School of Life Sciences
 

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Isabella Maiellaro

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

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Biography

Dr. Isabella Maiellaro is an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, where she leads research at the intersection of pharmacology, cell biology, and advanced imaging. She earned her PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Bari, Italy, and has since built a strong international research portfolio through postdoctoral work at the University of Würzburg in Germany and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Maiellaro joined the University of Nottingham as an Anne McLaren Fellow and has since transitioned to a faculty position as Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics of intracellular signaling, with particular emphasis on G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways.

Bridging fundamental cell biology with translational neuroscience, her work contributes to the development of novel tools for drug discovery and enhances our understanding of complex signaling networks in both health and disease.

Expertise Summary

Dr. Isabella Maiellaro has extensive expertise in dissecting intracellular signaling pathways using a multidisciplinary approach that integrates:

  • In vitro systems for high-resolution imaging and pharmacological profiling
  • Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model to investigate conserved signaling mechanisms in neural circuits
  • Advanced imaging techniques, such as FRET-based biosensors and live-cell microscopy
  • Molecular and cellular biology, including CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, protein engineering, and biosensor development
  • Translational neuroscience, bridging basic signaling research with therapeutic discovery

Research Summary

Dr. Isabella Maiellaro's current research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying sensory neuron sensitisation in response to noxious stimuli and inflammation-a key process in the… read more

Current Research

Dr. Isabella Maiellaro's current research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying sensory neuron sensitisation in response to noxious stimuli and inflammation-a key process in the development of chronic pain. While sensory neurons typically return to a resting state after stimulation, inflammatory conditions disrupt this balance, leading to persistent hypersensitivity.

Her work focuses on the emerging role of local mRNA translation at sensory nerve endings as a driver of neuronal sensitisation.

To further explore this mechanism, Dr. Maiellaro is leveraging the Drosophila melanogaster larval model, which shares conserved nociceptive pathways with mammals. This project combines genetic tools, live imaging, and behavioural assays to visualise nocifensive behaviour, to monitor local protein translation and signalling molecules at nerve endings.

This research aims to uncover novel genes and mechanisms that mediate sensitisation via local translation, offering new targets for chronic pain prevention and therapy.

Past Research

Dr. Isabella Maiellaro's research integrates pharmacology, cell biology, and advanced imaging to investigate the spatial and temporal regulation of intracellular signaling pathways. Her work centers on cyclic AMP (cAMP) and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, with a particular focus on how Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins (RAMPs) modulate GPCR function, trafficking, and signaling specificity.

Her lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining in vitro, in vivo, and Drosophila models, alongside live-cell imaging, FRET-based biosensors, and genetic manipulation to visualize and quantify signaling events in real time. A key aspect of her research involves linking molecular signaling dynamics to behavioural outcomes, using both rodent and Drosophila behavioural assays to understand how intracellular signaling shapes neural circuit function and behaviour.

By exploring the interplay between RAMPs and GPCRs, Dr. Maiellaro aims to uncover novel mechanisms of receptor regulation that contribute to cell-specific signaling and disease pathology. Her work bridges fundamental cell biology with translational neuroscience, contributing to the development of innovative biosensors and pharmacological tools for drug discovery. Ultimately, her research seeks to understand how localized signaling events drive cellular and behavioural responses, and how their dysregulation contributes to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

School of Life Sciences

University of Nottingham
Medical School
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham NG7 2UH

e: life-sciences@nottingham.ac.uk
t: +44 (0)115 823 0141
f: +44 (0)115 823 0142