Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD

Medical Writer at Eli Lilly and Company

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

I’m delighted to share that this summer I officially graduated with my PhD in Neuroscience, under the supervision of Prof. @yvonnemnolan , Prof. @oliviafoleary and Dr. @_Sarah_Nicolas.

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

@yvonnemnolan @oliviafoleary @_Sarah_Nicolas For anyone interested, here are links to publications arising from this work:
- https://t.co/RTRAYY6Pph
- https://t.co/QJhLvR3GCJ
- https://t.co/jjCWcT1X8r

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

I’m delighted to share that this summer I officially graduated with my PhD in Neuroscience, under the supervision of Prof. @yvonnemnolan , Prof. @oliviafoleary and Dr. @_Sarah_Nicolas.

[Amanda Sierra @SierraLabAch]

Are you interested in human brain #organoids to study #microglia but don't know where to start?

Here's our piece of advice on "Building Immunocompetent Cerebral Organoids From a Developmental Perspective"

https://t.co/5LANdfZJ8N

[APC Microbiome Ireland @Pharmabiotic]

Congratulations to APC's David Clarke, Siobhain O'Mahony, Niall Hyland and Olivia O'Leary who were recently promoted to Professor at @ucc.

[Katie Guzzetta 🌻 @ktguzz]

Brain age mediates gut microbiome dysbiosis-related cognition in older adults

https://t.co/pi3eUTlFaE

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

I'm heading home from @ecnptweets workshop with an even stronger appreciation for how unconventional yet fascinating #ResearchLife is. Honoured to have met and exchanged ideas with incredible researchers in the field!!

[ECNP @ecnptweets]

👏Thank you to all our speakers and participants, in Nice and online, for making the #ECNP Workshop on Applied #Neuroscience a success!

Looking forward to welcoming 100 more young scientists next year for exciting research and discussions.🧠🔬
📅Save the date: 12-15 March 2026

[John F. Cryan @jfcryan]

Another fantastic ECNP ⁦@ecnptweets⁩ Young Scientist Workshop in Applied Neuroscience over - Great to catch up with so many colleagues & see our ⁦@UCC⁩ ⁦@Pharmabiotic⁩ students do so well with their poster and oral presentations ⁦

@AnatNeuroUCC⁩

[Dr. Rhonda Patrick @foundmyfitness]

Aerobic exercise can reverse age-related brain shrinkage. In older adults, just one year of regular aerobic activity increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively restoring 1–2 years of brain loss.

This highlights the remarkable ability of exercise to counteract brain aging.

But does intensity matter?

In a recent study, mice doing HIIT experienced an impressive 85% increase in new brain cells in the hippocampus—an area critical for learning and memory.

What’s even more remarkable is that HIIT didn’t just boost neurogenesis in the hippocampus—it drove a 155% increase in new brain cells within the ventricular-subventricular zone, a brain region involved in olfaction, or the sense of smell. That’s nearly double the effect seen with moderate exercise.

So, what makes HIIT such a powerful stimulus for neurogenesis?

It turns out that lactate—a metabolite produced during intense exercise—plays a crucial role. When researchers removed the receptor for lactate, called HCA1, mice no longer experienced the same surge in new brain cells.

We now have overwhelming evidence that lactate isn’t just a byproduct of exertion—it’s a key signal that helps drive brain plasticity.

DOI: 10.1113/JP287328
Human study PMID: 21282661

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

@AmieeMCronin @YoungNeuroIrl Well done Amiee!!!🥳

[Amiee Cronin @AmieeMCronin]

Excited to have presented my research at the NSI-ECRN Young Investigator Conference, where I was awarded runner-up for Best Poster! It was a privilege to contribute as part of the organising committee for this amazing event! 🧠 #NSIECRN24 @YoungNeuroIrl

[The Lancet @TheLancet]

GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are effective for weight loss, can cause substantial muscle loss.

A Comment in @TheLancetEndo discusses the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on skeletal muscle mass: https://t.co/PySJT9uC7f

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

"Adult neurogenesis influences the establishment of social hierarchy"
🤯
Well done @FabGrieco @Nico_Toni and colleagues!!

[Fabio Grieco @FabGrieco]

I am thrilled to share that our last manuscript is in preprint!

• Adult hippocampal neurogenesis levels predict social rank.
• Adult neurogenesis influences the establishment of social hierarchy.
• Dominant animals showed higher anxiety traits.

https://t.co/CHidX50jB5

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

Well done Aideen!!

[UCC Research @UCCResearch]

Congratulations to Aideen McCabe - winner of @UCC’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition.

Aideen’s PhD research, supervised by @kelliedean99, focuses on a multiomic approach to assess the expression & regulation of long non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer.

https://t.co/hywPKQADu0

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

@yvonnemnolan Thanks Yvonne!!

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

Proud PhD moment of the day:
Successfully sharing my PhD thesis in 3 minutes at the amazing UCC Aula Maxima surrounded by my lab-friends and supported by my supervisors #TMT #final #UCC

[Sarah Nicolas @_Sarah_Nicolas]

Proud supervisor moment of the day : watching @CarusoMariaG brilliantly explaining her PhD at the 3min Thesis @UCC final #3MinThesis #PhD @AnatNeuroUCC @GradCoMH_UCC

[Maria Giovanna Caruso, PhD @CarusoMariaG]

#ECNP2024 was a great stimulus for developing new thoughts on various topics. Amongst all the brilliant discussions, I particularly enjoyed
@MaryamKeshavar9 perspective on aging research and the brain prize lecture by @erin_schuman on synapse functional diversity
#ECNPtweets

[Zoë A.P. Williams @zapwilliams.bsky.social @zapwilliams]

Interested in animal models of exercise and their influence on hippocampus-associated functions? Check out P2525 with @CarusoMariaG !! @ecnptweets

[Zoë A.P. Williams @zapwilliams.bsky.social @zapwilliams]

Incredible Brain Prize Lecture by Professor
@erin_schuman
on the heterogeneity of synapses and capturing the temporal dynamics of protein expression that occurs here at both the local and "neighborhood" level!! @ecnptweets

[Zoë A.P. Williams @zapwilliams.bsky.social @zapwilliams]

On my way to the 37th ECNP Congress! If you're interested in exercise and Alzheimer's disease, come find me at my poster P3257 on Tuesday the 24th 😃

@ecnptweets #ECNP2024 #Neuroscience