Overview
Originally from Italy, Stefania studied for a BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of Calabria, in southern Italy, investigating the effects of heavy metal nanoparticle toxicity on neurodevelopment, neurotransmission and neurodegeneration in animal models such as rodents and zebrafish. She then moved to the University of Pavia, to study for a 2 year MSc in Neurobiology, graduating in 2015, with an in-depth research project focused on analysing the effects of curcumin derived compounds in RNA regulation and in amyloid beta aggregation in blood samples from Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Stefania was subsequently granted an Erasmus studentship for a 1 year funded internship at the University of King's College London (KCL) under the supervision of Professor John Powell and Dr Petroula Proitsi where she was trained to perform integration of different omics data and statistical analyses to investigate the causal relationship between Rheumatoid arthritis and risk for Alzheimer’s disease’ through Mendelian Randomization analyses.
Stefania joined the Complex Disease Epigenomics Group at the University of Exeter Medical School in 2016 to undertake her PhD under the supervision of Dr Therese Murphy, Dr Emma Dempster and Professor Jonathan Mill. During her PhD, she investigated the epigenetic changes (DNA methylation and miRNA expression) associated with suicidal behaviour in post-mortem human brain and she developed a flow cytometry based protocol to characterise cell-type specific genomic variation occurring in highly heterogeneous tissue like the brain. Whilst still completing her PhD thesis, Stefania joined the Exeter University Sequencing Service where she worked for 18 months as a research assistant operating long-read sequencing platforms (i.e. Nanopore, PacBio).
Most recently, in 2021, Stefania has started working as Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Prof Jonathan Mill on a new project investigating the genomic regulation in rodent models of amyloid and tau neuropathology with the ultimate goal of identifying novel pathways involved in the development of AD-associated neuropathology in the human brain.
Qualifications
- BSc (1st class Hons) Biological Sciences, (2010-2013, Italy)
- 2 year MSc (Distinction) Neuroscience, (2013-2015, Italy)
- PhD in Medical Studies (2016-2020, Exeter)
Research
Research interests
Stefania is a postdoctoral research fellow with expertise in both wet-lab and computational methods to investigate DNA and RNA regulation mechanisms in the context of psychiatric disorders. She has a strong background in human genomics and epigenomics as well as broad experience in complex method development for wet lab applications (e.g. flow cytometry, long-read sequencing platforms).
Her current research aims to investigate the genomic regulation in rodent models of amyloid and tau neuropathology with the ultimate goal of identifying novel pathways involved in the development of AD-associated neuropathology in the human brain. In the long term, Stefania hopes to further investigate and uncover the molecular underpinnings of complex brain disorders to help shape clinical medicine.
Research projects
Trajectories of Genomic Regulation in Rodent Models of Amyloid and Tau Neuropathology (ARUK funded)
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Policicchio S, Washer S, Viana J, Iatrou A, Burrage J, Hannon E, Turecki G, Kaminsky Z, Mill J, Dempster EL, et al (2020). Genome-wide DNA methylation meta-analysis in the brains of suicide completers.
Translational Psychiatry,
10(1).
Abstract:
Genome-wide DNA methylation meta-analysis in the brains of suicide completers
AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death globally among young people representing a significant global health burden. Although the molecular correlates of suicide remains poorly understood, it has been hypothesised that epigenomic processes may play a role. The objective of this study was to identify suicide-associated DNA methylation changes in the human brain by utilising previously published and unpublished methylomic datasets. We analysed prefrontal cortex (PFC, n = 211) and cerebellum (CER, n = 114) DNA methylation profiles from suicide completers and non-psychiatric, sudden-death controls, meta-analysing data from independent cohorts for each brain region separately. We report evidence for altered DNA methylation at several genetic loci in suicide cases compared to controls in both brain regions with suicide-associated differentially methylated positions enriched among functional pathways relevant to psychiatric phenotypes and suicidality, including nervous system development (PFC) and regulation of long-term synaptic depression (CER). In addition, we examined the functional consequences of variable DNA methylation within a PFC suicide-associated differentially methylated region (PSORS1C3 DMR) using a dual luciferase assay and examined expression of nearby genes. DNA methylation within this region was associated with decreased expression of firefly luciferase but was not associated with expression of nearby genes, PSORS1C3 and POU5F1. Our data suggest that suicide is associated with DNA methylation, offering novel insights into the molecular pathology associated with suicidality.
