BIF Fellowship for Samuele Maturi
Samuele Maturi, a PhD student in Sofia Grade’s lab at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), was awarded a prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Fellowship. The fellowship will support Maturi's doctoral research and connect him to a network of promising young researchers.
In his project, Samuele Maturi aims to investigate how the brain produces new neurons in response to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and how these newly produced neurons can contribute to brain regeneration and functional recovery.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause severe, long-lasting neurological disabilities and loss of critical brain functions. Once fully developed, the mammalian brain only has a limited ability to produce new neurons, which significantly restricts the capacity to regenerate damaged brain areas. However, two specific regions of the adult brain contain adult neuronal stem cell niches that regularly generate new neurons: one niche replenishes neurons in the olfactory bulb, which is crucial for the sense of smell, while the other supplies the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center.
Interestingly, studies have shown that TBIs – also those occurring in other brain areas - trigger increased proliferation in these stem cell niches, ultimately producing new mature neurons. However, the exact signaling mechanisms that inform these niches about injuries in other brain areas remain elusive.
To address this knowledge gap, Maturi will apply multi-omics techniques– including spatial transcriptomics and epigenomics – to compare healthy brains with those affected by injury. This comparison will help Maturi identify how damaged brain regions communicate with stem cell niches to stimulate neuron production. “My goal is to uncover signaling factors responsible for transmitting information from the injury site to the stem cell niches and to explore whether accessory brain cells, such as microglia and astrocytes, facilitate this stem cell response,” Maturi explains.
However, generating new neurons is not enough to reestablish brain function after injury. “To effectively regenerate damaged brain areas and recover lost functions, these newly produced immature neurons must migrate from the stem cell niches to the damaged sites and integrate by forming connections with existing neurons,” Maturi explains. However, previous research indicates that new neurons don’t only migrate directly to the damaged areas. Instead, some of these immature cells migrate to their physiological target regions, strengthening these brain areas. “The olfactory system offers a valuable opportunity to explore the principles that govern whether injury-induced neurons are integrated into existing circuits or eliminated,” Maturi elaborates. To clarify the fate of new neurons following TBIs, Maturi will trace their paths and connections using viral-mediated tracing techniques and advanced imaging methods.
By identifying how new neurons respond and adapt following brain injuries, Maturi’s project aims to significantly advance our understanding of brain regeneration. These insights could ultimately lead to therapeutic strategies that enhance the brain’s natural regenerative capabilities and improve recovery outcomes for patients with traumatic brain injuries.
“I’m very thankful to the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds for their support, enabling me to pursue answers to important research questions and connect with a vibrant network of other awarded researchers to further develop my scientific career.”
Samuele Maturi obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomolecular Sciences and Technology and a Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Trento, Italy. In 2024, he joined Sofia Grade’s lab at IMBA as a PhD student.
The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of 2 to 3.5 years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.
The peer-review selection process evaluates the applicant's achievements and the scientific quality of the project and host laboratory. The process is highly competitive, with less than 10 percent of applicants receiving a fellowship.
On top of the monthly stipend, the BIF offers fellows seminars, travel allowances, individual and personal support, and access to a worldwide network of fellows and alumni.