Sections

Anatomic Pathology, through the understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms, the accurate evaluation of the pathological stage of disease aimed at identifying prognostic parameters, and the predictive molecular characterization of response to treatment, represents today a fundamental discipline at the core of the modern therapeutic approach to most oncological diseases.

Anatomic Pathology constitutes a fundamental discipline in oncology, considering both targeted therapies and personalized therapies. All of this contributes significantly to the most innovative aspect of modern medicine, known as evidence-based medicine.

The Anatomic Pathology section brings together specific expertise and knowledge in various fields of oncological pathology across diagnostics, research, and teaching, making it unique within the University.

Specific thematic areas include breast pathology, thyroid pathology, urological and male genital pathology, skin pathology, and hematopathology.

Coordinator
Gabriella Nesi

FULL PROFESSORS

• Simonetta Bianchi
• Daniela Massi
• Gabriella Nesi

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Raffaella Santi

The development of modern Medicine toward clinical activity based on the principle of "high-intensity care" makes the Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy section unique within the University in developing research and educational programs focused on the care of critical or "vulnerable" patients. In this context, the Section's primary objective is the control of physical and spiritual suffering, with operational programs aimed at integrating high-tech intensive care medicine with palliative and pain medicine. Anesthesiology, intensive care, and algology are interconnected and develop their teaching, research, and care activities in close collaboration with other disciplines such as clinical pharmacology, oncology, psychology, and others.

Coordinator
Chiara Adembri

FULL PROFESSORS

• Stefano Romagnoli

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Chiara Adembri
• Gabriele Baldini
• Zaccaria Ricci
• Gianluca Villa

Plastic Surgery is a cross-disciplinary specialty dealing with reconstructive procedures across all anatomical regions in traumatic, oncological, and malformative conditions. From this perspective, organic interaction with other specialties is essential to optimizing the multidisciplinary approach to many diseases.

In addition to the clinical aspect, emphasis is placed on research aimed at enhancing discipline-specific knowledge as well as interfacing with other specialties in joint research projects.

The resulting scientific production will focus on the study of the most innovative reconstructive techniques, such as the use of perforator flaps, multi-tissue chimera flaps, the microsurgical approach to lymphedema treatment, and robotic microsurgery.

Coordinator
Alessandro Innocenti

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Alessandro Innocenti

RESEARCHERS

• Vanni Giannotti
• Giulio Menichini

The Section constitutes the scientific, educational, and professional reference unit for the MED/35 disciplinary sector (Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases) within the Department.

The Section's cultural and scientific interests involve the study of neoplastic (melanoma and non-melanoma) as well as inflammatory, infectious, and immune-mediated skin diseases, in close multidisciplinary collaboration with other academic disciplines: Anatomic Pathology, Plastic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Immuno-Allergology, Infectious Diseases, Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology, Onco-Hematology, and Pharmacology.

The section therefore aims to:

• Increase and improve the effectiveness of clinico-pathological correlations, with particular emphasis on molecular diagnostics, having a major impact on therapeutic choices and clinical management across various fields of interest.
• Expand the network of scientific and cultural exchanges and research projects with other Italian and international universities.
• Promote knowledge and public awareness regarding primary and secondary prevention of skin cancers and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the management of common dermatoses with high social impact.

Coordinator
Nicola Pimpinelli

FULL PROFESSORS

• Nicola Pimpinelli

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Emiliano Antiga
• Marzia Caproni
• Francesca Prignano

Understanding the mechanisms regulating drug action in healthy and ill individuals, along with the dynamic and kinetic aspects determining their effect, forms the basis of therapeutic appropriateness.

While this is particularly relevant in general, it is essential in oncological diseases, where the pharmacogenetic bases of drug response are becoming a fundamental tool for personalized therapy, which in turn represents the most innovative aspect of modern personalized medicine.

The section combines specific expertise and knowledge in both preclinical and clinical pharmacology and oncology, making it unique within the University.

Coordinator
Romina Nassini

FULL PROFESSORS

• Alberto Chiarugi
• Romina Nassini
• Domenico Edoardo Pellegrini-Giampietro

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Francesco De Logu
• Astrid Parenti
• Maria Beatrice Passani
• Giandomenico Roviello

RESEARCHERS

• Daniela Buonvicino
• Daniele Lana
• Elisa Landucci
• Andrea Lapucci
• Matilde Marini

Gynecology and Obstetrics is by nature a multifaceted branch encompassing various subspecialties, all deeply tied to clinical care and offering countless avenues for research.

