11.10.2011 -

By Laura Ramacci

 

Lisa Vaccari has Venetian origins. She graduated in Chemistry at the University of Trieste, where she also obtained the doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a dissertation on carbon nanotubes. She started her career at Sincrotrone Trieste in the field of micro-nanomanufacturing thanks to a grant of the AREA Science Park. She currently works with the team of Maya Kiskinova on the SISSI (Source for Imaging and Spectroscopic Studies in the Infrared) light beamline.

 

What are the projects you are dealing with?

I am working on spectroscopic studies in the infrared and in particular biological and medical applications of this technique, the so-called life sciences. As a beamline scientist, one of my tasks is to assist national and international users in their experiments in our laboratories.

 

his activity is combined with my personal research activities, which are focussed on the study of human immune response. I am building on my past experience in the field of manufacturing and I am developing a research project aimed at obtaining microfluidic devices to be used for the characterisation of biochemical variations associated with morphological deformations suffered by leukocytes.

 

Moreover, I have never abandoned my research on carbon nanotubes, which was the subject of my doctoral dissertation. I am most fascinated by the analysis of their toxicity through techniques complementary to conventional ones.

 

Now let us dwell upon the new "world" for nanotechnologies, which today are the core of scientific debate. The use of nanomaterials is very promising and could entail multiple advantages in numerous applications intended for consumers, patients and the environment. The European Parliament reaffirms that funds to be devoted to research on safe development of nanomaterials should be increased and urges an assessment on the nature of risks for human health and the environment, especially at work. As a researcher, do you share these concerns?

I fully share the concerns of the European Parliament and I wish to state clearly that when we talk about nanotechnologies we should never forget that "nano" does not always mean "new" in that the "nano" world belongs to nature; however, we have only been able to see it thanks to the development of suitable technologies and tools resulting from intensive research.

 

Today we can say that we are mature and we can "engineer" nanomaterials. In particular, the scientific community has shown an increasing interest in biomedical applications of nanomaterials, which can meet the need of modern medicine for targeted and customised pharmacological treatments. Unfortunately, this proliferation of studies has not always been accompanied by studies on the toxicity of materials or the definition of acknowledged rules and standards.

 

I believe that the scientific community should tackle the issue because these materials are very widespread and should be more accurate in its research and data analysis. The goal should be the search for internationally acknowledged and scientifically evidentiary standard protocols.

 

You belong to a research team that is achieving significant results in a very innovative field. What are the essential ingredients for a team to be "successful" and what is the meaning of "success"?

First of all, respect, both at a personal and professional level. Then, complementary skills and determination when it comes to defending one's own ideas without imposing them to others. A key factor in our team is a clear assignment of roles: we share the same final objective without competing. In general, I believe that the assumption of responsibilities by each member of a team, starting from doctoral students, is crucial in order to create a collaborative and factual environment.

 

Moreover, for a team to work successfully, friendship and affection within the team are fundamental. We work together night and day, on Saturdays and Sundays. It would be very difficult to be serene without this "affective" component!!! What is the meaning of success? To me success means doing the best you can under given conditions; achieving the expected outcome.

 

Let us play the "if I were …" game. If you were the Italian Minister Gelmini, what would be your first action to support Italian research? If you were a fairy, what would be the first thing you would do with your magic wand?

 

On some issues I agree with Ms Gelmini. I believe in rigour and I think that she is acting properly. I would make the system more streamlined and empowering: I refer to the bureaucratic superstructure that makes the Italian system so cumbersome and hides decision-making responsibilities behind outdated rules. In short, a less hypocritical system would be desirable.

 

Moreover, I would invest more in human resources, which are the most important wealth, and I would perform more controls on the allocation of funds and their use. I would be favourable to meritocracy!

 

If I had a magic wand, I would leave more room to young people not because they have more innovative ideas, but because they are more motivated to put them into practice.

 

A scientific carrier requires a lot of mental commitment that can overshadow some of our more feminine and creative aspects. Is there any creative activity in which you are or would like to be very good?

I am very good at cooking and I would like to learn how to embroider, especially cross-stitch because it is very colourful. I would also like to learn how to dance, especially tango because you can express tones, moods and afterthoughts of life.