Snapshot: Simone Mori

Position: Research Associate, laboratory of Professor Bruno Conti, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), California campus.

Area of Research: Neuroinflammation and role of the inflammatory response in neurodegenerative diseases.

Responsibilities: Mori and his colleagues in the Conti lab focus on the role of inflammatory molecules such as interleukins and prostaglandins to provide new targets for drug development.

Background: A native of Italy, Mori earned a doctorate in medicine at the Polytechnic University of Marche, in Ancona, Italy, where he trained in internal medicine and clinical immunology. A fellowship from the Italian College of Physicians has enabled his work at TSRI.

Arrived at TSRI: September 2013

Thoughts on TSRI: Mori is impressed by the collaborative attitude and lack of hierarchical barriers at TSRI. “You can chat with department chairmen and Nobel laureates about science in the hallway. I strongly believe that a major contribution to success comes from the people you surround yourself with, and here at TSRI, I have grown professionally faster than ever."

Professional and Volunteer Groups: The new president of the Scripps Consulting Club (SCC), an industry-oriented group on the Scripps California campus, Mori believes academia and business “can synergistically grow together.” He and SCC members plan to provide insights on the business side of the life sciences through workshops, case studies and pro bono consulting projects with biotech firms and start-ups in San Diego.

Extracurricular Activities: While Mori has travelled throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, he and his wife, Michela, a cardiologist, have just become new parents of a baby girl, Celeste, and now spend more time at home. A food lover who admits he is “actually a pretty good Italian chef,” Mori stays fit with a daily early-morning workout.

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