Paola Massari, PhD
Adjunct Research Associate Professor, Medicine
Biography
I am a PhD scientist with extensive expertise in research, operations and project management in academic research and pharmaceutical industry. I have 15+ years of experience in basic and translational research in innate immunity and inflammation, bacterial pathogenesis and host response, cell biology, protein biochemistry and structure, human and veterinary vaccine design and evaluation established in both academic and industrial settings.
My research areas focus on bacteria interplay with host cells and on the mechanisms of innate immunity mediated by bacterial products. Areas of strong interest include TLR signaling and vaccine development, characterization of protein structure/functions and interactions with host cell receptors in the context of cellular and molecular immunity.
I am a strong communicator of complex scientific information to diverse audiences with excellent scientific writing/editing skills and strong experience as scientific peer reviewer. Proven ability in cost analysis and grant management. My core administrative competencies include: Strategic Vision/Planning – Project Management – Efficiency Improvement – Problem Solving – Logic/Scientific Thinking – Lab Management – Best Practices, SOP, Protocols
Other Positions
- Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, Boston University
- Boston Medical Center
- Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences
Education
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, PhD
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, MSc
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, BS
Publications
- Published on 7/18/2024
Roe SK, Zhu T, Slepenkin A, Berges A, Fairman J, de la Maza LM, Massari P. Structural Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP)-Derived Vaccine Antigens and Immunological Profiling in Mice with Different Genetic Backgrounds. Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Jul 18; 12(7). PMID: 39066427.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 12/13/2023
Roe SK, Felter B, Zheng B, Ram S, Wetzler LM, Garges E, Zhu T, Genco CA, Massari P. In Vitro Pre-Clinical Evaluation of a Gonococcal Trivalent Candidate Vaccine Identified by Transcriptomics. Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Dec 13; 11(12). PMID: 38140249.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/1/2021
Costa-Lourenço APR, Su X, Le W, Yang Z, Patts GJ, Massari P, Genco CA. Epidemiological and Clinical Observations of Gonococcal Infections in Women and Prevention Strategies. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Apr 01; 9(4). PMID: 33915835.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 11/9/2020
Harrison OB, Cehovin A, Skett J, Jolley KA, Massari P, Genco CA, Tang CM, Maiden MCJ. Neisseria gonorrhoeae Population Genomics: Use of the Gonococcal Core Genome to Improve Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. J Infect Dis. 2020 11 09; 222(11):1816-1825. PMID: 32163580.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 5/8/2020
Tifrea DF, Pal S, Fairman J, Massari P, de la Maza LM. Protection against a chlamydial respiratory challenge by a chimeric vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein variable domains using the Neisseria lactamica porin B as a scaffold. NPJ Vaccines. 2020 May 08; 5(1):37. PMID: 33574319.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 5/8/2020
Tifrea DF, Pal S, Fairman J, Massari P, de la Maza LM. Protection against a chlamydial respiratory challenge by a chimeric vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein variable domains using the Neisseria lactamica porin B as a scaffold. NPJ Vaccines. 2020; 5:37. PMID: 32411400.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/4/2020
McClure R, Sunkavalli A, Balzano PM, Massari P, Cho C, Nauseef WM, Apicella MA, Genco CA. Global Network Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Identifies Coordination between Pathways, Processes, and Regulators Expressed during Human Infection. mSystems. 2020 Feb 04; 5(1). PMID: 32019834.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/17/2019
Zhu T, McClure R, Harrison OB, Genco C, Massari P. Integrated Bioinformatic Analyses and Immune Characterization of New Neisseria gonorrhoeae Vaccine Antigens Expressed during Natural Mucosal Infection. Vaccines (Basel). 2019 Oct 17; 7(4). PMID: 31627489.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/3/2019
Landig CS, Hazel A, Kellman BP, Fong JJ, Schwarz F, Agarwal S, Varki N, Massari P, Lewis NE, Ram S, Varki A. Evolution of the exclusively human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Human-specific engagement of immunoregulatory Siglecs. Evol Appl. 2019 Feb; 12(2):337-349. PMID: 30697344.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/27/2018
Nudel K, McClure R, Moreau M, Briars E, Abrams AJ, Tjaden B, Su XH, Trees D, Rice PA, Massari P, Genco CA. Transcriptome Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae during Natural Infection Reveals Differential Expression of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants between Men and Women. mSphere. 2018 08 29; 3(3). PMID: 29950382.
Read at: PubMed
View 44 more publications: View full profile at BUMC