Abstract.
Full text.
Policicchio S, L Dempster E, M Murphy T (2018). Deciphering the Epigenetic Landscape of Suicidal Behaviour: a Review of Current Findings, Caveats and Future Directions. OBM Genetics, 2(4), 1-1.
Policicchio S, Ahmad AN, Powell JF, Proitsi P (2017). Rheumatoid arthritis and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis and a Mendelian Randomization study.
Sci Rep,
7(1).
Abstract:
Rheumatoid arthritis and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis and a Mendelian Randomization study.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been observed to be at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Clinical trials have showed no relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and AD. The aim of this study was to establish if there is a causal link between RA and AD. A systematic literature review on RA incidence and its link to AD was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eight case-control and two population-based studies were included in a random effects meta-analysis. The causal relationship between RA and AD was assessed using Mendelian Randomization (MR), using summary data from the largest RA and AD Genome Wide Association (GWA) and meta-analysis studies to date using a score of 62 RA risk SNPs (p
Abstract.
Author URL.
Conferences
Davies J, Franklin A, Commin G, Walker E, Policicchio S, Jeffries A, Burrage J, Chioza B, Liu J, Bray N, et al (2021). CELL-TYPE-SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF DNA METHYLATION IN THE DEVELOPING HUMAN BRAIN.
Author URL.
Shireby G, Hannon E, Commin G, Burrage J, Davies J, Policicchio S, Schalkwyk L, Dempster E, Mill J (2021). LEVERAGING DNA METHYLATION QUANTITATIVE-TRAIT LOCI TO CHARACTERIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METHYLOMIC VARIATION, GENE EXPRESSION, AND PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE.
Author URL.
Policicchio S, Davies J, Choiza B, Hannon E, Burrage J, Dempster E, Mill J (2019). MAPPING CELL-TYPE SPECIFIC MARKERS OF GENOMIC REGULATION IN THE HUMAN BRAIN.
Author URL.
Policicchio S, Viana J, Iatrou A, Hannon E, Burrage J, Turecki G, Kaminsky Z, Mill J, Dempster E, Murphy T, et al (2019). SUICIDE-ASSOCIATED DNA METHYLATION CHANGES IN POST-MORTEM BRAIN SAMPLES: a META-ANALYSIS.
Author URL.
Publications by year
2022
Shireby G, Dempster E, Policicchio S, Smith RG, Pishva E, Chioza B, Davies JP, Burrage J, Lunnon K, Seiler-Vellame D, et al (2022). DNA methylation signatures of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in the cortex are primarily driven by variation in non-neuronal cell-types.
2021
Davies J, Franklin A, Commin G, Walker E, Policicchio S, Jeffries A, Burrage J, Chioza B, Liu J, Bray N, et al (2021). CELL-TYPE-SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF DNA METHYLATION IN THE DEVELOPING HUMAN BRAIN.
Author URL.
Shireby G, Hannon E, Commin G, Burrage J, Davies J, Policicchio S, Schalkwyk L, Dempster E, Mill J (2021). LEVERAGING DNA METHYLATION QUANTITATIVE-TRAIT LOCI TO CHARACTERIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METHYLOMIC VARIATION, GENE EXPRESSION, AND PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE.
Author URL.
2020
Policicchio S, Washer S, Viana J, Iatrou A, Burrage J, Hannon E, Turecki G, Kaminsky Z, Mill J, Dempster EL, et al (2020). Genome-wide DNA methylation meta-analysis in the brains of suicide completers.
Translational Psychiatry,
10(1).
