ISSSB-International Summer School on Systems Biology
The Systems Biology approach to discover marine life:
from a big eye to a microscopic picture
27-30 October 2025
Biological systems are complex networks of biological entities such as organs, tissues, cells, organelles, macromolecular complexes, and regulatory pathways at a macro scale.
Oceans represent a perfect example of a biological system made of a huge number of interconnected biodiverse systems, both as species and as niches. Understanding how their connections result in its health and equilibrium requires a wide approach, looking at it from all the possible angles.
Systems biology aims to provide a comprehensive view of the biological systems using an interdisciplinary integrated approach from different scientific areas and technological, experimental and informatic skills.
Based on this holistic view, the school aims to provide participants basic and advanced knowledge on Biodiversity, Ecological interactions, Evolutionary Genomics and Omic disciplines, to be used as an integrated approach applied to oceans for EcoEvoDevo studies and Biotech Applications.
Organizers
An heterogeneous group of collaborative colleagues from different SZN departments with complementary expertises.
Dr. Valeria Di Dato
Researcher, Eco-sustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli
Valeria Di Dato is a biologist with training in cellular and molecular biology and pathology. She applied her molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry training to the study of gene expression regulation in various topics, ranging from cephalopod learning and memory to thyroid developmental gene networks, drug of abuse in relation to dopamine receptors, fasting-related metabolism, primary tumors and metastatic environments, and the production of secondary metabolites in marine microalgae. By coupling omics and experimental approaches, she is now dedicating her research efforts to the study of secondary metabolites' roles in the ecology and physiology of marine microalgae with the ultimate goal to translate that information to biotech applications.
Dr. Rossella Annunziata
Researcher, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Rossella Annunziata is a molecular biologist expert in cellular and developmental biology, gene regulation and functional genomics. She completed her PhD at SZN on the evolution of Gene Regulatory Networks involved in sea urchin gut development. She completed her first postdoctoral position at Sorbonne Université in Paris and a second at SZN, where she studied the molecular basis of circadian rhythms and sexual reproduction in marine diatoms. Since 2019, she is a researcher at SZN, where she applies multidisciplinary approaches to investigate the biology and evolution of echinoderm larvae and their interaction with the environment.
Dr. Lucia Campese
Researcher, Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Lucia Campese is a molecular biologist specializing in marine molecular ecology and meta-omics data analysis. After earning her PhD in a joint program between the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the French sequencing center Genoscope, she has focused on the ecology of marine diatoms and the functional dynamics of eukaryotic plankton. She is currently a Fixed-term Researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, where she applies programming, data science, and statistical methods to tackle key questions in marine biology.
Dr. Ida Orefice
Researcher, Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli
Ida Orefice graduated in Chemistry at the University of Naples Federico II. She completed her PhD in Life Science and three years of PostDoc at SZN.
Current research interests are:
•Exploration of potential biotechnological applications of microalgal secondary metabolites and enzymes;
•Study the response of microalgae to biotic and abiotic stressors;
•Study the potential of marine diatoms for decontamination of seawater. environments
Dr. Angela Sardo
Senior Technologist, Eco-sustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli
Angela Sardo is a senior Technologist of the Marine Biotechnology Department of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples). Her research activity is mainly focused on using of marine microalgae for biotechnological applications. She investigates the exploitation of microalgae as source of high-valuable compounds, and she also studies possible strategies for the bioremediation of water bodies by employing the capability of microalgae to adsorb and/or to incorporate persistent pollutants. Her expertise includes algal growth in enclosed systems on pre-industrial and industrial scales.
Dr. Arianna Smerilli
Technician, Eco-sustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli
Arianna Smerilli is a research technician at the Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, where she supports scientific research focusing on the biology and biotechnological potential of microalgae. Her work integrates experimental and analytical approaches to optimize microalgal cultures for bioremediation and biomaterial production, as well as for the production of bioactive compounds, with applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical fields. She holds a PhD jointly awarded by the Stazione Zoologica and the Open University (UK), where she focused on enhancing antioxidant production in diatoms through the manipulation of light. Her previous research at the University of Genova explored the (eco)toxicity of nanoparticles on marine organisms and mammalian cells.