Antonella Camaioni

Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum

Antonella Camaioni

ACADEMIC POSITIONS and PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2002 to date – Associate Professor of Histology and Embryology (05/BIOS-13/A) at the Department of Public Health and Cell Biology and then at the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

2004 to date – Member of the Research Doctorate Program in “Sciences and Biotechnologies of Reproduction and Development”, currently “Medical-Surgical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine”.

1989-2002 – Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and Cell Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

1991-1994 Recipient of a Fogarty Fellowship awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) in the Proteoglycan Chemistry Laboratory directed by Dr. Vincent C. Hascall.

1990 – PhD in Morphogenetic and Cytological Sciences with a dissertation entitled: Study on the ability of the mammalian spermatozoon to bind exogenous DNA molecules and transfer them into the oocyte at fertilization.”

EDUCATION

1986-1989 - PhD candidate in “Morphogenetic and Cytological Sciences”, University of Rome La Sapienza.

1983-1985 Scholarship holder at the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology of the University of Rome La Sapienza, Cytogenetics Laboratory directed by Prof. Adriana De Capoa.

1983 – Master's Degree in Biological Sciences, with honours, University of Rome La Sapienza.

1989-1982 – Master's Course in Biological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Prof. Camaioni's research interests have focused on reproductive biology, particularly the female gamete, its maturation in the ovarian follicle until ovulation and fertilization, as well as the study of stem cells, both embryonic and adult, and their use in tissue regeneration.

Since 1986, Prof. Camaioni has been interested in the fertilization process in mammals, with a particular focus on interactions among oocyte, sperm, and components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Her doctoral work focused on studying alternative methods for introducing foreign genetic information into the mammalian genome at fertilization and during the early stages of embryonic development. From 1991 to 1994, in the laboratory of Dr. Vincent C. Hascall at the Proteoglycan Chemistry Section of the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, USA) and subsequently, in collaboration with her colleague Prof. Antonietta Salustri, Prof. Camaioni conducted studies in the murine model aimed at clarifying the characteristics of granulosa cells during the differentiation process, which occurs in close dependence on the oocyte. In 2000, she began a multi-year collaboration with Dr. Eva Nagyova, researcher at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics (Prague, Czech Academy of Sciences), which has allowed her to expand her knowledge of follicular maturation to other mammalian species, such as the pig. Since 2005, in collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Alberto Mantovani and his research group at the Humanitas Institute (Milan), Prof. Camaioni has used animal models of female infertility to study the role of PTX3, TSG6, and IalphaI proteins in the ECM during folliculogenesis, implantation, and embryonic development.

Since 2006, Prof. Camaioni has also been embroiled in biocompatibility studies on organic synthetic materials and their use as 2D and 3D scaffolds for the maintenance and differentiation of embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and iPSCs to improve in vitro culture conditions by mimicking the characteristics of the ECM, with the perspective to utilize such scaffolds to facilitate in vivo tissue regeneration. She has been involved in studies on the embryotoxicity and biocompatibility of variously functionalized nanomaterials.

Since 2016, in collaboration with Prof. Thomas M. Brown of the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tor Vergata University, Prof. Camaioni has been involved in studies on artificial retina models, in which each photosensitive polymer spectrally mimicked the photo-response of mammalian rods and cones. The developed platforms provide new tools not only for modulating cell behaviour and proliferation but also for recording bioelectrical photovoltage signals that can complement analyses with more sophisticated, yet often invasive, electrophysiological tools.

Since 2016, Prof. Camaioni has been studying human mesenchymal stem cells derived from normally discarded healthy tissues such as adipose tissue and dental pulp to define their functional characteristics and evaluate their ability to regenerate and to recover damaged or aged tissues through their injection or by using the molecules they secrete in mouse models of ovarian disease.

COMPENDIUM

Scopus ID: 6603954898 – Orcid ID: 0000-0002-7059-2617

Web site: https://biomedicinaeprevenzione.uniroma2.it/camaioni-antonella.html

Updated list of publications can be found at the following links:

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6603954898

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7059-2617

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=aJUWVdwAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

FUNDING

Prof. Camaioni has received national and international funding as Principal Investigator (PI), Local PI, and Member of the Research Unit from the Ministry of University and Research, the Lazio Region, AFOSR (USA), the National Research Council, and the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Specifically:

- Project “An Integrated Technology Platform with Photoelectrical and Electromagnetic (EM) Stimulator Arrays with Tunable Frequency and Contactless Quantum Spintronic Sensor Array for Understanding Neuromorphic Vision.” Funded by AFOSR (USA). Member of the Research Unit. Period September 2024-March 2025.

- Project “New perspectives for the exploitation of female reproductive potential in mammals: from the recovery of the untapped natural ovarian reserve to the generation of oocytes and granulosa cells from mesenchymal stem cells (InfinitEGG).” Funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN). Local PI. Period: May 2022-May 2025.

- Project: "Quantum Spectrally-Enhanced Self-Powered Artificial Retina." Funded by Pennsylvania State University (USA) through AFOSR (Air Force Office of Scientific Research). Member of the Research Unit. Period: January 2020-December 2022.

- Project: "Sight Restoration via Organic and Hybrid Thin Films (SIROH)." Funded by the Lazio Region, LazioInnova. Local PI. Period: June 2018-August 2020.

- Project: "Bio-hybrid optoelectronic device incorporating semiconducting polymer/carbon nanotube thin films and eye retinal tissue for bringing back vision." Funded by the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Local PI. Period: March 2018-December 2019.

