Fully employed researcher at the National Research Council (CNR), Italy. Education: University of Palermo: 1997, Biological Sciences degree (110/110 cum laude); 2003, Specialization in “Science of Nutrition”, 1st Ph.D. with a grant (50/50 cum laude); 2008, 2nd Ph.D. “Human Nutrition”, with a grant. 2004, University Assistant contract as a postdoc at the Institut für Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität, Bern, Switzerland. 2006/2009, short-term mobility program winner, University Hospital and INSERM, Montpellier and Marseille, France. Principal Investigator in a nationally competitive research project. Participation in examination commission for public selection. Research topics: Adipose tissue: source of stem cells and its role in the immune and inflammatory systems and in pulmonary diseases, mainly leptin adipocytokine role; nutrition, physical activity, and microbiota in the regulation of the immune system. Litwin Pioneers grant for intermittent fasting diet in obese patients with Crohn’s disease project for Visiting Professor/sabbatical, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada. Sep 2022- March, 2023.