Sara Carloni | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sara Carloni | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Humanitas University, Italy

Dr. Sara Carloni is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at Humanitas University, Italy. Her career spans over a decade of cutting-edge research into microbial pathogenesis, microbiota-host interactions, the gut-brain axis, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A pivotal figure in translational microbiology, Dr. Carloni has contributed substantially to both experimental and clinical microbiology. Her breakthrough discovery of a choroid plexus vascular barrier associated with intestinal inflammation, published in Science (2021), has positioned her as a global leader in microbiota and neuroinflammation studies. As a corresponding or leading author on multiple high-impact publications and a frequent speaker at international conferences, she continues to influence the future of biomedical sciences.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Orcid

Educational Background 🎓

Dr. Sara Carloni has cultivated a robust academic foundation in microbiology and biotechnology through progressive and interdisciplinary training across prestigious institutions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnologies in 2009 from a joint program between Università degli Studi di Milano and Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain. She then completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology at Università degli Studi di Milano in July 2011. Driven by a keen interest in microbial research, she pursued a Ph.D. in Biological and Molecular Sciences with a specialization in Molecular Microbiology, which she completed in May 2015 at Università degli Studi di Milano. Following her doctorate, she engaged in several postdoctoral fellowships: first at Università degli Studi di Milano (2015), focusing on small RNA-mediated mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; then at the European Institute of Oncology (2016–2017), investigating microbiota in intestinal and oncologic disorders; and subsequently at Humanitas University (2018–2021), where she delved into the gut-brain axis and intestinal inflammation. Her academic journey culminated in her appointment as Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (RTDA) at Humanitas University in 2021.

Professional Experience 💼

  • Assistant Professor (RTDA)
    Humanitas University (2021–Present)

    • Teaching and research in Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07)

    • Supervising PhD and MD students; leading microbiota and AMR research units

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Humanitas University (2018–2021)

    • Investigated gut-brain axis, choroid plexus, and intestinal inflammation

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    European Institute of Oncology (IEO) (2016–2017)

    • Microbiota in IBD and tumorigenesis; explored colitis-brain interaction

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Università degli Studi di Milano (2015)

    • Studied quorum sensing and small RNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Research Interests 🔬

  • Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) and Vascular Barriers

  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

  • Host-Microbiota Interactions

  • Microbial Metabolites and Neuroinflammation

  • Translational Microbiology

  • Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles (bEVs)

  • Artificial Intelligence in Microbial Diagnostics

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Invited Speaker at premier international conferences including:

    • Digestive Disease Week (2024)

    • ECCO Congress (2024)

    • Potsdam Symposium on Mucosal Immunology (2023)

    • IFHNOS World Congress Moderator (2023)

  • Leader of research units in:

    • PNRR-INF-ACT (One Health & AMR Surveillance)

    • PNRR-NBFC (Human Wellbeing & Microbial Biodiversity)

    • 5X1000 Humanitas (IBD and Psychiatric Comorbidities)

  • Visiting Professor, Institut Pasteur – Leadership in microbiota-host interaction and bEVs research

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Sara Carloni stands out as an innovative and collaborative microbiologist, contributing significantly to modern biomedical research. With over 19 peer-reviewed publications, an H-index of 11, and over 1200 citations, she merges basic science discoveries with clinical applications, particularly in AMR surveillance and gut-brain communication. Her multidisciplinary and translational approach places her at the forefront of microbiology, making her a strong contender for high-level research recognitions and global scientific leadership.

Publications 📚

  1. 🍼 Maternal gut microbiota influences immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface affecting pregnancy outcome
    🗞 Nature Communications
    📅 2025-05-09 | 🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58533-8
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Silvia Giugliano, Andrea Gatti, Martina Rusin, Tilo Schorn, Silvia Pimazzoni, Michela Calanni-Pileri, Valentina Fraccascia, Sara Carloni, Maria Rescigno


  2. 🧫 Epidemiology and resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from blood samples in septic patients at emergency department admission: A 6-year single-centre retrospective analysis from Northern Italy
    🗞 Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
    📅 2025-03 | 🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2024.12.023
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Valeria Cento, Sara Carloni, Riccardo Sarti, et al.