- Project "PTX3 as a component of the extracellular matrix of cumulus oophorus and as an adjuvant to embryonic implantation in mammals." Funded by Sigma-Tau. Member of the Research Unit. Period: 2007-2010.

- Project "Gene expression analysis of cumulus oophorus cells: a conservative method for assessing the quality of oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro." Funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN). Member of the Research Unit. Period: 2006-2008.

- Project "Effects of the interaction between cumulus cells and extracellular matrix on oocyte maturation and fertilization." Funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN). Member of the Research Unit. Period: 2003-2005.

- Project "Molecular mechanisms controlling mitotic and meiotic divisions of male and female germ cells in the mouse, in the fetal and adult gonad." Funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN). Member of the Research Unit. Period: 2000-2002

- Project "Expression of apoptotic genes in mammalian oogenesis." Funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN). Member of the Research Unit. Period: 1998-2000.

- Annual University Scientific Research Projects funded by the University of Rome Tor Vergata (former 60%). PI. Period: 1994-2003.

- Bilateral Italian-American Project "Identification of molecules capable of organizing hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix" in collaboration with Dr. Vincent C. Hascall, director of the Proteoglycan Chemistry Laboratory at NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. Funded by the National Research Council. PI. Period: 1993-1994.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES and PhD SUPERVISION

- Professor in Histology and Embryology in the one-cycle Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From the 2021/22 academic year to the present.

- Professor in Histology in the one-cycle Degree Program in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From the 2010/11 academic year to the present.

- Professor in Cytology and Histology in the Medical Engineering Degree Program at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From the 2010/11 academic year to the present.

- Professor in Histology at the School of Specialization in Oral Surgery at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From the 2015/16 academic year to the present.

- Professor in Histology for the one-cycle Degree Program in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Tirana, Albania. From the 2010/11 academic year to the present.

- Lecturer of the Cytology module for the Cytology and Histology course for the Degree Program in Medical Engineering at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From 2000/2001 to 2009/10 academic years.

- Professor in Embryology at the School of Specialization in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From 1994/95 to 2009/2010 academic years.

- Professor of Cytology and Histology for the Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technician at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From 1994/95 to 1998/1999 academic years.

- Lecturer of the Histology module for the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, IRCSS Santa Lucia. From 1993/94 to 2009/2010 academic years.

- Since 2004, Professor Camaioni has been a member of the Doctoral School in "Reproductive and Developmental Sciences and Biotechnologies," currently "Medical-Surgical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine." Professor Camaioni has supervised more than ten doctoral students as tutor or co-tutor and has supervised graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Professor Camaioni has served as an internal member of the thesis evaluation committee for the following PhD programs: "Medical-Surgical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine" and "Electronic Engineering" at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Additionally, Professor Camaioni served as chair of the thesis evaluation committee for the following PhD programs: "Advanced Systems Engineering" at the Free University of Bolzano (2025) and "Biomolecular and Health Sciences" at the University of Urbino Carlo Bo (2025).

ACADEMIC and SCIENTIFIC RESPONSIBILITY

- Member of the Organizing Scientific Committee of the Workshop "InfinitEGG - the final meeting," Sassari, Italy, March 6, 2026.

- Member of the Monitoring Board on Teaching, Research and Third Mission of the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention of the University of Rome Tor Vergata from 2024 to date.

- Member of the Board of the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention of the University of Rome Tor Vergata from 2019 to date.

- Member of the Faculty Board of the Medical School at the University of Rome Tor Vergata from 2019 to 2025.

- Member of the Technical Scientific Committee of the “Interdepartmental Center for Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture” (CIMETA) of the University of Rome Tor Vergata from 2018 to date.

- Member of the Organizing Scientific Committee of the Minisymposium "Behind pathogenesis and biocompatibility: Modeling and experiments linking biomechanics to biology" at the 3rd International Conference on Biomedical Technology (ICBT 2017, ECCOMAS Thematic Conference). Hannover, Germany, 6-8 November 2017.

AWARDS

Award from the Fogarty International Center at the National Institute of Health (NIH-USA) for studying the hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix in the cumulus cell-oocyte complexes in mice in the laboratory of Dr. Vincent C. Hascall (September 1991 - March 1994).

Award from the Institute of Physics (IOP) as a trusted reviewer at an excellent standard and competency (2020). 

Award from Acta Biomaterialia as an outstanding reviewer in recognition of significant contributions made to the quality of the journal: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/acta-biomaterialia/about/awards/acta-journals-outstanding-reviewers-in-2021-1.

MEMBERSHIP of SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)

Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR)

Italian Society of Cell Biology and Differentiation (ABCD)

Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (SIAI)

Association of Professors of Human Histology and Embryology (CDIE)

EDITORIAL ACTIVITY

Prof. Camaioni has co-authored 11 book chapters, 1 textbook, and edited 4 book chapters.She is an Editorial Board Member for Cells and an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Endocrinology.  

Prof. Camaioni have been performing ad-hoc reviewing for the following peer-reviewed journals: Human Reproduction Open; Stem Cell Research and Therapy; Biomedical Materials; Stem Cell Translational Medicine; Acta Biomaterialia; Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry; Communication Biology; Cells; Biomedicines; Cell Biochemistry & Function; Genes; Particle & Fiber Toxicology; Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity; International Journal of Molecular Science; Theriogenology; Antioxidants; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; Molecular Biotechnology; Frontiers in Aging; Scientific Reports; Molecular Therapy Methods & Clinical Development.