Professional Expertise

Dr. Carla Ferreri is a distinguished scientist in the fields of free radical chemistry and molecular mechanisms, with a specialized focus on membrane lipidomics. Her work bridges the gap between fundamental chemical research and clinical applications, specifically exploring how molecular transformations in cell membranes reflect a person’s overall health, nutritional status, and lifestyle. She is a pioneer in "functional lipidomics," an approach that views the lipid composition of mature red blood cell membranes as a dynamic biomarker for metabolic and pathological states.

Research Interests

Her multidisciplinary research focuses on the "holistic" vision of omics sciences, including:

• Membrane Lipidomics: The study of fatty acid profiles and their changes under physiological and pathological conditions (e.g., autism, metabolic diseases, cancer and inflammation).

• Free Radicals & Biomimetic Models: Investigating radical-induced stress on biomolecules (DNA, proteins, and lipids) and the resulting chemical modifications (such as trans fatty acid formation).

• Nutrilipidomics: Integrating nutrition with lipidomic data to develop personalized health strategies and "molecular nutrition" protocols.

• Translational Medicine: Converting laboratory findings into diagnostic tools and innovative health solutions.

Experience & Academic Contributions

With over 40 years of experience in institutional research, Dr. Ferreri’s career began in medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Naples "Federico II" before joining the CNR in Bologna.

• Authorship: She has authored over 260 scientific publications in international journals, several books, and holds 5 patents related to lipid analysis and health.

• Sciencepreneurship: She is the co-founder and Scientific Director of Lipinutragen, a CNR spin-off (now property of Longevity SPA, Milan) that brought the "cell membrane lipidomic profile" to the medical market; founder and president of the innovative start-up company GIUSTOPASTO srl (www.giustopasto.it)

• Innovation: In 2010, she was awarded the ITWIIN Award as the Best Italian Woman Innovator. More recently, in 2022, she received the prestigious International Capo d’Orlando Award for her contributions to science.

• Education: She founded the Accademia Meccanismi Molecolari, a training initiative registered as Third Mission at CNR, aimed at educating medical professionals on the applications of lipidomics in clinical practice.