United States
I’m a fly biologist at heart and I moonlighted as a science communicator during my PhD in molecular oncology in Milan (Italy). My journey as a scientist first started in the University of Bologna with oncolytic herpes viruses, continued in Cambridge (UK) where I first met my favourite model organism - fruit flies- and then landed in Milan, where I kept exploring basic biology of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases with the help of flies. Since 2019 my research path has been entwined with science writing and outreach activities for a broader public.
A part from science, I like art and I love travelling in all of its forms: “physical” - visiting new places, meeting new people, trying new foods- and “virtual” through books, that allow us to travel through space and time.
WHAT I DO:
- Scientific journalism
- Blog posts
- Press releases
- Content development for scientific workshop for schools
- Evaluation of scientific workshop for schools (surveys, focus group)
- Scientific articles and brochures translation (italian-english, english-italian)
- Science communication courses for biomedical researchers
WHO I'VE WORKED FOR: (details on request)
- non profit organisations
- Research Laboratory of science history and communication "Design of Science - DOS, University of Ferrara
- Scientific Research Institutes (Italy, USA)
Prevention Primary | Secondary | Tertiary | Why it matters and how much Figure 1. Cancer is a multifaceted disease whose development is influenced by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. While we have little control over the genetic factors - the information written in our DNA - we can influence environmental factors through...
by Valentina Fajner, PhD Chronic inflammation has emerged as a key biological process linking lifestyle factors - like nutrition - to cancer risk. While temporary inflammation is a natural and essential part of our body's immune response to infection or injury, chronic inflammation can damage tissues and create an environment that supports cancer development1.
by Valentina Fajner, PhD Cancer screenings are powerful tools of secondary prevention of cancer that can save lives1. How? These tests are used to find disease in people before symptoms show up. Cancers found through screening are generally smaller and less likely to have spread, which significantly improves the chances of successful treatment.
A scientific brochure about eye health, our most precious sense that gives us the opportunity to better experience the world around us. (text available upon request)
Public health can be threatened by many factors, sometimes new and sudden, such as an epidemic. In these cases it is not always easy to talk about public health, nor to find a synthesis between personal freedom and collective needs. Fondazione Umberto Veronesi has developed a new digital game, "Pandemic - Choose your story", designed as a 'serious game' to explore the themes of public health, prevention, infectious diseases and vaccines - and dedicated to students from 13 years old.
Humans have been on the move since the dawn of time. Scientists are a peculiar migrant "species," as they move around the globe following their passion, looking for the best places to learn new skills, and carrying out their next projects. These migrations help push scientific progress forward.
Ten years before the famous Laika, a bunch of little “astronauts” with great potential were sent into space for the very first time.
Agenda17
Valentina Fajner, biotecnologa, ricercatrice presso il Salk Institute for biological studies e collaboratrice esterna per la Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, fa parte del Laboratorio DOS dell’Università di Ferrara, dove ha conseguito il Master in Giornalismo e comunicazione istituzionale della scienza.
They cure infections that have become untreatable, sanitize environments and hospitals, and enable healthy and safe animal husbandry
A few decades after the introduction of antibiotics, the bacterial counteroffensive began with the development of drug-resistance. While research races to identify new classes of drugs, another solution is reemerging in laboratories and clinical trials: bacteriophages. In this episode, we will hear the story of Thomas Patterson, who personally experienced the reality of the post-antibiotic era, and we will witness how bacteriophages—viruses that infect and eliminate bacteria—saved him...