Affiliation: University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences; University Hospital Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy, Institute of Respiratory Diseases

Marinela Vavla is a medical doctor and a neuroscientist. She graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Florence and is currently a Resident in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Foggia (Italy). Additionally, she holds degrees in MSc in Neuroscience from King's College, University of London and a PhD from the University of Padua.
She has a main interest in the field of neuromuscular disorders, in particular cerebellar ataxias (e.g. Friedreich’s Ataxia), and also in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, Glycogen Storage disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's Disease and Motor Control. Her main field of study is focused on the application of neuroimaging in Friedreich’s Ataxia, integrating advanced MRI techniques with clinical assessment, and search for disease biomarkers. Furthermore, the research expertise evolved in clinical study design and conduction, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation in ataxic patients. She is enthusiastic and curious about finding new alternatives of studying rare neurological disorders by optimizing the research methodology, exploring adequate paradigms in the study design process, and promoting early diagnosis and screening.