I graduated in chemistry in 1992. I have a strong background in biochemistry and structural biology, with specific training in the use of X-ray crystallography and other cutting-edge biophysical techniques to characterise the structural properties of macromolecules. During my postdoctoral training, I was involved in projects whose success depended on the synergy between diverse expertise. Thus, I learned to optimally interact with scientists from different fields and I became fully skilled to optimise the interpersonal communication. Since I became an independent investigator, I have secured funding from external sources to fully support my research, and successfully planned and managed the activities to ultimately produce several highly relevant publications. My current research projects are centred on the structural determination of medically relevant molecules, stemming from collaborations within the Institute, a world-renowned center for clinical research and translational medicine, as well as extramural ones. Main areas of interest include structural immunology, structure-based drug design against cancers and infectious diseases, and understanding the structure-function relationship in biological macromolecules.