Abstract:
Genome-wide DNA methylation meta-analysis in the brains of suicide completers
AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death globally among young people representing a significant global health burden. Although the molecular correlates of suicide remains poorly understood, it has been hypothesised that epigenomic processes may play a role. The objective of this study was to identify suicide-associated DNA methylation changes in the human brain by utilising previously published and unpublished methylomic datasets. We analysed prefrontal cortex (PFC, n = 211) and cerebellum (CER, n = 114) DNA methylation profiles from suicide completers and non-psychiatric, sudden-death controls, meta-analysing data from independent cohorts for each brain region separately. We report evidence for altered DNA methylation at several genetic loci in suicide cases compared to controls in both brain regions with suicide-associated differentially methylated positions enriched among functional pathways relevant to psychiatric phenotypes and suicidality, including nervous system development (PFC) and regulation of long-term synaptic depression (CER). In addition, we examined the functional consequences of variable DNA methylation within a PFC suicide-associated differentially methylated region (PSORS1C3 DMR) using a dual luciferase assay and examined expression of nearby genes. DNA methylation within this region was associated with decreased expression of firefly luciferase but was not associated with expression of nearby genes, PSORS1C3 and POU5F1. Our data suggest that suicide is associated with DNA methylation, offering novel insights into the molecular pathology associated with suicidality.
Abstract.
Full text.
2019
Policicchio S, Davies J, Choiza B, Hannon E, Burrage J, Dempster E, Mill J (2019). MAPPING CELL-TYPE SPECIFIC MARKERS OF GENOMIC REGULATION IN THE HUMAN BRAIN.
Author URL.
Policicchio S, Viana J, Iatrou A, Hannon E, Burrage J, Turecki G, Kaminsky Z, Mill J, Dempster E, Murphy T, et al (2019). SUICIDE-ASSOCIATED DNA METHYLATION CHANGES IN POST-MORTEM BRAIN SAMPLES: a META-ANALYSIS.
Author URL.
2018
Policicchio S, L Dempster E, M Murphy T (2018). Deciphering the Epigenetic Landscape of Suicidal Behaviour: a Review of Current Findings, Caveats and Future Directions. OBM Genetics, 2(4), 1-1.
2017
Policicchio S, Ahmad AN, Powell JF, Proitsi P (2017). Rheumatoid arthritis and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis and a Mendelian Randomization study.
Sci Rep,
7(1).
Abstract:
Rheumatoid arthritis and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis and a Mendelian Randomization study.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been observed to be at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Clinical trials have showed no relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and AD. The aim of this study was to establish if there is a causal link between RA and AD. A systematic literature review on RA incidence and its link to AD was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eight case-control and two population-based studies were included in a random effects meta-analysis. The causal relationship between RA and AD was assessed using Mendelian Randomization (MR), using summary data from the largest RA and AD Genome Wide Association (GWA) and meta-analysis studies to date using a score of 62 RA risk SNPs (p
Abstract.
Author URL.
Stefania_Polocicchio Details from cache as at 2022-07-01 22:10:06
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External Engagement and Impact
Conferences and invited presentations
Poster presentation at the ARUK conference 2022; Walker, E. Castanho, I., Seiler Vellame, D., Shireby G., Policicchio S., Hannon, E., Collier, D., Ahmed, Z., Mill, J. (2022) Widespread DNA methylation changes are associated with tau and amyloid neuropathology in mice.
Oral communication at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC); 2020. Virtual edition.-Publications: Castanho, I., Walker, E., Policicchio, S., Seiler Vellame, D., Harvey, J., Hannon, E. Collier, D., Ahmed, Z., Mill, J. (in prep).
Davies J, Franklin A, Commin G, Walker E, Policicchio S, Jeffries A, Burrage J, Chioza B, Liu J, Bray N, et al (2021). CELL-TYPE-SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF DNA METHYLATION IN THE DEVELOPING HUMAN BRAIN. Abstract. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.07.127
Shireby G, Hannon E, Commin G, Burrage J, Davies J, Policicchio S, Schalkwyk L, Dempster E, Mill J (2021). LEVERAGING DNA METHYLATION QUANTITATIVE-TRAIT LOCI TO CHARACTERIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METHYLOMIC VARIATION, GENE EXPRESSION, AND PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE. Abstract. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.08.216
Poster presentation at the WCPG 2019; Policicchio S, Davies J, Choiza B, Hannon E, Burrage J, Dempster E, Mill J (2019). MAPPING CELL-TYPE SPECIFIC MARKERS OF GENOMIC REGULATION IN THE HUMAN BRAIN.
