A conversation with Dr. Alessandro Gozzi (OHBM 2025 Keynote Interview Series)
Author: Yohan Yee
Editor: Simon Steinkamp
Coming in from the beautiful mountains of northern Italy is Prof. Alessandro Gozzi, a pioneer in rodent functional MRI. Dr. Gozzi is a Senior Scientist at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology) in Rovereto, where he leads the Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory and directs the Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems. His career trajectory has led him through both industry and academia; after training in molecular biology, he served as a Principal Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline for over a decade, after which he returned to academia.
Dr. Gozzi and his team have made key contributions in preclinical (rodent) MRI research, both in establishing acquisition methods that are widely used in other rodent imaging labs, and in understanding the biological underpinnings of functional MRI signals and their differences in disease. His contributions in mouse fMRI have led to the definition of what good mouse fMRI scans look like, and the factors that lead to such scans. Beyond his own research, his openness in sharing data and collaborating has brought the field together in outlining the paths for rodent fMRI research going forward.
Leveraging the methodological techniques in rodent fMRI that he has established, he has begun to address causal questions through genetic, chemogenetic, and pharmacological perturbations that normally would not be possible in humans. These include understanding the biological basis of resting-state functional network dynamics, how and why these differ in specific neurodevelopmental disorders, and more generally, whether these signals can be used to explain the heterogeneity seen in autism.
Beyond academic journals, Dr. Gozzi’s work has also been featured in The Transmitter and NeuroscienceNews. Tune in to this keynote interview to hear more about Dr. Gozzi’s foundational work in preclinical imaging, his advice for trainees, and perhaps most importantly, why he chose science over a career in farming.
Watch the interview below, or follow the link: https://youtu.be/NEf_suzhOGI
