Letizia Zanetti is a research scientist dedicated to the study of Parkinson’s disease. She lives in New York, the city she has long dreamed of calling home, where she is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. There, she investigates the underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders. Curious, determined, and highly collaborative, Letizia approaches science with both rigor and creativity. The Dompé Foundation scholarship has provided new momentum to her research project, which aims to shed light on the role of the immune system in Parkinson’s disease. In this interview, Letizia shares what excites her most about her work, the advice that has guided her journey, and the personal philosophy that inspires her every day in the lab.

What do you love the most about research?

What I love most about research is that it’s never just one job — it allows me to take on many roles at once. On any given day, I’m not only in the lab working with animal models; I’m also a strategist, identifying the best way to approach a scientific question. I become a designer when thinking about how to present data clearly and effectively. I’m a communicator when translating complex scientific concepts for different audiences. And at conferences, I step into a networking role — meeting colleagues, exchanging ideas, and building collaborations. That diversity is what makes research so stimulating.

Do you have a personal motto?

My motto is: “The essential is invisible to the eye.” It is a principle I follow in both my professional and personal life. What truly matters are the emotions we experience, the connections we build, and the meaning we create — the intangible elements that shape who we are. As a scientist, this belief reminds me not to remain on the surface, but to look deeper and seek what cannot immediately be seen. In many ways, that is precisely what I strive to do every day, with the help of my most powerful ally: the microscope.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have ever received came from my mentor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, my previous institution. He would often say, “A negative experiment is still a good result.”

What is your biggest dream?

Today, I feel that my greatest dream has already come true: being a researcher in New York and studying one of the most significant neurodegenerative diseases at a leading university. I am deeply grateful to the Dompé Foundation for giving me the opportunity to pursue what has been a lifelong dream.