PINI LAURA

Since 2004 Laura Pini is Associate Professor in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Brescia, Italy. During her scientific career, in Italy and in Canada, she obtained doctoral degree in medicine and post-doctoral degree in respiratory medicine. She has many years of experience in the field of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive respiratory diseases with emphasis on lung emphysema and the hereditary Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency. To date her scientific activities resulted in more than 60 publications. She is member of several national and international thoracic societies, e.g. European Respiratory Society. Since 5 years, the overall objective of her research has been to investigate the airway remodelling in asthma and chronic obstructive respiratory diseases. Her current work is focusing on the research of the presence of Z-AT polymers in epithelial bronchial cells and on their possible local pro-inflammatory effect. This last project was awarded with the European Alpha1-Antitrypsin Laurell's Training Award.