Maria Abbracchio facts for kids

Maria Pia Abbracchio is a famous Italian scientist. She is a pharmacologist, which means she studies how medicines and other substances affect our bodies at a very small level, like inside our cells. She has done research all over the world. Since 2006, she has been named one of the most important and often-cited scientists by Thomson Reuters. She is well-known for her work on special cell parts called purinergic receptors and for finding one called GPR17. In 2014, she received a special award from Italy, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, for her amazing scientific achievements.

Who is Maria Pia Abbracchio?

Maria Pia Abbracchio was born in Milan, Italy. She completed her first studies there. In 1979, she earned a master's degree in Pharmacy. After that, she continued her studies in the United States. From 1980 to 1981, she was a post-graduate student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Her Advanced Studies

Maria Pia Abbracchio kept learning and specializing in different areas. In 1984, she became an expert in toxicology at the University of Milan. Toxicology is the study of how chemicals can harm living things. She then earned her PhD in Experimental Medicine in Rome in 1988. Later, from 1992 to 1993, she did more advanced research at the University College London in the UK.

What is Her Research About?

In 1994, Maria Pia Abbracchio worked with Professor Geoffrey Burnstock. He was the scientist who first named purinergic receptors. These are tiny parts on the surface of our cells that react to certain chemicals. They help cells communicate with each other.

The Purine Club

Maria Pia Abbracchio also started the Purine Club. This is a group for scientists from different countries. They work together to study how purinergic signals affect our health and diseases.

Stopping Brain Damage

Since 2003, she has worked with many scientists from different fields. Their goal is to make scientific research better in Italy and other countries. In 2006, she shared important findings at a meeting in Atlanta. Her research showed how certain chemicals can help stop brain damage after a stroke.

Understanding Cell Behavior

Her work has shown that special receptors, called G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), help control how our cells behave. Scientists are now combining different types of research. They are looking at diseases like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. They also study heart attacks and strokes. They want to understand how different medicines interact with GPCRs.

The GPR17 Receptor

Early in her research, Maria Pia Abbracchio found a receptor called GPR17. This receptor has shown that it can react with certain medicines. These medicines can help reduce swelling in the brain. They can also make memory and learning abilities better.

Her Current Work and Awards

Maria Pia Abbracchio is a full professor of pharmacology at the University of Milan. She leads a team of 12 scientists at the university's Research Observatory. She has written or helped write about 150 scientific papers. Since 2006, she has been on the Thomson Reuters list of most cited researchers. This means her work is very important and often used by other scientists.

In 2014, the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, gave her a high honor. She was awarded the level of Commander in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to science.

See also

In Spanish: Maria Abbracchio para niños