ITALIAN SCIENTISTS & SCHOLARS IN NORTH AMERICA FOUNDATION
Connecting, Empowering, Celebrating the Italian Intellectual Diaspora
About PND
Welcome to the ISSNAF Chapter of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware (PND)!
Founded in 2024, our chapter is a vibrant community of Italian scientists, scholars, and artists residing in the tri-state area. Committed to fostering collaboration and exchange across disciplines, we embrace a wide spectrum of interests spanning the realms of science and the arts.
At the heart of our chapter is a dedication to advancing knowledge and innovation. With members from diverse backgrounds and expertise in a multitude of fields, including but not limited to physics, biology, engineering, literature, and visual arts, we celebrate the rich panorama of Italian talent contributing to the intellectual landscape of North America. Whether exploring the mysteries of the cosmos, delving into the complexities of the human condition, or pushing the boundaries of technological advancement, our community pursuits excellence and discovery.
Executive Committee
Chair
GABRIELE ROMANO
He graduated from the University of Milano-Bicocca and then pursued a post-doctoral fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, where his lab studies mechanisms "missed" by standard-of-care cancer treatments and proposes counter-acting strategies to improve and prolong patients' lives.
Secretary
EMANUELE CHISARI
Chief Medical Officer of Parvizi Surgical Innovation, a venture studio focused on the life sciences. He graduated in Medicine from the University of Catania and received her PhD in Medical Microbiology from the University of Groningen; he worked as a physician scientist at Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
Treasurer
RICCARDO GOTTARDI
Assistant Professor in Pediatrics & Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Genova and then pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He leads the Bioengineering and Biomaterials (Bio2) lab, collaborating on clinical and research efforts to offer engineering solutions for pediatric health, primarily treatments for airway disorders.
Co-Chair
CLAUDIA CAPPARELLI
Graduated from the University of Calabria in 2011. During the last period of her Ph.D., she joined Dr. Lisanti's laboratory at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University. At the end of 2012, she joined Dr. Aplin's lab at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University as a post-doctoral fellow. In November 2022, she was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University. Her current research aims to investigate mechanisms of drug resistance in the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.
Young ISSNAF Liaison
ALESSANDRA AUDIA
Life science professional with over 10 years of experience in oncology. She has worked in research, project management, and business development. Graduated from the Cancer Center UK and pursued postgraduate studies at Thomas Jefferson University and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is currently Head of Sales at Immudex, a life science company.