Limburg Birth Cohort

Meet Rossella

Specialising in early life omics

Rossella Alfano

Postdoctoral researcher

Research project: Medicine & Health Data Science, OMICs, Public Health
Latest studies: Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery - Seconda Universita' degli studi di Napoli; Specialisation in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine - Universita' degli Studi di Napoli Federico II; PhD in Biological Sciences - Hasselt University

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Research project

Medicine & Health Data Science, OMICs, Public Health

It has already been shown that air pollution particles can reach the placenta, even at the fetal side. But what are the possible health effects? In this study I aim to unravel which molecular mechanisms related to cellular senescence (a form of cellular aging) are triggered in the placenta by air pollution exposure during pregnancy. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is important since stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) in the placenta has already been linked to pathologies such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth and fetal death.