Published on 29/09/202504/10/2025 by Health Scientists Prof. Dr. Maria Luisa Brandi | Endocrinology | Outstanding Scientist Award Professor of Endocrinology | McMaster University| Italy Professor Maria Luisa Brandi, Full Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Florence, is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of molecular and cellular endocrinology, bone and mineral metabolism, and hereditary endocrine tumors. After completing her Licenza Liceale in Classical Studies in Orvieto, she earned her MD with First Class Honors and a Specialty in Endocrinology with First Class Honors from the University of Florence, followed by advanced training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Rome. Her pioneering contributions include the development of over 10 permanent cell lines to elucidate calci-phospho-tropic hormone mechanisms, the early application of genetic testing in clinical endocrinology, and the creation of international patient registries for rare bone and endocrine disorders. She has authored more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications, significantly shaping clinical guidelines for osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, and rare metabolic bone diseases. Professor Brandi’s scientific excellence has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the ESE European Hormone Medal (2023), the IOF Olof Johnell Science Award (2025), the Boy Frame Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (2021), and election as a Fellow of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2022). Beyond her research, she has held leadership positions in major scientific societies, including serving as General Secretary of ESCEO and as a Board Member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, while also contributing as editor or board member for leading journals such as Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism, Calcified Tissue International, and Nutrients. She has 52160 citations from 1025 documents with an h-index of 107. Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID Publications 1. Grieco, T., Paolino, G., Moliterni, E., Chello, C., Sernicola, A., Brandi, M. L., Egan, C. G., Morelli, M., Nannipieri, F., Battaglia, S., et al. (2025). Non-skeletal roles of vitamin D in skin, gut, and cardiovascular disease: Focus on epithelial barrier function and immune regulation in chronic disease. 2. Iantomasi, T., Aurilia, C., Donati, S., Falsetti, I., Palmini, G., Carossino, R., Zonefrati, R., Ranaldi, F., & Brandi, M. L. (2025). Oxidative stress, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs in osteoarthritis pathogenesis: Cross-talk and molecular mechanisms involved. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 3. Donati, S., Aurilia, C., Marini, F., Giusti, F., Palmini, G., Falsetti, I., Cioppi, F., Ranaldi, F., Iantomasi, T., Moro, A., et al. (2025). Serums miR-24-3p and miR-1301-3p as potential biomarkers in MEN1 syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 4. Falsetti, I., Palmini, G., Zonefrati, R., Vasa, K., Donati, S., Aurilia, C., Baroncelli, A., Viglianisi, C., Ranaldi, F., Iantomasi, T., et al. (2025). Antiproliferative role of natural and semi-synthetic tocopherols on colorectal cancer cells overexpressing the estrogen receptor β. International Journal of Molecular. 5. Donati, S., Palmini, G., Aurilia, C., Falsetti, I., Marini, F., Galli, G., Zonefrati, R., Iantomasi, T., Margheriti, L., Franchi, A., et al. (2025). Establishment and molecular characterization of a human stem cell line from a primary cell culture obtained from an ectopic calcified lesion of a tumoral calcinosis patient carrying a novel GALNT3 mutation. 6. Aurilia, C., Palmini, G., Donati, S., Falsetti, I., Galli, G., Margheriti, L., Iantomasi, T., Moro, A., & Brandi, M. L. (2025). The presence of the endocannabinoid system in an in vitro model of Gorham-Stout disease and its possible role in the pathogenesis. International Journal of Molecular. Maria Luisa Brandi | Endocrinology | Outstanding Scientist Award
Professor Maria Luisa Brandi, Full Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Florence, is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of molecular and cellular endocrinology, bone and mineral metabolism, and hereditary endocrine tumors. After completing her Licenza Liceale in Classical Studies in Orvieto, she earned her MD with First Class Honors and a Specialty in Endocrinology with First Class Honors from the University of Florence, followed by advanced training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Rome. Her pioneering contributions include the development of over 10 permanent cell lines to elucidate calci-phospho-tropic hormone mechanisms, the early application of genetic testing in clinical endocrinology, and the creation of international patient registries for rare bone and endocrine disorders. She has authored more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications, significantly shaping clinical guidelines for osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, and rare metabolic bone diseases. Professor Brandi’s scientific excellence has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the ESE European Hormone Medal (2023), the IOF Olof Johnell Science Award (2025), the Boy Frame Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (2021), and election as a Fellow of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2022). Beyond her research, she has held leadership positions in major scientific societies, including serving as General Secretary of ESCEO and as a Board Member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, while also contributing as editor or board member for leading journals such as Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism, Calcified Tissue International, and Nutrients. She has 52160 citations from 1025 documents with an h-index of 107. Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID Publications 1. Grieco, T., Paolino, G., Moliterni, E., Chello, C., Sernicola, A., Brandi, M. L., Egan, C. G., Morelli, M., Nannipieri, F., Battaglia, S., et al. (2025). Non-skeletal roles of vitamin D in skin, gut, and cardiovascular disease: Focus on epithelial barrier function and immune regulation in chronic disease. 2. Iantomasi, T., Aurilia, C., Donati, S., Falsetti, I., Palmini, G., Carossino, R., Zonefrati, R., Ranaldi, F., & Brandi, M. L. (2025). Oxidative stress, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs in osteoarthritis pathogenesis: Cross-talk and molecular mechanisms involved. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 3. Donati, S., Aurilia, C., Marini, F., Giusti, F., Palmini, G., Falsetti, I., Cioppi, F., Ranaldi, F., Iantomasi, T., Moro, A., et al. (2025). Serums miR-24-3p and miR-1301-3p as potential biomarkers in MEN1 syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 4. Falsetti, I., Palmini, G., Zonefrati, R., Vasa, K., Donati, S., Aurilia, C., Baroncelli, A., Viglianisi, C., Ranaldi, F., Iantomasi, T., et al. (2025). Antiproliferative role of natural and semi-synthetic tocopherols on colorectal cancer cells overexpressing the estrogen receptor β. International Journal of Molecular. 5. Donati, S., Palmini, G., Aurilia, C., Falsetti, I., Marini, F., Galli, G., Zonefrati, R., Iantomasi, T., Margheriti, L., Franchi, A., et al. (2025). Establishment and molecular characterization of a human stem cell line from a primary cell culture obtained from an ectopic calcified lesion of a tumoral calcinosis patient carrying a novel GALNT3 mutation. 6. Aurilia, C., Palmini, G., Donati, S., Falsetti, I., Galli, G., Margheriti, L., Iantomasi, T., Moro, A., & Brandi, M. L. (2025). The presence of the endocannabinoid system in an in vitro model of Gorham-Stout disease and its possible role in the pathogenesis. International Journal of Molecular.