In this #ISSNAFStory, Barbara Rosario interviews Professor Pietro De Camilli of Yale University, recipient of the ISSNAF Lifetime Achievement Award, who reflects on his pioneering career at the intersection of cell biology and neuroscience.

De Camilli’s research explores how lipid membranes enable neurons to communicate — uncovering the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and revealing how membrane dynamics and lipid regulation sustain brain function.

A key breakthrough in his work linked these cellular processes to Parkinson’s disease: his lab discovered that certain membrane proteins, later identified as Parkinson’s-related genes, are vital to maintaining the integrity of lysosomes, the cell’s waste system. Their dysfunction can damage neurons, offering new therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Beyond science, De Camilli reflects on his Italian roots, his path between Milan and Yale, and his commitment to connecting Italian and North American research communities through ISSNAF. Now living by the sea in Connecticut, he finds in nature the same wonder that first inspired his passion for discovery.