Susanna Rosi, PhD

Susanna Rosi is a Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science and Neurological Surgery and the Director of Neurocognitive Research in the Brain and Spinal Injury Center. She is a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, Hellen Diller Cancer Center, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Biomedical Science Graduate Program. Originally from Tuscany, Dr. Rosi earned her undergraduate degree and PhD in Biology from the University of Florence, Italy. She trained in the Neural System Memory and Aging center at the University of Arizona before becoming a Faculty Member of UCSF. . Her research is focused on understanding the mechanisms responsible for the cognitive dysfunctions observed after brain injury. Her final goal is to identify diagnostic tools for treatment and prevention. She demonstrated the key role that neuroinflammation plays in the development of cognitive deficits. Most notably, she identified therapeutic strategies able to both prevent and restore lost cognition. She received the Bridging the Gap Award from the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, the Innovation Award from the Weill Institute for Neurosciences. She serves as PI on 3 NIH (NIA, NINDS and NCI) funded grants, a NASA grant and she also serves as a standing member of the Molecular Neurogenetic study section at the National Institutes of Health.

Positions and Employment

2000-2001                   Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florence, Italy.

2002-2006                   Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

2006-2011                   Assistant Professor, Departments of Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation Science and Neurological Surgery, UCSF.

2011-2017                   Associate Professor (1 year-Accelerated), Departments of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science and Neurological Surgery, UCSF

2017-present              Professor, Departments of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science and Neurological Surgery, UCSF

2011-present              Director of Neurocognitive Research, Brain and Spinal Injury Center, UCSF

2012-present              Member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

2015-2018                   Member of the Academic Senate Graduate Council committee.

2016-present              Member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and

Measurements

2016-present              Kavli Institute of Fundamental Neuroscience

2016-present              Weill Institute for Neuroscience

2016-2017                   Advisory Board member of the Global Technology Community, CNS Disease World Summit

2017-present              Professor, Departments of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science and Neurological Surgery, UCSF

2018-2022                   Standing member of the Molecular Neurogenetics Study Section

2018-present              Invited Member of the Business and Professional Women International (Valdichiana, Italy)

Other Experience and Professional Memberships:

Graduate Programs Faculty Member:

UCSF Neuroscience Graduate Program.

UCSF Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Studies Program.

UCSF Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Graduate Studies.

Board of Directors:

2011-2016 Winter Conference on Brain Research. Chair: 2012-2016 Winter Conference Fellowship Committee. Organizing committee: American Society for Neurochemistry 2018 Memberships: Society for Neuroscience, Radiation Research Society, National Neurotrauma Society.

Scientific Review Committees:

2008-present              Alzheimer’s Association.

2008-2017                   Canada Foundation for Innovation.

2008-2017                   Ontario Mental Health Foundation.

2011-2017                    American Federation for Aging Research.

2014-2017                   Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), German Research Foundation.

2014                            NIH “Neural Differentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration” Study Section.

2014                            NIH NCI Program Project (P01) Special Emphasis Panel, Study Section.

2014                            NIH ZRG1 F03A (20) “Neurodevelopment, Synaptic Plasticity, Neurodegeneration”.

2014                            NIH CII “Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy” Study Section.

2014                            NIH ZRG1 MDCN-G (03) Special Emphasis Panel “Pathologies in the Nervous System”.

2015                            NIH/NIA AG-15-018 R01 “Immune and Inflammatory Mechanisms in Alzheimer’s Disease”.

2015                            NIH/NINDS “Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia (CMBG)” Study Section.

2015-2016                   External Scientific Review Committee Valley Research Partnership University of Arizona.

2016                            NIH/NCI ZCA1 TCRB-9 (C1) Biomarkers of Adverse Reactions to RT.

2017-2018                   NIH Molecular Neurogenetics Study Section (MNG) Ad Hoc.

2018                            American Heart Association Reviewer.

2018                            NCI/NIH Intramural Reviewer.

2018-2022                   NIH Molecular Neurogenetics Study Section (MNG) Standing Member.

Honors:

1996-2000                   Graduate Fellowship, University of Florence, Italy.

2000                            PhD degree Summa Cum Laude and Distinction, University of Florence, Italy.

2001                            Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy.

2004                            Travel Award, Winter Conference on Brain Research.

2006                            Special Award for Research and Career, “Vel l’Etrusco”, Castiglion Fiorentino, Arezzo, Italy.

2007                            UCSF, Academic Senate Committee on Research - Individual Investigator Seed Award.

2007                            UCSF, Research Evaluation and Allocation Committee Award:  seed award.

2007                           Tuscany Special Award “Young Talents and Magnificent Excellences”, Arezzo, Italy.

2008                           New Investigator Research Grant Award, Alzheimer’s Association.

2011                           Initiated Investigator Research Grant Award, Alzheimer’s Association.

2012                            Seed Grant Award, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, UCSF.

2014-2016                   Sponsor, Individual Postdoc NRSA F32 (Josh Morganti, Fellow)

2015                            Bridging the Gap Award from the California Institute for Quantitative Bioscience.

2015                            2015 Discovery Talk  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3I2ngf_wus

2015                            “Longevity Fellow” award from CALICO.

2016                           Marcus Program in Precision Medicine Innovation Seeding Bold Ideas.

2016                           Innovation Award from the Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

2017-2019                  Sponsor, Individual Postdoc NRSA F32 (Karen Krukowski, Fellow)

2018                            Testimonial for the Business and Professional Women International (Italy)