Mariateresa is a senior scientist and group leader at the Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies of ENEA, where she was appointed as a junior researcher in 2001. She has a broad expertise covering different areas in cell, molecular, and tumor biology. In recent years, one of the main focuses has been on the Hedgehog signaling pathway and its role in radiation responses and in cancer. She deep interests in through examination of human health risks from noxious agents, along with their potential therapy-oriented use. She has a deep knowledge of experimental animal models for chemical- and radiation-induced tumorigenesis, together with extensive experience in histology, electron microscopy, pathology, molecular pathology and molecular biology.