Staff
Michele Miragoli, Ph.D. — Head of Laboratory
Prof. Michele Miragoli is Associate Professor of Experimental and Applied Medical Technologies at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma. He is a member of CERT, the Center of Excellence for Toxicological Research, and an associate researcher at Humanitas Research Center in Milan. He also holds an Honorary Research Associate position at the Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR).
He serves on the Executive Committee of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Research and is the Director's Delegate for Departmental Research and Research Quality. He graduated in Biological Sciences at the University of Parma and completed a Ph.D. in Pathophysiology at the Institute of General Physiology in Parma.
After his Ph.D., he spent six years at the Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Switzerland, studying optical mapping of cardiac impulse propagation, the cellular mechanisms of arrhythmias, and the contribution of cardiac myofibroblasts to arrhythmogenesis. In 2008, he joined the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, where he combined hopping-probe scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) with optical mapping to investigate structural and functional cardiac remodeling at the nanoscale.
In 2011, he received a Young Researcher Grant from the Italian Ministry of Health, which enabled him to return to the University of Parma and establish his research group. He was subsequently appointed Junior Group Leader at Humanitas Research Center in Milan.
Further information: University of Parma profile.
Stefano Rossi, Ph.D. — Assistant Professor
Dr. Stefano Rossi obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Parma in 2006 and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Evolutionary and Functional Biology of the same university. He spent one year as a visiting researcher at the CVRT, University of Utah, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Taccardi.
His expertise focuses on in vivo cardiac electrophysiology and the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. He contributes to several research projects, particularly in nanotoxicology and cardiovascular nanomedicine. He has authored more than 40 indexed publications and serves as a reviewer for international journals in cardiovascular physiology.
He received the Kenichi Harumi Young Investigator Award at the 2006 International Congress on Electrocardiology. He is a member of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Research and the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cellular Electrophysiology. He previously served as Senior Research Assistant and Laboratory Manager at the Experimental and Applied Medical Technologies Laboratory. Since February 2026, he has been Assistant Professor (MEDS-26/B) at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma.
University of Parma profile · Contact: stefano.rossi@unipr.it
Giovanna Maria Pelà, M.D. — Cardiologist
Prof. Giovanna Maria Pelà is Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Parma and a cardiologist at the University Hospital of Parma. She is a specialist in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Sports Medicine, with more than 30 years of clinical and research experience.
Her research interests include sports cardiology, cardiac performance in recreational athletes and children, systemic hypertension, cardiomyopathies, cardiovascular physiology, and the interaction between physical exercise and heart disease.
Contact: giovanna.pela@unipr.it
Margherita Burattini, Ph.D., Eng. — Research Fellow
Margherita Burattini graduated in Bioengineering from the University of Pavia and completed her doctoral training through a joint program involving the University of Parma and the University of Verona.
Her research focuses on in vitro models of cardiac electromechanical coupling and on revisiting the concept of cardiac memory using artificial intelligence, computer vision, and tissue-engineering approaches. Since October 2024, she has held a Research Fellow position at the University of Parma within TECMED Lab.
Contact: margherita.burattini@unipr.it
Silvia Berrettoni, Ph.D. — Postdoctoral Researcher
Silvia Berrettoni graduated in Biology and Biomedical Applications from the University of Parma in 2022. She received a scholarship to work for nine months in Dr. Rota's laboratory at New York Medical College within an international collaboration between NYMC and the University of Parma.
Her work focused on rhythm disturbances following myocardial infarction in experimental models and on the mechanisms underlying adverse cardiac events after myocardial injury. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at TECMED Lab, University of Parma, where she investigates innovative cardiac nanomedicine strategies for atrial and ventricular fibrillation, including the use of injectable conductive materials to modulate arrhythmic tissue.
Contact: silvia.berrettoni@unipr.it
Francesco Paolo Lo Muzio, Ph.D. — Assistant Professor
Dr. Francesco Paolo Lo Muzio is Assistant Professor at TECMED Lab, University of Parma. After graduating in Biological Sciences, he obtained a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Sciences from the University of Verona. He subsequently moved to Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship.
He received the European MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) Seal of Excellence and subsequently obtained funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research for an Assistant Professor position at the University of Parma, starting in April 2025.
His expertise focuses on cardiometabolic diseases and translational studies in small- and large-animal models, including porcine models, and he is developing new research activities in this area at TECMED Lab.
Contact: francescopaolo.lomuzio@unipr.it