Cristina received her doctor degree in Medical Biotechnology at Università Vita- Salute San Raffaele, in the Lab of Prof Caligaris-Cappio and Prof Paolo Ghia. In 2012 she obtained a PhD in Physiology at University of Milano. During these years she focused her research interests on the interplay between leukemic cells and the microenvironment, making important contributions to the field. In 2005, she implemented biochemical studies to the molecular characterization of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, which led to the identification of HS1 protein as a new prognostic factor. This opened a new line of research focused on the properties of the leukemic cells cytoskeleton and its role in regulating cells interactions with the microenvironment. Thanks to her experience as Visiting Scientist at CNIC in Madrid (Spain), she acquired new skills to optimize imaging techniques.

Since 2020, she is Group Leader at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele at the division of Experimental Oncology. Her team is studying the tumour cell/microenvironment interactions in CLL by unravelling HS1 protein mediated cytoskeletal activities. In parallel, they are developing new advanced 3D in vitro co-culture systems by prototyping a bench-top 3D bio-printer. Her research activity is currently supported by AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la ricercar sul cancro) and European Haematology association (EHA). Cristina has published >50 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her work has been cited > 3500 times, with an H-index of 29.