I hold a Master’s degree in Pharmacy and in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, and I recently completed my PhD in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Camerino, where I led a multidisciplinary project investigating the functional properties of food products.

My doctoral research combined in vitro intestinal models with molecular approaches to assess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating effects, contributing to the development of precision nutrition strategies.

I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in Maria Traka’s group, where I am consolidating my research expertise in molecular nutrition and gut health. I am working on the EU-funded FlavourFerm project, focusing on innovative fermentation strategies and microbiome-driven approaches to improve the sensory properties, protein bioavailability and health potential of plant-based foods.

Key publications

1. Gaia de Simone, Laura Bonfili, Anna Maria Eleuteri, Laura Bordoni, Rosita Gabbianelli ‘Explorative Analysis of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Intestinal Barrier Protective Effects of In Vitro Digested Chickpea- and Dark Chocolate-Based Snack: Insights from Caco-2 and THP-1 Cell Models’. Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Jul 4;14(7):823.

2. Elison Lepore, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Diego Romano Perinelli, Giulia Bonacucina, Serena Gabrielli, Gaia de Simone, Rosita Gabbianelli, Laura Bordoni, Matteo Tiecco ‘Cluster aggregation of water-based deep eutectic solvents in water and evaluation of their cytotoxicity’ Journal of Molecular Liquids Volume 415, Part B, 1 December 2024, 12642.

3. Laura Bordoni, Irene Petracci, Giulia Feliziani, Gaia de Simone, Chiara Rucci, Rosita Gabbianelli ‘Gut Microbiota-Derived Trimethylamine Promotes Inflammation with a Potential Impact on Epigenetic and Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Caco-2 Cells’ (2024). Antioxidants (Basel).

4. Fatemeh Mansouri, Gaia de Simone, Laura Bordoni, Rosita Gabbianelli. ‘The effects of nonsoy legumes consumption on serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers and Adiponectin in overweight/obese adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials’. (2024). The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Volume 133.

5. Chiara Rucci, Gaia de Simone, Sanyia Salathia, Cristina Casadiddio, Roberta Censi and Laura Bordoni. ‘Mitochondrial DNA copy number in circulating cell¬-free DNA and extracellular vesicles as a biomarker of cardiovascular health: a prospective case control study’. (2024). FASEB J.