Bio

Currently employed at Maastricht University as Professor. My Research interests are in developing new porous biomaterials and biofabrication technologies that can control cell activity. Applications are in the fields of regenerative medicine and cancer. http://www.moronilab.org Some of these efforts resulted in commercially available products. 3D scaffolds fabricated by additive manufacturing with designed physico-chemical and mechanical properties for articular cartilage regeneration are used by CellCoTec, in combination with their proprietary cell preparation. Animal implantable 3D high through-put screening systems served as the foundation of the biotech company Screvo (now MultiScreening). Surface engineered devices served as the foundation of the biomedical company Vacis, which aims at delivering new solutions for vascular regeneration. In 2014, I received the Jean Leray award from the ESB and an ERC laureate. In 2016, I received the Young Scientist Award from TERMIS. In 2017, I was elected as faculty of the Young Academy of Europe and among the top 100 Italian scientists worldwide within 40 years old. From 2008 till 2009, I was employed at the Muscolo-Skeletal Cell & Tissue Bank - Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute as responsible for scientific research where I started new research lines on alternative stem cell sources and novel biomaterials for bone regeneration. From 2007 till 2008, I worked as a post-doctoral fellow at The Johns Hopkins University in the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials group of Prof. Jennifer Elisseeff. I developed experience on stem cells, osteoarthritis, and hydrogels. In 2003, I started my research experience at Twente University-Isotis Orthopaedics S.A. facilities in the Biomaterials and New Technologies group. Ph.D. obtained in 2006 (cum laude). Experience on biomaterial characterization, scaffold fabrication techniques, and cell culture. In 2001, I worked as a visiting researcher at University of California Berkeley in Professor Luke P. Lee’s group. Major fields: drug delivery, microfabrication, and tissue engineering systems.