Clinical Research Laboratories

Head: Dr Silvia Colnaghi

This laboratory is concerned with the study of bioelectrical responses of central nervous system structures in response to specific stimuli. The pathways explored in clinical practice are the visual, acoustic and somatosensory ones, through the use, respectively, of visual evoked potentials (VEPs), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). In the clinical setting these are used, in particular, in the assessment and follow-up of disorders of the visual pathways, of inflammatory demyelinating diseases, and of degenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.

Qualifying equipment:

• EBNeuro evoked potential stimulators, recording and analysis system

Head: Dr Daniele Bosone

The purpose of this laboratory is to diagnose, non-invasively, both acute and chronic cerebrovascular diseases, and to study the neurological complications of certain internal diseases. The lab also studies mechanisms of cerebral autoregulation in physiological and pathological conditions. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a recently acquired non-invasive diagnostic technique that can provide real-time measurements of tissue oxygenation and allows the study of cerebral cortical blood flow; it lends itself to the dynamic monitoring of cerebral metabolic changes in patients with degenerative diseases or affected by disorders of “cortical” origin, including functional disorders.

The laboratory has equipment for studying the pathophysiological mechanisms, both central and peripheral, of diseases of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), as well as the modalities of ANS involvement in degenerative neurological diseases (progressive autonomic failure, Parkinson’s disease, multisystem atrophy, vasovagal syncope, etc.).

Qualifying equipment:

• Echographic Ultrasound equipment – Acuson Sequoia 512
• Echographic Ultrasound equipment – Esaote Mylab Twice
• Transcrianal Doppler equipments (two) – DWL Multidop T
• Head Device- Marc 600 Spencer Tecnologies for transcranial Doppler Monitoring
• Autonomic Nervous System Testing System – Task Force Monitor
• 24 Hours Arterial Blood Pressure Evaluating portable devices – ABPM-04 – (Two)
• 24 Hours Arterial Blood Pressure Ealuating portable devices – Esaote Spacelab ABP –
• Functional NIRS equipment (24 channels) (NIRx Technologies )
• Capnograph – Capnostream 20
• Non Invasive Arterial Pressur Continous Monitoring System – C-NAP
• Power-Lab Data Acquisition System

Head: Dr Silvia Colnaghi

This laboratory has equipment for evaluating diseases in the fields of neuro-otology and neuro-ophthalmology.

The individuals seen here typically include patients with balance, auditory and visual disorders, occurring either in isolation or in the context of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, extrapyramidal diseases, cerebellar ataxia, cerebrovascular disease and myasthenia gravis.

Qualifying equipment:

• Humphrey-Zeiss Field Analyzer
• Zeiss CIRRUS 5000 HD-OCT
• EyeSeeCam infrared video system for eye movement recoding
• Beon Solutions fHIT system
• Computer controlled rotatory chair
• Audiometer
• P-walk  and Free-walk BTS Bioengineering for walk and movement functional evaluation

Head: Dr Elena Sinforiani

This laboratory deals with the evaluation of cognitive functions (memory, instrumental and executive functions, attention), based on the use of specific testing methods.

Over the years, there has been a gradual and constant increase in this type of diagnostic activity, partly as an effect of increasingly precise definition of the relevant nosographic categories (Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, extrapyramidal diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, demyelinating diseases, cancer). Since 2016, cognitive rehabilitation has also been available, both for inpatients in the institute’s neurological rehabilitation unit and for outpatients.

Head: Dr Valentina De Giorgis

The physicians in this laboratory deal with the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy syndromes in children and adolescents, focusing in particular on drug-resistant ones.
For some years, the laboratory has been the national reference center for the ketogenic diet treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy and GLUT1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS).
In the field of epilepsy genetics, research is currently being conducted into various epilepsy syndromes of childhood and adolescence, in particular into CSWS epilepsy syndrome, GLUT1DS, and epilepsy candidates for surgical treatment, and we are involved in several clinical trials experimenting new drugs.
The laboratory is one of five recognized Italian centers belonging to the EpiCARE European Reference Network for rare and complex epilepsies.

Qualifying equipment:

• 2 EEG consoles with  Nicolet Veeg 32 channels video-registration and one isolated and soundproof room each, equipped with triple camera and possibility to play music or video
• one laptop console EEG with video-registration
• one hospitalization room dedicated to EEG long-term monitoring with video-registration, data transimission from 64 channels telemetry directly reaching  receiving ambulatories, triple camera and private bathroom
• pattern reversal stimulator

Head: Dr Diego Franciotta

This laboratory’s main objective is to produce neuroimmunological tests for diagnosing neurological diseases with an autoimmune, inflammatory or degenerative profile. The main research lines involve:

• standardizing methods for identifying autoantibodies in acquired demyelinating syndromes, paraneoplastic syndromes, autoimmune encephalitis and neuromuscular junction disorders (myasthenia gravis);
• characterizing prognostic CSF biomarkers in multiple sclerosis;
• identifying new antibody reactivities in acquired demyelinating diseases, autoimmune encephalitis and inflammatory-demyelinating disorders of the peripheral nervous system;
• elucidating pathogenetic mechanisms in antibody-mediated diseases of the central and peripheral nervous

The laboratory is part of a European consortium involved in biomarker research in MS BioMS-eu (www.biomseu.com).

Qualifying equipment:

• Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis chamber | horizontal
• PCR thermocycler
• Vertical Gel Electrophoreis Systems
• ELISA reader
• Cytospin centrifuge
• Laminar flow hood
• CO2 incubator
• Chemical hood
• Microtome
• Fluorescence Microscope
• Optical Microscope
• -30°C laboratory freezers
• -80°C laboratory freezer
• Laboratory agitator with temperature control

Head: Prof Emilio Perucca

This laboratory’s research activity consists of planning and conducting pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and clinical trials, focusing in particular on the following areas: (i) the pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs, antipsychotics and antidepressants; (ii) drug interactions in epilepsy; (iii) controlled clinical trials of neuropsychopharmaceuticals, particularly drugs used to treat epilepsy; (iv) assessment of adverse effects of drug therapies in neurology and psychiatry.

Head: Prof. Cristina Tassorelli

Joint head: Dr Roberto De Icco

The Movement Analysis Laboratory is a place of multidisciplinary research where the aim is to use movement measurement and signal processing methods to characterize nervous system pathologies that affect motor function, particularly multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cerebellar ataxia, and vestibular system disorders.

Qualifying equipment:

• Elite 3D 50HZ system: Optokinetic Gait Analysis System (ELITE, BTS Engineering, Milan)
• 4 devices for direct current electrical stimulation
• G-sensor inertial wearable device for functional analysis of movement (shared with Laboratory of Neuro-otology)