and gene product in the mammalian central nervous system. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 10, 314.

Cavadini, P., DiBlasi, C., Princivalle, A., Baratta, S., DiDonato, S., Battaglia, G., ... Taroni, F. (1997). Evidences that human frataxin localizes in the mitochondria and is expressed in neural tissues selectively affected in Friedreich's ataxia. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, 61 (4), A42.

Princivalle, A. (2015). Impact of temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis upon expression of 5-HT3 receptors: potential novel antiepileptic targets. In Society for neuroscience, Chicago, 17 October 2015 - 21 October 2015.

Princivalle, A. (2015). Transcriptome analysis of sclerotic hippocampi from patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. In International league against epilepsy British chapter, London, 23 September 2015 - 25 September 2015.

Princivalle, A. (2015). Aquaporin translocation and expression: a possible new drug target for temporal lobe epilepsy. In Second world congress on water channel proteins, Romania, 6 May 2015 - 10 May 2015.

Princivalle, A. (2014). Assessment of the expression of 5-ht3 receptor on temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. In International conference on sport law and ethics, London, 26 September 2014 - 27 September 2014.

Princivalle, A. (2014). The expression of GABAB receptor subunits in human TLE hippocampi. In International league against epilepsy British chapter, Nottingham, 18 September 2014 - 20 September 2014.

Princivalle, A. (2014). Characterisation of temporal lobe epilepsy biomarkers in human sclerotic hippocampi. In Federation of European neuroscience societies, Milan, 5 July 2014 - 9 July 2014.

Princivalle, A. (2013). Quantitative fluorescence western blot analysis of GABAB receptors in human TLE hippocampi. In nternational league against epilepsy British chapter, 5 September 2013 - 7 September 2013. Glasgow

Book chapters

Princivalle, A. (2024). . In Colombo, G. (Ed.) GABA B Receptor. (pp. 329-341). Springer Nature:

Princivalle, A.P. (2022). GABAB Receptors in Neurodegeneration. (pp. 267-290).

Theses / Dissertations

Slay, O.K. (2025). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Dalton, C., & Princivalle, A.

Wootton, T.L. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Allwood, D., Aberdein, N., & Princivalle, A.

Sheilabi, M.A. (2016). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Princivalle, A.

Other activities

VISITING PROFESSOR

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Biomedical Science, International Doctorate School (PhD) in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

MEMBER of INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE for International Doctorate (PhD) School in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

EXTERNAL EXAMINER

MRes Biomedical Sciences and Translational Medicine - Drug Safety / Pharmacology, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool.

MEMBER of ACADEMIC DIRECTORATE of NEUROSCIENCE

University of Sheffield /Sheffield Teaching Hospital/ SITraN (Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience)

MEMBER of HUMAN TISSUE GROUP University of Newcastle

PhD EXTERNAL EXAMINER

"Exploring oxidative stress pathways in epilepsy" by Reyad Al-Mosawi, Dept. of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool.

"Assessment of the expression of 5-HT receptors in hippocampus of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis" by Hatoun Alomar. Neuropharmacology, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.

"Exploring the role of nitric oxide in mouse model of epilepsy" by Edward Beamer. Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool.

"Evidence for anticonvulsive and protective activities of growth hormone secretatogue receptor 1a ligands in the pilocarpine and kainate models of status epilepticus" by Fabio Gualtieri at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)

"Clinical and Neuropathological characterization of status epilepticus outcomes in pre-pubertal and adults male" by Daniela Longo at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

(2012- up to date) STEM ambassador attending various events and always presenting during the science week at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ "EXPLORE" annual event.

(2016- up to date) The Sheffield Branch of Epilepsy Action has organised a meeting and invited me to talk directly with the user (epileptic patients and their carer) 14/07/2016. Title: “What is my research doing for patient affected by temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE)â€

Postgraduate supervision

Oliver Slay "Identification of variants contributing to schizophrenia using high-throughput genomics". (neuroanatony and trascriptomics)

Co-supervising Timothy Wootton "Discovery and Development of Novel Blood-Brain Barrier Impermeable Inhibitors of PTP1B" (blood barrier passage of drugs, neuropharmacology)

Mootaz Salman "Aquaporin (AQP) water channels and potassium channel expression and translocation in the hippocampi of TLE patients. ( neuroanatomy, genomics, epilepsy, molecular biology)

Mariam Sheilabi "Molecular studies of epileptic biomarkers" (molecular biology, biochemistry, transcriptomics, neuroanatomy, epilepsy)

Mark Hellewell "Molecular signature of Temporal lobe Epilepsy" (molecular biology, biochemistry, transcriptomics, neuroanatomy, epilepsy)

Paul J. Trim "MALDI-MS Imaging for Direct Drug Distribution Analysis" (neuroanatomy,

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