The research activity was initially devoted to the study of experimental embryology of the normal and neural tube defect in chick embryos; studies on developmental myenteric neurons in animals and to the study of analysis of protein hormones and their labeling in domestic animals.
From 1998 to date the research activity mainly deals with: the study of apoptosis related to gene expression in the mammary gland of ruminants; gene expression in the mammary gland of ruminants under metabolic stress; characterization and expression of AIF (apoptosis inducing factor) in mammary gland of cow; the expression of PACAP (Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide) in the central and peripheral nervous system of birds; the study apoptosis and related genes in development of deer antler; gene expression in cell cultures (white blood cells and pre- and adipocytes) supplemented with natural compounds; molecular markers of mammary stem cells; molecular effects of nutraceuticals on pre- and adipocyte cultures.
She managed with histology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. She also managed with protein and acid nucleic electrophoresis, Western blotting, Northern blotting, Southern blotting, PCR, RT-PCR, cloning, in situ hybridisation, Real-TimePCR and microarrays, mRNAseq
Awards:
May 2011: from The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) Honoris causa for teaching and scientific competences on fauna and environment.
March 2014: winner of the Zietzschmann–Preuss Award for the year 2013 for the review entitled: “BCL-2 Family of Proteins and Mammary Cellular Fate” (Journal Anatomia Histologia Embryologia, 2012, 41, pp. 237-247) from the Board of Trustees of the Zietzschmann-Preuss Award.
She has been involved in planning drafting, and conducting various national and EU research projects.