Florencia Iulita

I am a neuroscientist with multidisciplinary training in pharmacology, biochemistry, and cerebrovascular physiology. My scientific roots were set in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I completed a research-intensive BSc. in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology. In 2009, I moved to Canada to pursue my PhD in Pharmacology at McGill University, under the direction of Prof. A. Claudio Cuello. There, I specialized on the cognitive and molecular aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and particularly, its development in Down syndrome.

As my training at McGill ended, I learned about vascular risk factors and how these impact dementia development. I realized that little is known about vascular contributions in Down syndrome. This curiosity led me to join the Cerebrovascular Pharmacology Unit directed by Prof. Hélène Girouard at Université de Montréal. With her I used murine models to study how hypertension and arterial stiffness affect the cerebral circulation and lead to cognitive deficits.

Since 2019, I work at the Memory Unit of the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona, where my research efforts are focused on the discovery of biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias in extracellular vesicles.

I am honoured and thrilled to be part of Women’s Brain Project to advocate for precision medicine science and help raise awareness on the vulnerability of women to brain and mental health issues.