(Mar. 15) – “I’m just a biologist who is trying to pursue her dream of scientific research, a dream begun in school and then continued in the classrooms and laboratories of the University of Naples Federico II.” Laura Spinelli is 29 years old and lives in Dundee, the fourth most populous city in Scotland, since 2008. A few days ago she discussed her doctoral thesis and earned a “degree of Doctor of Philosophy”: “For now – the biologist assures – I will continue to work on my project here in Dundee, then we’ll see where else my dream will take me.” Laura talks about dreams and she believes in what she does, with enthusiasm and passion: “There is always someone asking me if I do research on cancer and at how it is going. I always explain that there are many types of cancer and the causes are even more various: an organism functions normally if the cells that compose it are able to communicate with each other, and the alteration of this communication is a major feature of the development of cancer and other diseases. So the central point of the project I’m involved is to understand and identify the causes of these signal abnormalities. In particular, I focus my study on a tumor suppressor, PTEN,” the young researcher explains. “We must understand its causes before thinking about a cure. Every day a piece of the puzzle is added, the road is long and difficult – she admits – but we work with enthusiasm and good will.” Laura does not exclude to return in Italy, someday: “I’d like to. The problem is that in Italy very few people believe in research. The space or young researchers is too little – Spinelli continues – and there is so much work to do to ensure that a culture of merit becomes the selective method. In Italy we have great brains and good structures, but we lacks a good manager that controls and distributes the funds: a better organization-system that enables young people to make a career in an easy way.” The biologist concludes with a question that sounds like a hope: “Why can’t we use our ideas and make Italy competitive? “. (Gil/Peg)
