Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

Secretariat of the President

Giovanna Di Gennaro, Office Responsible
Margherita Groeben
Gabriella Grossi

Secretariat of the Director

Daniela Consiglio, Office Responsible
Italia Canettieri
Silvia Chieffi
Rosanna Messina
Simona Sannola

Naples

Villa Comunale
80121 - Naples, Italy
Tel.: +39 081 5833111
Fax: +39 081 7641355
Secretariat: +39 081 5833218
e-mail: stazione.zoologica(at)szn.it
certified mail: ufficio.protocollo(at)cert.szn.it

Ischia

"Villa Dohrn"
Punta S. Pietro
80077 - Ischia, Naples, Italy
Tel. +39 081 5833521
Fax. +39 081 984201
e-mail: rosanna.messina(at)szn.it

According to what defined by the Statute, the SZN can:

• participate to the implementation of national networks between public and private Research Institutions;
• contribute to infrastructures aimed at the promotion of the scientific excellence;
• constitute Associations, Consortia or Companies for the management of specific structures or for increasing competitiveness at international level and the implementation of the outreach activities;
• participate to public and/or private investments, when authorized by the MIUR according to the art. 16 of the D.Lgs. 213/09;
• promote the setup of new companies (Spin off) for exploiting the results of the research providing potential outputs also in term of patents.

Currently, the SZN participates in the following companies:

BioSearch Srl - Spin off company of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the National Research Council (CNR)

The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors

The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors.
We mainly focus on microalgal products and on the optimization of the production of bioactive compounds by changing growth parameters such as the quality of light and concentration of nutrients. We are interested in the characterization of the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds isolated from microalgae and other marine organisms, through advanced screening platforms that allow the prediction of the type of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical activity of compounds.

We also focus on the isolation and characterization of marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, which are able to resist and degrade pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Bioremediation and bioaugmentation studies are aimed at validating new technologies for the recovery of marine polluted coastal areas. New and innovative approaches are being developed for the restoration of such sites using seagrasses and corals.

Our shared expertise covers such fields as ecology, chemical ecology, physiology, genomics and transcriptomics, chemistry and biochemistry, and cell biology that drive technology and knowledge transfer for industrial applications of marine natural products.

Available platforms include:
• BlueBiomass Platform for the isolation and maintenance and mass cultivation of microalgae and other marine organisms for potential biotechnological applications.
• BlueBioChem Platform for the extraction and fractionation of bioactive marine organisms
• BlueOmics Platform for genome mining of new enzymes and biosynthetic pathways
• BlueCell Platform to test the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds on marine model species and human cell lines.
• BlueMicrobe Platform for testing antibacterial activity of marine organisms.
• BlueEnvironment Platform for the bioremediation and restoration of polluted marine sites

Director

Fabris Michele

Research Director

de Pascale Donatella

Senior Researcher

Brunet Christophe

Costantini Maria

Romano Giovanna

Zupo Valerio

Della Sala Gerardo

Lauritano Chiara

Rastelli Eugenio (SZN Fano)

Rizzo Carmen (SZN Sicilia)

Researcher

Balzano Sergio
Di Dato Valeria
Galasso Christian (SZN Amendolara)
Orefice Ida
Ruocco Nadia (SZN Amendolara)
Sansone Clementina

Research Contract

Maresca Emanuela

Senior Technologist

Coppola Daniela
Sardo Angela

Technologist

Barra Lucia (SZN Amendolara)
Coppola Daniela
Sardo Angela
Tedesco Pietro

Technicians

Barra Lucia (SZN Amendolara)

Buonocore Carmine

Tedesco Pietro

TER Collaborator

Palma Esposito Fortunato
Smerilli Arianna

Administrative Collaborator

De Maio Maria

Technical Operator

Amoroso Mariano

Research Fellowships

Lopez-Mobilia De Bustamante Andrea
Scarpato Silvia

Scholarship

Buono Lucia
Greca Teresa
Italiano Anna
Nappo Noemi

PhD Student

Pinto Bruno
Tinto Eleonora
Verdesca Laura
Moretti Eleonora
Pugliese Stefano
Kopp Gwendoline
Pierobon Giorgia

Director

Wiebe H.C.F. Kooistra

Researcher

Tangherlini Michael

Roselli Leonilde

Roberta Piredda (TD)