In the field of gynecology, there are sectors dedicated to vaginal, endoscopic, robotic, and laparotomic surgery for both benign and oncological conditions, as well as breast surgery. The section features a gynecological endocrinology sector, which covers pediatric and adolescent gynecology, functional gynecology, and menopause pathophysiology. Additionally, it includes a reproductive pathophysiology sector with branches in diagnostics and medically assisted reproduction (MAR).

In the obstetric field, services range from obstetric psychoprophylaxis pathways with childbirth preparation classes, to the key sector of prenatal diagnosis, to facilities for managing high-risk pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, etc., while also supporting the heavy care workload of the two birthing units at Careggi: the "Margherita" pathway for demedicalized physiological pregnancy and the traditional delivery room, a constant benchmark for the population of the Florence area and the entire region as a third-level center for pathological pregnancies.

Special attention is also given to women with disabilities through the "Rosa Point" pathway, dedicated to women with spinal cord injuries, and the ASDI pathway, reserved for women with intellectual disabilities.

Research in this section spans various areas of the discipline. In oncology, it ranges from the application of different surgical techniques in treating gynecological and breast malignancies to the study of biomolecular prognostic factors, tumor growth control, the use of novel antineoplastic drugs, and pharmacogenetics. Other areas of interest include the study of endometriosis and the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathology. In obstetrics, research activities focus on prenatal diagnosis and the early detection and treatment of conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, intrapartum cardiotocographic fetal monitoring, and pathologies associated with twin pregnancies.

Coordinator
Tommaso Susini

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Tommaso Susini

RESEARCHERS

• Viola Seravalli

The expertise of the Section's members covers the broad field of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, ranging from classic topics in Epidemiology and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Prevention of Foodborne Infections, Epidemiology and Prevention of Chronic-Degenerative Diseases, Environmental Hygiene and Chemical Contamination, Hospital and Healthcare Facility Hygiene, to Health Organization and Healthcare Management, Pharmaco-Economics applied to Preventive Medicine, and Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The Section is committed to developing state-of-the-art techniques for community diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance and monitoring across all fields of preventive medicine.

Coordinator
Sara Boccalini

FULL PROFESSORS

• Paolo Bonanni

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Stefano Bambi
• Angela Bechini
• Guglielmo Bonaccorsi
• Sara Boccalini
• Chiara Lorini
• Laura Rasero

RESEARCHERS

• Manuela Chiavarini
• Marco Del Riccio
• Rosa Donato
• Paolo Iovino
• Yari Longobucco
• Cristiana Sacco
• Patrizio Zanobini

Orthopedics and Traumatology represents the branch of medicine dedicated to treating musculoskeletal disorders, whether post-traumatic, degenerative, or neoplastic.

The broad range of conditions treated has consolidated a division into subspecialties, including shoulder and elbow surgery, wrist and hand surgery, spine, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, and foot surgery, traumatology, proximal femur and fragility fracture surgery, musculoskeletal oncological surgery, prosthetic surgery, sports traumatology, and more.

The areas of interest among these subspecialties are broad and partially overlapping.

Coordinator
Domenico Andrea Campanacci

FULL PROFESSORS

• Domenico Andrea Campanacci
• Roberto Civinini

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Giovanni Beltrami
• Christian Carulli
• Matteo Innocenti
• Guido Scoccianti

The Section of Pediatrics and Pediatric Nursing Sciences serves as the core for care, education, and research in child health, from the neonatal period to adolescence.

One of the section's main strengths is its multidisciplinary nature: it brings together all specialties and professions in the pediatric field, from nursing to allergology, infectiology, immunology, and endocrinology, to name just a few clinical and research domains.

The child's and family's well-being during the care journey—with particular focus on minimizing discomfort related to healthcare procedures—constitutes one of the section's key clinical, scientific, and educational priorities, with significant implications for Pediatric Nursing Sciences.

The use of cutting-edge molecular technologies in the section's clinical and research laboratories has led to major innovations, initially developed as patents and subsequently integrated into the Essential Levels of Care (LEA) of the National Health Service and international guidelines.

Clinical and scientific synergy among all components of the section is realized within the Meyer University Children's Hospital, a third-level pediatric hospital with strong national and international appeal. This integration allows students and young professionals to receive comprehensive training focused on early diagnosis, follow-up, and personalized treatment of pediatric diseases, from newborn screening to complex conditions.

