Team
Different disciplines. One shared direction.
Core team
Built by people who see the problem differently.
NanoFlash brings together complementary expertise in chemistry, photophysics, neuroscience, computational design and bioengineering.
Ljiljana Fruk
Coordinator, Nanomaterials and biofunctionalisation
Professor of BioNano Engineering and NanoFlash Coordinator, Ljiljana specializes in the design and biofunctionalization of soft, nature-inspired nanostructures. She leads the project’s work on design and targeting nanoactuators to specific retinal cells and oversees research integration across the consortium.
Guglielmo Lanzani
Photophysics and organic semiconductors
Professor of Physics and an expert in the photophysics of molecular semiconductors, Guglielmo investigates how organic materials interact with light. He leads the design and photophysical development of NanoFlash nanoactuators.
Fabio Benfenati
Neuroscience and retinal neuroprosthetics
Professor of Neurophysiology and Neurology and Research Director of IIT, Fabio specializes in experimental neuroscience, neural interfaces and retinal neuroprosthetics. He leads NanoFlash’s biological validation, from retinal models to in vivo studies.
Mathieu Surin
Computational modelling of polymers and nanostructures
Associate Professor of Chemistry of Novel Materials, Mathieu specializes in molecular modelling of polymers and supramolecular systems. His team uses computational methods to help optimize NanoFlash materials and their interactions with biological targets.
Praveena Manogaran
Bioelectronics and retinal electrophysiology
Scientific Team Lead at Maxwell Biosystems, Praveena brings expertise in neuroscience, retinal research and high-density electrophysiology. She supports the development of bioelectronic tools used to measure retinal responses across NanoFlash models and leads dissemination efforts.
Patient perspectives
Lived experience helps shape better research
Patient representatives bring lived experience into conversations about the research, helping the team understand expectations, priorities and what meaningful progress could look like for people affected by retinal degeneration and vision loss.
Their perspectives also help NanoFlash communicate its science clearly and support an open dialogue as the research develops.
Clinical collaboration
Connecting research with clinical expertise
Clinical collaborators bring specialist knowledge in ophthalmology, retinal disease and imaging, helping NanoFlash consider the research in the context of future clinical translation.
Sacro Cuore Research Hospital, Verona
Italy
Project collaborator
Grazia Pertile - Vitreoretinal Surgeon
Grazia Pertile contributes specialist expertise in vitreoretinal surgery and future clinical translation. The NanoFlash programme envisages collaboration in a subsequent phase to support further preclinical development and progression towards first-in-human feasibility studies.
Addenbrooke's and Moorfields Hospitals, University of Cambridge
United Kingdom
Project collaborator
Patrick Yu-Wai-Man - Neuro-ophthalmologist
Patrick Yu Wai Man contributes clinical expertise in ophthalmology and inherited retinal and optic nerve disease, helping connect NanoFlash research with clinically relevant questions and future translation.
San Martino Research Hospital, Genoa
Italy
Project collaborator
Gianmario Sambuceti - Nuclear Medicine
Gianmario Sambuceti contributes expertise in functional imaging, supporting the project’s ability to investigate biological responses and connect experimental findings across different research models.
University of Bologna Veterinary Clinic
Italy
Project collaborator
Maria Laura Bacci - Experimental Pig Facility
Maria Laura Bacci brings expertise in large-animal research models, providing a potential bridge between early preclinical studies and future translational research.
Advisory board
Independent perspectives for the questions ahead.
Independent advisers bring scientific, clinical, patient, industry and regulatory perspectives to help guide NanoFlash as the research develops.
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