Paola Massari PhD
Adjunct Research Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases
650 Albany St | (617) 414-4807pmassari@bu.edu
Sections
Infectious Diseases
Centers
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
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
Websites
Cellular Mechanisms Leading to Immune Response in Human Airway Epithelium
Education
Biomedical Engineering, PhD, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Biology, MSc, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Biology, BS, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Publications
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.
Published on 4/1/2021Costa-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.
Published on 11/9/2020Harrison 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.
Published on 5/8/2020Tifrea 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.
Published on 5/8/2020Tifrea 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.
Published on 2/4/2020McClure 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.
Published on 10/17/2019Zhu 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.
Published on 1/3/2019Landig 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.
Published on 6/27/2018Nudel 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.
Published on 12/25/2017Madico G, Gursky O, Fairman J, Massari P. Structural and Immunological Characterization of Novel Recombinant MOMP-Based Chlamydial Antigens. Vaccines (Basel). 2017 Dec 25; 6(1). PMID: 29295593.