Giulia Frazzei

ESR 1 –Initiate a pilot prevention trial in individuals at high risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis

Giulia was born in December 1993 in Milan, Italy. She has always been interested in science and research, and after graduating from a scientific high school she started her bachelor’s degree in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Milan. She graduated in December 2016 with a thesis on the role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation mediated by T regulatory cells, the component of the immune system responsible for the regulation of response. She completed her master degree at the University of Milan in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine in February 2019. Her thesis, a continuation of her bachelor project, dealt with alterations in the immune regulation in autoimmune diseases. The focus of the research project was to identify variations in the miRNA component of EV released by T regulatory cells in patients affected by multiple sclerosis, as well as the molecular targets of altered miRNAs.

In September 2019 she moved to Galway, Ireland, to start an M.Sc. in Clinical Research at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). She has always been interested in translational research and through the master, she had the possibility to improve her knowledge of clinical research. Her M.Sc. thesis focused on the identification of clinical features of infections and immunodeficiencies in patients with a pre-malignant form of Multiple Myeloma, as well as any preventive actions taken to reduce the risk of transformation. She had been selected to be part of the Health Research Board (HRB) Fellowship program at the Clinical Research Facility, Galway (CRFG), where she worked part-time alongside the clinical research team. This instructive experience had given her first-hand insight into the clinical trials.

Her PhD project, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. van Vollenhoven and Dr. Tas, will focus on the identification and treatment of individuals at high risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. This will be the perfect opportunity to merge her background with her current studies, while at the same time returning to the study of autoimmune diseases.

Outside of the research, Giulia loves travelling, meeting people from different countries and exploring new cultures. She particularly loves trying new foods from all around the world. She enjoys reading, music, hiking and spending time with her family and friends. Volunteering is an important part of her life and she is a member of the Italian Red Cross.