Flavio Keller

Born in Sorengo (Switzerland). Living in Rome.

Since 1993, professor of human physiology at the Campus Bio-Medico University

1978 Doctor of Medicine at the University of Zurich

1982 Doctor of Medicine at the University of Zurich (thesis in Neuropharmacology)

1979-1988 Assistant, Institute of Pharmacology, University of Zurich (Prof. PG Waser)

1988-1991 Research Associate, Center for Neurobiology & Behavior, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York (Prof. Eric R. Kandel)

1991-1993 Research Associate, Institut für Hirnforschung, University of Zurich (Prof. ME Schwab)

MAIN RESEARCH AREAS

Neurodevelopment. Perception-Action Relationship.

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH POSITIONS

A) Present

1994 to present: Director of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory, University "Campus Bio-Medico" of Rome.

2002 to present: Full Professor of Human Physiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

2006 to present: Member, Perception-Movement-Action Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK.

2007 to present: Member, Autism Research Consortium, Boston, USA

B) Past

1979-1988 Assistant, Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Zurich.

1987-1993 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

1990-1991 Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York.

1993-1999: Adjunct Professor of Human Physiology and Neurophysiology, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome.

1994-1997: Privatdozent (private lecturer) for Physiology, with particular reference to Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Zurich.

1999-2002: Associate Professor of Human Physiology and Neurophysiology, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome.

2004-2012: Visiting Professor of Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.

SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING ACTIVITY

• Reviewer of works submitted to: Journal of Neuroscience, Experimental Brain Research, Brain Research, American Journal of Medical Genetics, Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, Molecular Neurobiology, Drug Discovery Today, Neuroscience, Neuroscience Letters, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

• Expert evaluator of research projects for: European Union (4th, 6th and 7th Framework Programme); Autism Speaks; Netherland Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP), Medical Research Council (MRC)

OTHER ACADEMIC AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES

- Promotion of interdisciplinary research projects between neuroscience, psychology and the arts (e.g. TACT project, ASSISI project)

- Organization and musical direction of the chamber music ensemble of the Campus Bio-Medico University (numerous concerts in Rome and other Italian cities, CD recording)

PUBLICATIONS (LAST 5 YEARS)

Pellegrino, G., [...] Keller, F., Arcara, G., Piccione, F., Di Pino, G. (2022)

Stimulation with acoustic white noise enhances motor excitability and sensorimotor integration

Scientific Reports, 12 (1), art. No. 13108, .

Spoleti, E., [...] Keller, F., Migliore, M., Renzi, M., D'Amelio, M. (2022)

Early derailment of firing properties in CA1 pyramidal cells of the ventral hippocampus in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Experimental Neurology, 350, art. No. 113969, .

Barbera, [...] Keller, F., Mercuri, NB, Conti, F., D'Amelio, M. (2021)

Nilotinib restores memory function by preventing dopaminergic neuron degeneration in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease

Progress in Neurobiology, 202, art. No. 102031, .

Constantine, A., [...] Keller, F. (2020)

Embodying melody through a conducting baton: a pilot comparison between musicians and non-musicians

Experimental Brain Research, 238 (10), pp. 2279-2291.

Sieni, E., [...] Keller, F., Campana, LG, Signori, E. (2020)

The efficiency of gene electrotransfer in breast-cancer cell lines cultured on a novel collagen-free 3D scaffold

Cancers, 12 (4), art. No. 1043, .

Dettin, M., [...] Keller, F., Campana, LG, Signori, E.

A novel 3d scaffold for cell growth to assess electroporation efficacy (2019)

Cells, 8 (11), art. No. 1470, .

Taffoni, F., Focaroli, V., Keller, F., Iverson, J.M. (2019)

Motor performance in a shape sorter task: A longitudinal study from 14 to 36 months of age in children with an older sibling ASD

PLoS ONE, 14 (5), art. No. e0217416, .

Balzamino, BO, Esposito, G., Marino, R., Keller, F., Micera, A. (2019)

Changes in vitreal protein profile and retinal mRNAs in Reeler mice: NGF, IL33 and Müller cell activation

PLoS ONE, 14 (2), art. No. e0212732, .

Nobili, A., [...] Keller, F., Mercuri, NB, D'Amelio, M. (2018)

Amber1 Shapes Hippocampal Inhibition/Excitation Balance: Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Molecular Neurobiology, 55 (10), pp. 7921-7940.

Cordella, A., [...] Keller, F., Ammassari-Teule, M., Mercuri, N.B., Berretta, N., D'Amelio, M. (2018)

Dopamine loss alters the hippocampus-nucleus accumbens synaptic transmission in the Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

(2018) Neurobiology of Disease, 116, pp. 142-154.

Keller, F., Di Stefano, N. (2018)

The Robustness of Musical Language: A Perspective from Complex Systems Theory

History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences, 23, pp. 207-217.

By Stefano, [...], F., Keller, F. (2017)

A new research method to test auditory preferences in young listeners: Results from a consonance versus dissonance perception study

Psychology of Music, 45 (5), pp. 699-712.

Nobili, A., [...] Keller, F., Petrosini, L., Puglisi-Allegra, S., Mercuri, N.B., Coccurello, R., Berretta, N., D'Amelio, M. (2017)

Dopamine neuronal loss contributes to memory and reward dysfunction in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Nature Communications, 8, art. No. 14727, .

Taffoni, F., Di Perna, L., Formica, D., Focaroli, V., Keller, F., Di Stefano, N. (2017)

A sensor-based approach to study sound perception in children

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 55 (3), pp. 173-182.