Technologist Director

Vecchi Fabrizio  

Senior Technologist

Berti Claudio

Borra Marco
Canese Simonepietro
Conversano Fabio
De Luca Pasquale

Di Capua Iole

Margiotta Francesca
Saggiomo Maria

Sarno Diana

Technologist

Cianelli Daniela
D'Ambrosio Paolo
Passarelli Augusto
Terlizzi Francesco

Saviano Simona (TD)
Stenico Francesco (TD)

Technician

Ambrosino Luca

Buondonno Angela (TD)

Cannavacciuolo Marco
Corato Federico
Corato Giuseppe

Di Bari Davide
Errico Davide
Fasciglione Paolo

Furia Marta
Gallia Roberto
Gragnaniello Giovanni
Graziano Rita
Guglielmo Rosanna
Iacono Bruno
Iamunno Franco
Iorio Claudio
Lanzotti Giampiero
Miralto Marco
Pannone Raimondo
Percopo Isabella
Rando Vincenzo
Scalco Eleonora

Somma Emanuele

Technical operator

Mauriello Elvira

Research Fellowship

Abagnale Maria

Houliez Emilie

Italiano Anna

Munsif Alì

Scholarship

Ambrosino Maria Assunta

Annona Giovanni

Liguori Gianluca

Longobardi Lorenzo

Marcucci Andrea

Pandolfi Filippo

Petrella Lorenzo

Ventura Lucia

PhD Students

Ferri Sara

Melpomene Sofia Mente

Pane Gianmarco

Associates

Chiusano Maria Luisa

Donadio Carlo

Santella Luigia

Zingone Adriana

_________________________

Updated on February 20th, 2026

Director

Maria I. Arnone

Research Director

Teresa Romeo

Senior Researcher

D'Aniello Salvatore
Ristoratore Filomena
Sordino Paolo

D'Aniello Enrico

Gallo Alessandra
Leone Serena
Locascio Annamaria

Modica Maria Vittoria
Ponte Giovanna
Stefanni Sergio

Researcher

Amodio Piero
Annunziata Rossella
Arrigoni Roberto
Buono Lorena

Carrella Sabrina
Ferraro Francesco
Liberti Assunta
Locatello Lisa

Mirra Serena

Raffini Francesca
Sabroux Romain

Sirakov Maria
Terzibasi Tozzini Eva

Senior technologist

Benvenuto Giovanna

Technologist

Chun Jong Tai
Marino Rita

Technician

Arcadi Erika
Caccavale Filomena

Riccio Gennaro

Amoroso Alessandro
Francone Maria
Imperadore Pamela
Sommella Andrea

Research Contract

Ennio Silvestri

Post-Doc 

Limatola Nunzia
Scibelli Sebastiano
Astoricchio Emanuele
Salatiello Federica
Calogero Rosario

Scholarships 

Ruscelli Camilla
De Falco Gabriele 
Chiappa Giacomo 
De Luca Marianna 
Panarari Elettra 
Abbriano Alessia 
Ciardiello MariaChiara
Nocella Elisa
Alessandro Tanya
De Vivo Giacinto

PhD Students

Rusciano Maria Lorenza
Kurisingal Cleetus Mary Carolin
Morgillo Antonio
Albanese Anna
Papadopoulos Joanna 
Bakshi Himmat Singh
Cormont Axelle
Edema William
Guerriero Simone
Zueva Olga

_______

Updated on March 9, 2026

Operating protocol for Animal Welfare Body of SZN (OBA)

The Animal Welfare Body (OBA) of Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Resolution of the Administration Council of the SZN n. 8 of 30/1/2020) operates in application of Art. 25 of Legislative Decree n. 26 of 4 March 2014 "Implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes" (Italian GU, 14 March 2014).

The SZN OBA operates according to the principles and in compliance with Legislative Decree 26/2014, Directive 2010/63/EU and the "A working document on Animal Welfare Bodies and National Committees to fulfil the requirements under the Directive”.

