Clinical neuroimmunology
Roberto Furlan
Email: furlan.roberto@hsr.it
Location: DIBIT2, Floor 5, A4
Director, Institute of Experimental Neurology
Group leader, Clinical neuroimmunology Unit
Roberto Furlan graduated in medicine at the University of Milano in 1991, in 1992 he was visiting scientist in the Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, working on HTLV-I. In 1993 he completed a research project on HTLV-I in Salvador-Bahia, in Brazil. From 1994 to 1995 he worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A. on HSV-1-mediated gene therapy of the central nervous system. In 2001 he obtained his PhD from the Open University of London while working in the Neuroimmunology Unit of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Since 2001 tenure-track research assistant and then Senior scientist in the Neuroimmunology Unit, he completed in 2007 the residency in neurology. Since 2004, non-tenured professor, since 2023 Associate Professor of Pathology at Vita e Salute San Raffaele University. Since 2009, Group leader and then Head of Unit of the Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute. From 2011 to 2018 Secretary treasurer and 2023-2025 President of the International Society of NeuroImmunology. Since 2019 President of the Italian Neuroimmunology Association. Since 2017 Deputy Director and since 2022 Director of the Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute.
1983: Matriculation, High School "S.Allende", Milano, Italy, (58/60)
1991: Medical Degree, University of Milano, Italy, (110/110 and honours)
2001: PhD, Open University, London, UK
2007: Residency in Neurology, Vita e Salute University, Milan, Italy
1984-85: Research Fellow, "M. Negri" Institute for Pharmacology Research, Milano, Italy
1988: Internship, Institute of Pharmacology, University of Milano, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
1990-91: Internship, Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, University of Milan, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
1991-94: Post-doctoral fellow, Neuroimmunology Unit - DIBIT, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
1992: Visiting Scientist, Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, U.S.A..
1993: Visiting Scientist, Clinical Laboratories, Sao Rafael Hospital, Salvador-Bahia, Brazil.
1994-95: Post-doctoral fellow, Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, U.S.A.
1996-99: Post-doctoral fellow, Neuroimmunology Unit, Dept. of Neuroscience, DIBIT-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
1999-2001: Non-tenured Research Assistant, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
2002-2008: Research assistant, Neuroimmunology Unit, Dept. of Neuroscience, DIBIT-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
2009-2015: Group Leader of the Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
2004-2023: Non-tenured professor, Vita e Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
2015-present: Head of the Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
2017-2021: Vice-Director of the Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
2022-present: Director of the Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
2023-present: Associate Professor of General Pathology, Vita e Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
1992: Fellowship, "Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla", Genova, Italy
1994: Fellowship, "Istituto Superiore di Sanità", Roma, Italy
1995: De Visart" Award for Neurological Research, University of Milano, Italy
1999: Teva and Marion Hoechst Award on MultipleSclerosis, European
Charcot Found.
2002: European Neurological Society award for the scientific paper “ Vaccination with amyloid-beta peptide induces autoimmune encephalomyelitis in
C57BL/6 mice.”, Berlin 22-26 June.
2009: Rita Levi Montalcini Award, AISM, Roma, Italy
2009: Board member of the Italian Neuroimmunology Association – AINI
2009-2010: EC evaluator for the Sixth Framework Programme Project “Neuropromise”
2010-2014: Scientific Board member of the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association
2010-: Secretary of the Residential Courses of Neuroimmunology – CRNI
2010-2018: Secretary-Treasurer of the International Neuroimmunology Society – ISNI
2011: SIICA Best Abstract Awards for the paper “Microvesicles in the cerebrospinal fluid reflect microglia/macrophage activation in rodent and human neuro-inflammation”. Riccione 28 sept.-1 oct.
2012: Board Member of the Europan School of Neuroimmunology
2014: Abilitation as Full Professor in General Pathology and in Applied Biology
2014-2016: Secretary of the Italian Higher School of Neurology
2019-: President of the Italian Neuroimmunology Association – AINI
2021-2023: Vice President of the International Neuroimmunology Society – ISNI
2023-2025: President of the International Neuroimmunology Society – ISNI