  3. 🤰 Role of the maternal gut microbiota in immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface: Impact on preeclampsia
    📄 Preprint
    📅 2023-05-30 | 🔗 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2845955/v1
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Maria Rescigno, Silvia Giugliano, Sara Carloni, Tilo Schorn


  4. 🧠 Unveiling the gut-brain axis: Structural and functional analogies between the gut and the choroid plexus vascular and immune barriers
    🗞 Seminars in Immunopathology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1007/S00281-022-00955-3
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sara Carloni, Maria Rescigno


  5. 🦠 Gut vascular barrier impairment leads to intestinal bacteria dissemination and colorectal cancer metastasis to liver
    🗞 Cancer Cell
    🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.03.004
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Bertocchi, A., Carloni, S., et al.


  6. 🧠 Identification of a choroid plexus vascular barrier closing during intestinal inflammation
    🗞 Science
    🔗 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc6108
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Carloni, S., Bertocchi, A., et al.


  7. 🧪 SARS-CoV-2 serology in 4000 health care and administrative staff across seven sites in Lombardy, Italy
    🗞 Scientific Reports
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91773-4
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sandri, M.T., Carloni, S., et al.


  8. 🧫 Complement C3aR loss drives colorectal cancer by modulating gut microbiota
    🗞 Journal of Immunology
    🔗 WOS: WOS:000589972400485
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Guglietta, Silvia, Carloni, Sara, et al.


  9. 🦠 Endogenous murine microbiota member Faecalibaculum rodentium and its human homologue protect from intestinal tumour growth
    🗞 Nature Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0649-5
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Zagato, E., Carloni, S., et al.


  10. 🧪 IgG serology in health care and administrative staff populations from 7 hospitals representative of different exposures to SARS-CoV-2 in Lombardy, Italy
    📄 medRxiv Preprint
    🔗 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.24.20111245
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sandri, M.T., Carloni, S., et al.


  11. 💩 Therapeutic faecal microbiota transplantation controls intestinal inflammation through IL10 secretion by immune cells
    🗞 Nature Communications
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07359-8
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Burrello, C., Carloni, S., et al.


  12. 🧬 The small RNA ReaL: A novel regulatory element embedded in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing networks
    🗞 Environmental Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13886
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Carloni, S., Macchi, R., et al.


  13. 🦠 Post-transcriptional regulation of the virulence-associated enzyme AlgC by the σ²²-dependent small RNA ErsA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    🗞 Environmental Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12590
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Ferrara, S., Carloni, S., et al.


 

 

 

 

Celine FABRET | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Celine FABRET | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer at Paris-Saclay University, France

Dr. Céline Fabret is a Research Associate Professor at Paris-Saclay University, working at the Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC). She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Université Aix-Marseille II and has extensive postdoctoral experience in both France and the United States. Her research focuses on translation termination, ribosome rescue mechanisms, prion biology, and gene regulation in bacteria and yeast. With a strong background in genetics and RNA biology, she has contributed to several international genome projects and has published in leading journals. Dr. Fabret is also an experienced educator and mentor, actively involved in training students and participating in academic governance.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Educational Background 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Université Aix-Marseille II, France (1996)

    • Doctoral research at CNRS Marseille, within the European-Japanese Bacillus subtilis genome project

  • Master’s in Molecular Biology, Université Aix-Marseille II, France

Professional Experience 💼

  • 2025–Present: Research Associate Professor, Paris-Saclay University, I2BC

  • 2011–Present: Faculty member, Paris-Saclay University (teaching microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, genomics)

  • 2001–2011: Lecturer, Sorbonne University (Pierre et Marie Curie Campus)

  • 1999–2001: Researcher in P. Noirot’s lab at INRA, Jouy-en-Josas – Genetic tools development and essential gene characterization

  • 1998–1999: Researcher in L. Jannière’s lab at INRA – High-frequency in vivo mutagenesis system in E. coli

