Massimiliano Di Filippo
Università degli Studi di Perugia - Perugia, Italy
Centro Malattie Demielinizzanti e Laboratori di Neurologia Sperimentale, Clinica Neurologica
Università degli Studi di Perugia,
Perugia, Italy
Clinical and Coordination Activities
From the early years of his training, he has been involved in clinical care activities both in the inpatient ward and at the Demyelinating Diseases Center of the Neurology Clinic at the University Hospital of Perugia, of which he became Head in 2017.
In this context, he contributed to the creation of an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental network for the care of people with multiple sclerosis, involving, among others, the Departments of Neuroradiology, Ophthalmology, Urology/Spinal Unit, Psychiatry, Gynecology, Cardiology, and Dermatology.
Over the years, he has personally contributed to the standardization of diagnostic and monitoring procedures for patients with multiple sclerosis, implementing the use of new biomarkers and innovative therapies within the Neurology Clinic’s Day Hospital. In this setting, he has coordinated and continues to coordinate a team of neurologists, residents, and nurses.
Thanks to his specific expertise in neuroimmunology and national collaborations in this field, he has also contributed to the implementation of diagnostic and treatment pathways for neuroimmune diseases of the central nervous system, with particular focus on neuromyelitis optica (anti-AQP4 and anti-MOG antibodies) and autoimmune encephalitis.
Within neuroimmunology, he is also:
- (i) a member of the “CAR-Team” (in collaboration with the Hematology Unit) for the evaluation of potential neurological complications of CAR-T cell therapies in hematological malignancies;
- (ii) a consultant for the Hematology Unit for patients undergoing or being considered for autologous or allogeneic transplantation.
He also serves as an on-call consultant for the Oncology Unit for the diagnosis and management of immune-mediated neurological complications related to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
In 2024, in recognition of these activities, he was appointed by the University Hospital of Perugia as Coordinator of diagnostic and therapeutic activities for inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system.
Research Activities
Preclinical Research
Under the supervision of Professor Paolo Calabresi, he has been involved since the early stages of his training (2005) in research at the Laboratories of Experimental Neurology at the University of Perugia.
His main research areas have included the study of neuroprotection mechanisms, synaptic transmission, and plasticity, using experimental electrophysiology techniques (intracellular recordings, field recordings, and patch-clamp) in models of neurological diseases. His work has particularly focused on experimental neuroimmunology and the study of synaptic memory mechanisms in models of neuroinflammation and multiple sclerosis.
Clinical Research
From the early years of his training, he has also been involved in research at the Demyelinating Diseases Center of the Neurology Clinic at the University Hospital of Perugia.
He has coordinated and continues to coordinate clinical and translational research studies in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, including magnetic resonance imaging studies and investigations based on fluid biomarkers.