The SZN OBA has the following tasks:

i. To manage the procedures related to Legislative Decree 26/2014 facilitating the SZN researchers and collaborators - engaged in research activities with animals – improving the understanding of the areas and ensuring the correct application of the regulation;

ii. To protect and promote the welfare of animals used for scientific, exhibition or educational purposes at SZN facilities;

iii. To monitor the projects and activities concerning animal experimentation, verifying their ethical and scientific correctness and compliance with the regulations in force;

iv. To formulate Ethical clearance for projects or research activities that involve the use of aquatic organisms and that do not fall within the purposes of Legislative Decree 26/2014;

v. To inform and promote training and guidance for researchers and collaborators involved in research activities with animals.

In particular the SZN OBA:

• advises the staff dealing with animals in the application of the "3Rs" principle (replacement, reduction and refinement)
• encourages the professional updating of the staff involved in the use of animals;
• formulates  an opinion on research projects using animals for scientific purposes, on their possible modifications and revisions and - if the case - forwards them to the Ministry of Health (National Competent Authority) following their development and outcome;
• it provides advice on the reintegration programs of animals, where this is compatible with the study;
• intervenes on the adoption and monitoring of procedures excluded from the scope of Legislative Decree 26/2014.

We hereby remind that the lack of compliance with Italian law (DLgs 26/2014) will result in civil, administrative and penal sanctions. 

How does it work

SZN researchers, technologists and collaborators, may submit a Project Proposal for the use of organisms for scientific and/or educational research purposes at any time by sending the proposal to the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Proposals must be submitted by filling in forms that indicate all the information required. The forms are available at the link.

The SZN's AWB considers the following proposal modalities:

a. Request for Authorization pursuant to Art. 31 of Legislative Decree 26/2014 and for Authorization pursuant to Art. 33 of Legislative Decree 26/2014;
b. Request for Notification of the killing of animals for the sole purpose of using their organs or tissues;
c. Protocol request for project OUTSIDE the application of Legislative Decree 26/2014 (e.g., for studies in nature, behavioral observations, other purposes).

After preliminary examination of the individual proposals a. and b., OBA will send to the PI further paperwork to be filled (dichiarazione sostitutiva di certificazione e allegato IX).

In order to facilitate the collection of proposals, the OBA operates according to a calendar of meetings distributed throughout the year and proposals must be submitted by the 20th of each month, to be then examined by the SZN OBA at the first useful meeting.

The OBA expresses an opinion on each proposal received and attributes its status (i.e. "approved", "suspended pending review" or “rejected").

Things to consider for a research project using animals included in Legislative Decree 26/2014:

The initiation of a research and/or study in the SZN facilities involving the use of animals belonging to the list of species included in Legislative Decree 26/2014 (vertebrates that for SZN are represented by fish, aquatic reptiles, birds and mammals and Cephalopods), including national, European and international project activities, prior to the startup of the proposal it is subject to the verification by OBA of the following aspects:

i. The need for research and the likely contribution in terms of long-term positive effects on the health of humans, other animals or the environment (e.g., social relevance of the research).

ii. The necessity of the use of animals compared to alternative methods, evaluating the application of replacement, even partial, of the animals and/or of the foreseen procedures. Where the use of animals is essential, this must be justified (replacement).

iii. The respect of the principle of the maximum possible reduction of the number of animals used, and/or with the adoption of those methodologies that allow the maximization of the results obtained through the use of the smallest number of organisms, maintaining the forecast of reliable and robust results (reduction).

iv. The need to refine procedures in order to maximize the protection of the welfare of the animals used. In particular, in case the procedures applied may cause pain, suffering, distress or prolonged harm in species with the ability to experience and express them (i.e. sentience), the proposed experimental protocol will be evaluated taking into account the maximum consideration the degree and duration of suffering, the sample size (ie. number of individuals), and the planned and foreseeable measures to reduce the probability of harm to the animals (refinement).

For particular projects involving animals caught and and consequently killed or recovered already dead, the approval cannot disregard the use of animals from fishing activities authorized according to the health regulations in force, as well as the careful and precise evaluation of the purpose of the research.

Live specimens belonging to protected species on which diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are provided for recovery, may be the subject of research projects to be submitted for OBA approval by the SZN, provided that the activities of recovery of specimens are not affected by the research project and the manner of maintenance and handling, are in compliance with the regulations in force (e.g., permits: Local Health Authority, "Guidelines for the recovery of sea turtles" and CITES).

