Roberta Bonomo

Roberta Bonomo

Curriculum Vitae

Roberta Bonomo is a PhD student of the International Program in Neuroscience between the University of Milano-Bicocca (Monza, Italy) and the University of Surrey (Guildford, UK). 

Roberta was educated at the University of Catania, Italy, where she qualified as a Medical doctor (2014) and Neurologist (2019). During her Medical School, Roberta had the opportunity to participate in several international internships and programs concerning Neuroscience. She also trained in neurogenetics and movement disorders with Professor Kailash Bhatia at the Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences of the Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London (2018-2019). 

In 2019, she was awarded the title of Fellow of the European Board of Neurology (FEBN).

Research interests

Her PhD research project involves the investigation of neurobiological markers suggestive of nerve damage in Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with a specific focus on metabolomics. She is also interested in motor control, and the neurophysiological study of mechanisms underlying hyper- and hypokinetic movement disorders.

PhD Research Project

Assessment of metabolomics changes in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity.

  • Track: International Neuroscience Track
  • Tutor UNIMIB: prof. Guido Cavaletti
  • Tutor SURREY: prof. Debra Skene

Executive Summary

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity (CIPN) represents one of the most troublesome complications in patients treated with antineoplastic drugs. CIPN is also one of the major dose-limiting toxicities caused by antineoplastic treatments, and frequently determines a relevant decrease in patient’s quality of life. No effective markers of the risk for developing CIPN have so far been identified. Metabolic profiling (metabolomics) offers promise in the discovery of biomarkers to help in the identification of those oncologic patients who present a specific profile suggestive of susceptibility to nerve damage.

The project will focus on metabolic changes induced by the antineoplastic drugs, oxaliplatin and paclitaxel, in CIPN murine models. Both young and older mice will be investigated to assess the effect of age on these metabolic responses.

Publications

  • Bonomo R, Latorre A, Balint B, Smilowska K, Rocchi L, Rothwell JC, Zappia M, Bhatia KP. Voluntary Inhibitory Control of Chorea: A Case Series. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2020. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12907
  • Bonomo R, Latorre A, Bhatia KP. Self-injurious behaviour in SCA17: a new clinical observation.  Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements 2019; 9:1-3. doi: 10.7916/tohm.v0.672.
  • Raciti L, Nicoletti A, Mostile G, Bonomo R, Dibilio V, Donzuso G, Sciacca G, Cicero CE, Luca A, Zappia M. Accuracy of MDS-UPDRS section IV for detecting motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease. Neurol Sci. 2019. 27: 98-101. doi: 10.1007/s10072-019-03745-2.
  • Bonomo R, Mostile G, Raciti L, Contrafatto D, Dibilio V, Luca A, Sciacca G, Cicero CE, Vasta R, Nicoletti A, Zappia M. Quantitative estimation of motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease. Park Relat Disord. 2017; 42:34-39. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2017.05.027.
  • Raciti L, Nicoletti A, Mostile G, Bonomo R, Contrafatto D, Dibilio V, Luca A, Sciacca G, Cicero CE, Vasta R, Zappia M. Validation of the UPDRS section IV for motor fluctuations detection in Parkinson’s disease. Park Relat Disord. 2016; 27:98-101. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.03.008.