She was born and lives in Messina where she attended the University, Faculty of Biological Sciences, earning her Master’s Degree and later registered as a Biologist. He went on to obtain a postgraduate degree in Marine Biochemistry from UNI-ME. His work began in 1982 at the CNR IRBIM in Messina, then called Thalassographic, with a professional training grant, initiating research on phytoplankton in coastal marine environments and on microalgae used in aquaculture. Over the years he progressed to the position of Principal Investigator directing his scientific interest toward the study of toxic dinoflagellates, producers mainly of DSP and PSP toxins, within the framework of national and European projects on Harmful Algal Blooms.
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