All proposals for research projects involving the use of animals for scientific purposes must obtain authorization - where applicable – from the NCA or the positive opinion of the SZN OBA as far as relevant and the case, before starting the research. The researcher will then have to wait for a response from the OBA and/or the Competent Authority before starting the activities; the negative opinion of the AWB on a specific project means that it cannot be carried out in the SZN facilities.

SZN's OBA list of evaluations (last update, 31 October 2020)

Ethical Clearance :

1. Acidification effects on herbivorous fish (Sarpa salpa)
2. Neural genes on cephalopods and deep-sea fish
3. Migration of Thunnus thynnus and Xiphias gladius
4. Distribution of Tetrapturus belone in Mediterranean Sea
5. Octopus vulgaris genome
6. Natural antioxidant agents effects in Danio rerio
7. Role of endogenous ouabain in various species
8. Tursiops truncatus calves management
9. Brain sizes in cephalopods
10. An exploratory study on Tool use in Octopus vulgaris
11. Gene expression and Learning and memory in Octopus vulgaris

Proposals submitted to the NCA:

Proposals not accepted: none

1. Neurogenesis in numerous species of aquatic vertebrates

Proposals under evaluation: none

Members of the Animal Welfare Body

Dott.ssa Claudia Gili - Responsabile del Benessere e della Cura degli Animali utlizzati negli esperimenti

Dott. Andrea Affuso - Medico Veterinario Designato

Dott. Graziano Fiorito - Componente comunità scientifica interna alla SZN

Prof. Bruno Cozzi - Universtià di Padova, esperto esterno

Prof.ssa Barbara De Mori - Università di Padova, esperto esterno

Director

Claudia Gili

Research Director

Senior Researcher

Paolo G. Albano
Sandra Hochscheid

Domenico D'Alelio

Researcher

Francesco Caruso

Senior Technologist

Paola Cirino

Technologist

Andrea Affuso
Thalassia Giaccone
Fulvio Maffucci
Alessandra Passariello
Marco Signore
Alfonso Toscano
Maria Cristina Vigo Majello

Technician

Davide Caramiello
Elisa Cenci
Maria Pia Ciampa, Supporto Amministrativo
Antonino Costantino
Marcello Cotugno
Giovanni De Martino
Francesco Di Liello
Alberto Macina
Raffaele Panzuto
Domenico Sacco
Ester Scordamaglia
Andrea Travaglini
Gianluca Treglia
Simona Trillo

Administrative Collaborator

Pasqualina Fiorentino

Administrative Operator

Carmela Scotti

Research Fellowships

Antonino Pace

Scholarships

Marianna Farina
Erica Raquel Ferreira E Moura
Chiara Roncari
Roberta Teti

PhD Students

Raffaella Bullo
Lorenzo Latini
Raffaele Panzuto

_______

Updated on December 16, 2022

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

La Sezione Servizi Generali svolge i seguenti compiti:

• Attività di supporto al Presidente e al Direttore Generale e funzioni di segreteria per il funzionamento del CdA, del Consiglio Scientifico, del Collegio dei Revisori dei Conti, e degli altri Organi di Controllo previsti dalle disposizioni vigenti
• Segreteria ed Affari Generali, Pianificazione, Programmazione e OIV
• Gestione Documentale Protocollo, Archivi e Archivio Storico
• Trasparenza & Anticorruzione
• Servizi informatici e Statistici (SIST)

International relations - support for the Presidency and the Administration Board

Giovanna Di Gennaro, Head
Valeria Aiello

Planning, programming, evaluation and payment service

Naples Seat

Marco Grimaldi, Head

Amendolara Seat

Veronica Scutari

General Affairs, Document Management, Protocol, Archives and support to the General Management

Italia Canettieri, Head
Daniela Consiglio
Chiara Coppola
Simona Sannola

IT & Statistical Services

Sede Ischia - MEDAS
Francesco Paolo Patti, Head

Sede Napoli
Luigi Migliaccio
Alfredo Piccolo

Responsible for the Prevention of Corruption and Transparency

Donatella de Pascale

Sede di Napoli

Villa Comunale
80121 - Napoli, Italy
Tel.: +39 081 5833111
Segreteria: +39 081 5833218
e-mail: stazione.zoologica(at)szn.it
ufficio.protocollo(at)cert.szn.it