Dr. Giulia Santoni 
EPFL in affiliation with the University of Geneva  

Charting the Epigenetic and Functional Landscape of Neuronal Maturation in Human Neural Organoids

Research Focus: 

Neurological disorders impact billions of people worldwide, yet their underlying mechanisms remain profoundly complex and challenging to treat. A major hurdle in understanding these conditions is the difficulty of directly studying the human brain. Dr. Giulia Santoni addresses this by using laboratory-grown, three-dimensional brain models, known as Human Neural Organoids (HNOs), derived from human stem cells.

While HNOs represent a significant tool forward in neuroscience, current models primarily replicate early prenatal brain stages. This immaturity limits their potential to model complex neurological dysfunctions that manifest in adulthood. Dr. Santoni's research aims to overcome this limitation by significantly enhancing HNO maturation through two key mechanisms the brain uses: stimulation and epigenetics.

First, she will investigate various types of neuronal stimulation to identify the most effective ways to promote maturation within HNOs. Simultaneously, she will explore epigenetic modifications - changes that influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence - that help neurons accelerate functional maturation. By integrating these approaches into a novel framework called EpiStim, Dr. Santoni aims to understand how genetic programs and environmental factors interact to support brain health. A crucial aspect of her research will involve applying EpiStim to HNOs derived from patients with mature-stage neurological disorders (eg. Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease) to create a model for dissecting disease complexities. Dr. Santoni will also assess whether EpiStim can be incorporated into drug screening platforms to evaluate its potential to enhance treatment efficacy.

This research will deepen our understanding of the fundamental rules governing human brain maturation and help translate this knowledge to improving clinical therapies and providing personalized approaches to treating neurological conditions.

Background: 

Dr. Giulia Santoni began her academic journey with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, graduating with honors. She then pursued a Master's in Neurobiology at the University of Turin, also achieving honors. She completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at EPFL focusing on the interplay between epigenetics, learning, and memory. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Santoni continued her work at EPFL within the UPGRAEFF Unit to finalize and expand her Ph.D. projects. Currently, she is developing her independent line of research as a postdoctoral scientist at UniGe and EPFL.

Her academic distinctions include several Edisu Piemonte scholarships and the Best Brain and Mind Institute presentation award from EPFL in 2022. 

Beyond her research, Dr. Santoni is a fervent advocate for science communication and public engagement. She actively shares her scientific insights, for example, through her appearance on the "Mind & Matter" podcast and is currently developing a series of monthly symposia for high school students in Italy on topics such as depression and misinformation.