my story

I’m a biologist at heart and I moonlighted as a science communicator during my PhD in molecular oncology at IFOM (FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology) in Milan, Italy. I was raised in a playful and creative environment where my dad often transformed the kitchen into a laboratory for experimenting with tasty and healthy dishes. Looking back, I realize that both my parents, through their actions rather than their words, instilled in me the idea that we have the power to safeguard our health—something you rarely think about when you’re young— and that prevention is better than cure (whenever possible).

Like many scientists, I consider myself an “academic nomad”. My journey began at the University of Bologna, where I studied oncolytic herpes viruses- viruses capable of selectively killing cancer cells as a potential treatment. For my Master thesis I flew to Cambridge (UK) and then landed in Milan (Italy), where I explored fundamental biology of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases with the help of fruit flies during my PhD studies. At the end of 2023, love and science brought me to the West Coast of the United States.

The deeper I venture into the intricate worlds of scientific research, the more I realize how profoundly scientific discoveries impact people’s lives – from developing new treatments for previously incurable diseases to improving therapies for existing conditions. But even more crucially, I became increasingly fascinated by how many diseases can be prevented – and how we can prevent them. This seed, planted early in my childhood, continues to grow to this day.

This knowledge places power in our hands—with our actions and our behavior we can protect and improve our health and that of those around us. It is not easy, but it’s possible. This belief led me to collaborate with non-profit organizations supporting cancer research that also raise awareness about cancer prevention.

I share Laura’s belief that knowledge and understanding of cancer are invaluable tools, and I’m very happy to contribute to this mission.

Valentina

my Values

1. Awareness
2. Open-mindedness
3. Transparency
4. Family
5. Compassion/Empathy
6. Open Communication

my vision

Promoting awareness of the tools and knowledge at our disposal that can help us lead a happier and healthier life.