Dr. Laura Agate

Laura Agate was born in Palermo on 22 January 1969.

July 1987Classical high school diploma (Diploma di Maturità Classica) at the Liceo Classico "G.G. Adria", Mazara del Vallo (TP).

1993-1994Trainee at the Institute of Medical Pathology of the University of Palermo.

1994Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Palermo.

April 1994Licence to practise medicine, University of Palermo.

October 1998Certificate of an advanced course in "Ultrasound diagnostics in surgery" issued by the University of Pisa.

1999Specialisation Diploma in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (Endocrinology track) at the University of Pisa, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Occupational Medicine.

2003-2005Awarded a Research Doctorate (PhD) in Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Occupational Medicine of the University of Pisa.

From 2006 to 2010Awarded a freelance contract for healthcare activity as a Specialist physician in Endocrinology at the Endocrinology Unit 1.

From July 2007Lecturer on the "Training course on differentiated thyroid cancer management", held annually at the Department of Endocrinology of the University of Pisa.

May 2011Awarded a research fellowship in "Environment and thyroid diseases" for collaboration and research activity at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Occupational Medicine of the University of Pisa.

Since 2010 lecturer at the Specialisation School in Endocrinology, University of Pisa.

From May 2019Consultant physician, on a permanent contract, at the Endocrinology I Unit of the Integrated Care Department of Endocrinology and Kidney of Pisa University Hospital (AOUP).

MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

From 1999: Member of the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE).

From 2003Member of the Association of Alumni of Pisa Endocrinology

From 2007Member of the Italian Thyroid Association

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

January 2000: Awarded a three-year FIRC scholarship 2000-2002 with a research project entitled "Detection of thyroglobulin gene mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma as a tumour marker".

March 2006Awarded a scholarship for the following work: "Study of mutations of the TSH, LH and FSH receptors" (established by Council Resolution No. 63 of 12/12/05) at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the University of Pisa.

CLINICAL ACTIVITY

During the years she attended the Institute of Endocrinology of the University of Pisa, Dr. Laura Agate completed her training as an endocrinologist and then deepened her knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases. Among the various diagnostic procedures, she gained particular experience in thyroid ultrasound scans.

For the past 12 years, immediately after obtaining her specialisation in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, she has been actively involved in clinical work in the Oncology Section (day service (DSA), outpatient clinic, ultrasound scans) of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Occupational Medicine of the University of Pisa.

Dr. Laura Agate is also a "sub-investigator" in two clinical protocols with experimental drugs:

1) Pfizer A4061027 (phase II study)

2) BAY 43-9006/14295 (phase III study)

MAIN AREAS OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Since 1994 she has carried out research in the field of thyroid oncology, with particular interest in the following areas:

-Effect of radiation in causing thyroid cancer

-Studies on thyroid cancer in areas contaminated after nuclear accidents

-Relationship between thyroid cancer and thyroid autoimmunity

-Relationship between ionising radiation and thyroid autoimmunity

-Mutations of oncogenes involved in the pathogenesis of thyroid tumours

-Treatment of thyroid tumours

-Pathogenesis and treatment of multiple endocrine neoplasia

PUBLICATIONS

Her research is collected in 179 publications, divided into original articles in international journals indexed on PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), articles in national journals, book chapters, proceedings of national and international conferences, and abstracts of papers presented at national and international conferences. The research results were presented at national and international conferences, where she took part as a speaker.