Coordinator
Elena Chiappini

FULL PROFESSORS

• Chiara Azzari
• Luisa Galli

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Elena Chiappini
• Silvia Ricci
• Stefano Stagi

RESEARCHERS

• Mattia Giovannini
• Sandra Trapani

The Section serves as the scientific, educational, and professional reference unit for the MED/25 – Psychiatry disciplinary sector within the Department.

The Section's cultural and scientific interests center on the study of mental disorders and psychopathology—a research field analyzing various psychological functions and their operation along a continuum ranging from the absence of pathological features to severe impairment of some functions.

By nature, the study of psychopathology and mental disorders encompasses numerous research areas, including primary and secondary prevention, epidemiology, genetics and epigenetics, neural circuits implicated in the pathogenesis of psychiatric symptoms and syndromes, neuroimaging techniques, the relationship between life events and psychological distress, clinical psychiatry, and psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and integrated treatments for mental disorders.

Increasing importance is also given to studying the relationships between mental disorders and different branches of medicine, in light of growing evidence demonstrating the tight and reciprocal influence between psychological and somatic functioning.

The section aims to:

• Promote, develop, and disseminate basic and clinical research in mental disorders and their relationships with other areas of medicine.
• Expand the network of scientific and cultural exchanges and research projects with other Italian and foreign universities.
• Promote knowledge of psychopathology and mental disorders in non-academic institutional settings, fostering greater awareness of the significance of psychological suffering in the general population.

Coordinator
Francesco Rotella

FULL PROFESSORS

• Valdo Ricca

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Giovanni Castellini
• Francesco Rotella

RESEARCHERS

• Emanuele Cassioli

The Section serves as the scientific, educational, and professional coordination unit for the Psychology scientific-disciplinary sectors within the Department.

The Section's cultural and scientific interests focus on the description, measurement, and explanation of normal and dysfunctional mental processes and their correlates, from an individual, social, and developmental perspective. Special attention is devoted to factors that promote socio-psycho-biological well-being and related behaviors, including preventive ones, across various environmental contexts.

The section aims to promote, develop, and disseminate basic and applied research and intervention in psychology and psychiatry, focusing on individuals, groups, social organizations, and communities. It also aims to broaden the network of scientific and cultural collaborations with Italian and foreign universities, bring together expertise and experience within the Department around joint research projects, and serve as a scientific, educational, and professional benchmark for research quality and methodological innovation.

Coordinator
Giulia Fioravanti

FULL PROFESSORS

• Claudio Sica
• Giovanni Stanghellini

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Silvia Casale
• Fiammetta Cosci
• Giulia Fioravanti
• Barbara Giangrasso
• Alessio Gori
• Rosapia Lauro Grotto
• Igor Marchetti

RESEARCHERS

• Cecilia Ieri
• Giovanni Mansueto
• Duccio Vanni

Forensic Medical Sciences encompass a broad group of disciplines directing the study of biomedical processes in light of regulatory or judicial needs.

Within forensic medical disciplines, Legal Medicine and Forensic Odontology converge to address issues related to health legislation, professional liability, medical ethics and deontology, damage evaluation in criminal, civil, insurance, and social security contexts, forensic pathology, and personal identification.

Forensic Medical Sciences also include:

• Criminology, Psychopathology, and Forensic Psychiatry, dedicated to the study of criminal behavior, crime victims, crime prevention strategies, treatment of deviance, and psychological damage assessment;
• Forensic Toxicology, which studies toxic substances, drugs, and psychotropic agents, their effects on the body, and testing methodologies required by law;
• Forensic Genetics, which applies DNA analysis to individual identification of living persons and deceased bodies.

The section is also engaged in research in additional bio-medico-forensic disciplines, such as forensic entomology, forensic anthropology, and forensic radiology, due to their significant contribution to personal identification and determining the time and cause of death.

At the theoretical level, Forensic Medical Sciences examine the biological aspects connected to Health Law, Professional Liability, Private and Social Insurance Law, Social Care Law, and damage assessment methodology.

Coordinator
Vilma Pinchi

FULL PROFESSORS

• Vilma Pinchi

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

• Martina Focardi
• Barbara Gualco
• Fabio Vaiano

RESEARCHERS

• Simone Grassi
• Ilenia Bianchi