  • 1996–1998: Postdoctoral Fellow, J.A. Hoch’s Lab, The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, USA) – Sporulation and two-component systems in Bacillus subtilis

  • 1991–1996: Doctoral researcher, CNRS Marseille – DNA sequencing and transcriptional analysis in B. subtilis

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Fabret’s research bridges bacterial and eukaryotic translation, gene regulation, and RNA biology. Her focus includes:

  • Translation termination mechanisms in yeast and bacteria

  • Prion biology and its effect on stop codon recognition ([PSI+] phenotype)

  • Ribosome rescue and RNA quality control systems (RQC2, trans-translation)

  • Antibiotic response and translational reprogramming in Gram-negative bacteria

  • Functional genomics and essential gene analysis in Bacillus subtilis

  • Post-transcriptional modifications and their role in translational fidelity

She has supervised 2 PhD theses, 3 Master 2 (M2), and 16 Master 1 (M1) students, contributing to the training of the next generation of molecular biologists.

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Lead participant in multiple European research consortia on genome projects and enzyme engineering

  • Co-author of high-impact publications in Nature Cell Biology, Structure, Nucleic Acids Research, Molecular Microbiology

  • Elected member of the Consultative Commission of Biology Specialists and the Biology Department Council, Paris-Saclay University

  • Recognized for interdisciplinary collaboration with pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Aventis) and international institutions

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Céline Fabret has made sustained and meaningful contributions to molecular microbiology, translation biology, and bacterial physiology. Through a unique combination of genetic, biochemical, and functional genomics approaches, she has deepened our understanding of translation mechanisms and gene regulation across domains of life. As a researcher, educator, and mentor, she remains committed to advancing science and supporting young scientists in their careers.

Publications 📚

  1. 🧬 Fabret C, Giudice E, Chat S, Gillet R, Namy O (2025)
    RQC2 is a major player in peptide release from stalled ribosomes
    Structure, 31: S0969-2126(25)00105-4.


  2. 🦠 Fruchard L, Babosan A, Carvalho A, Lang M, Li B, Duchateau M, Giai Gianetto Q, Matondo M, Bonhomme F, Hatin I, Arbes H, Fabret C, et al. (2025)
    Aminoglycoside tolerance in Vibrio cholerae engages translational reprogramming
    (Accepted, journal not specified).


  3. 🧪 Fabret C, Namy O (2021)
    Translation efficiency of E. coli ribosomes with covalently linked subunits
    Nucleic Acids Research, 49(9): 5308–5318.


  4. 🔬 Malagnac*, Fabret* et al. (2013)
    A gene regulated by a -1 frameshift in Podospora anserina
    PLoS One, 8(9): e73772. (co-first authors)


  5. 🔎 Cosnier B, Kwapisz M, Hatin I, Namy O, Fabret C (2011)
    Translational readthrough of S. cerevisiae genes IMP3 and PDE2
    PLoS One, 6(4): e19500.


  6. 🧫 Desmolaize B, Fabret C, Graille M, van Tilbeurgh H, Brochier-Armanet C, Namy O (2011)
    23S rRNA modifications in Bacillus subtilis
    Nucleic Acids Research, 39(21): 9368–9375.


  7. 🧬 Fabret C, Malagnac F, Namy O (2011)
    tRNA-CAU modification enzyme and AUA codon recognition in Bacillus subtilis
    Molecular Microbiology, 80(4): 1062–1074.


  8. 💡 Blanchet S, Cornu D, Hatin I, Grosjean H, Bertin P, Namy O, Fabret C (2015)
    eRF1 interactions with stop codons and the ribosome
    Nucleic Acids Research, 43(6): 3298–3308.


  9. 🧠 Kabani M, Melki R, Fabret C (2011)
    Prion formation and the eRF3 protein in yeast
    Molecular Microbiology, 81(3): 640–658.


  10. 🔬 Tork S, Hatin I, Rousset JP, Fabret C (2004)
    5′ and 3′ context effects on stop codon recognition
    Nucleic Acids Research, 32(2): 415–421.