Advancing Parkinson’s disease therapies: Alessandro Evangelisti’s research at Weill Cornell Medicine
Meet Alessandro Evangelisti, a 3rd year neuroscience PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine, on a mission to revolutionize therapies for Parkinson’s diseases patients. His career aspiration is deeply intertwined with a vow he made to his grandfather Bruno, who was diagnosed with PD in his sixties. From his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and research assistant experience at Stanford University, to the cutting-edge PD research he is currently involved in Dr. Lorenz Studer’s laboratory: join us in our interview to explore the academic journey of Alessandro, who won one of our “Rita Levi Montalcini” scholarships in 2022.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Alessandro, I’m 28 years old, and I’m originally from Latina, Italy. In 2015, I moved to the US to attend the Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Concordia College New York. During those years, I spent two Summers in a research laboratory at Harvard Medical School, where I got really interested in biology and research. After graduation, I moved to Stanford University to work as a research assistant in a basic science laboratory. I spent three years there before joining the Neuroscience PhD Program at Weil Cornell Medicine in 2021, where I’m currently about to conclude the 3rd year.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD at Weill Cornell Medicine?
I choose to pursue my PhD at Weill Cornell Medicine because I was really fascinated by the work and state of the art research conducted by their neuroscience and neurodevelopment departments. Especially, I was hoping to join Lorenz Studer’s lab - my current one - because of his innovative use of stem cell-derived dopamine neurons as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

What’s your research focus?
My research aim is to define the timing and gene regulation involved in the development of a specific class of human dopaminergic neurons that are selectively lost in the brain of PD patients. This study will ultimately contribute to advancing and facilitating the use of stem-cell-based therapy for PD, by replenishing the specific cells lost during the disease progression with healthy and regenerated neurons.
What sparked your interest in PD?
My journey through university was significantly influenced by my grandfather, Bruno, who was diagnosed with PD in his sixties. Growing up alongside him and witnessing his battle with this debilitating condition ignited my passion for PD research. Since my college years, my goal has been to understand the biology of this disease and contribute, one day, to the development of new therapies. Well, after many years, I was fortunate enough to fulfill this aspiration by joining the laboratory of Dr. Lorenz Studer. The promise I made to my grandfather is what gets me up every morning.
What impact do you hope to have on the world?
Besides bringing my own contribution to PD research, I would like to give back in some way the great opportunities I received throughout my life, such as the Dompé Foundation scholarship. My dream is to establish one day my own laboratory and guide the next generation of scientists. Additionally, I intend to build social programs aimed at providing educational support to underprivileged children, with a specific focus on science. I envision a future where all individuals have the freedom to choose their future, without being limited by factors such as gender or socio-economic status.
What does the Dompé Foundation scholarship mean to you?
As an Italian who left his country to chase his dreams abroad, I feel deeply honored and proud to have received such a recognition from an Italian foundation. Secondly, being granted a scholarship named after the esteemed scientist, Rita Levi Montalcini, is a tremendous privilege. I particularly admire this woman as she was one of the first Italian female scientists to achieve remarkable results - including a Nobel Prize - in a, until then, predominantly male-dominated field. The Dompé Foundation scholarship has also enhanced my sense of responsibility as well as my motivation to give 100% in my daily research.
What does innovating mean to you?
To me, innovating means exploring uncharted paths, pursuing projects that involve high risks, but have the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries.

Tell us about a learning experience you particularly loved
One of the greatest experiences that has led me to where I am today was my first internship at Harvard Medical School during my college years. I worked in a cardiovascular research lab, mostly focusing on developing a first animal model of cardiac amyloidosis. I enjoyed designing the best possible experiments to effectively address scientific inquiries. This experience allowed me to fully understand what it means to conduct research.
What is the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced?
Until the age of 18, I was a professional tennis player with totally different life goals. However, things changed quickly when I was offered a scholarship from a college in New York that recruited me to play for their tennis team, paying fully my school tuition. One of the greatest challenges I’ve ever faced was fully embracing this new chapter and silencing my doubts about whether I belonged to this completely different environment or not. Embarking on a PhD program after spending years in a lab has definitely helped me overcome this inner struggle once and for all. This program has enabled me to discover my new self, the one that fully aspires to be a neuroscientist and that considers the tennis player career as a beautiful memory that belongs to the past.
What are you passionate about, science apart?
One of my greatest passions is cooking. Some may say it’s a cliché due to my Italian heritage, but I genuinely love this “art” and all the details behind the creation of a great dish. Together with my partner, I’ve also launched a food blog to share our story through traditional Italian and Brazilian dishes (her being from Rio De Janeiro!).
How does it feel to have someone cheering for you?
It feels great! The PhD journey can often feel lonely. Therefore, having someone like the Dompé Foundation who believes in me and supports my research goals really boosts my daily motivation. Their support reminds me how running together, rather than alone, is key in tackling important scientific questions and in achieving breakthroughs.