INTERVIEW

Can you describe your educational and professional background?

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy) at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. Following this, I was awarded a fully funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s degree scholarship for the Human Diseases Models Morphological Phenotyping (MorphoPHEN) program. This allowed me to train across four European countries—Spain, Italy, Greece, and Sweden. I completed the program at the Karolinska Institute, and my Master’s thesis was on how early synaptic dysfunctions in the hippocampus contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.

Building on my MorphoPHEN experience, I immediately pursued a second Master’s degree in Neuroscience at Universidad Miguel Hernández in Spain, funded by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). My research there focused on the glycosylation of the ApoE4 protein, using human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell model and post-mortem human brain samples to investigate how these molecular modifications drive neurodegeneration. I completed the program in July 2025 before joining this PhD position in October 2025. 

What prompted you to apply as a doctoral candidate within the Doctoral Network?

I applied for this position within the Neuronanotech Network because I want to move from simply documenting brain failure to actively finding ways to fix it. My previous research involved investigating how synaptic dysfunction and circuit failure precipitate the structural breakdown of neural networks, leading to neurological conditions. Although this was essential for understanding the pathology, I still felt the need to work on something with a more tangible impact.

Therefore, I chose this network because it integrates nanomaterials and engineering to address the complex biological challenges that affect so many lives. I believe that by using these advanced materials, we can physically reconnect a broken neural network and restore the essential communication that disease destroyed. This project represents an important step toward developing restorative solutions that will improve the quality of life of so many people living with
neurological conditions.

What does your research consist on?

My project involves validating the performance and biocompatibility of nanomaterial-based sensors and specially designed nanoscale interfaces in vitro. We are utilizing rodent hippocampal primary cultures, a model well regarded for developing neural networks that closely mimic the activity of the central nervous system.

In the first phase of the project, we are using these hippocampal neural networks to evaluate the biocompatibility of the novel interfaces. We will assess parameters such as cell growth, morphology, and long-term viability. This will enable us to determine how well the biological system integrates with the nanostructured materials.

In parallel with the biocompatibility tests, we will use the interfaces to sense and stimulate the network, then utilize SISSA’s state-of-the-art tools to monitor how the neurons in the network respond to the interfaces in real time. Subsequently, we will challenge the hippocampal network to investigate the efficacy of the interfaces in monitoring complex functional changes.

Specifically, we will induce synaptic plasticity and neuroinflammation to study the emerging activity. Therefore, the central objective is to determine whether these interfaces can accurately sense these changes and provide targeted stimulation to influence the network in a positive direction. We will also test whether these interfaces can actively retrain the network, potentially reversing the impact of neuroinflammation and guiding the circuit back to a healthy functional state.