Ph.D. students
Centro di Ricerca Interdisciplinare Health Science
Angela Buonpane
Bio
Interventional cardiologist, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Massa, Italy
PhD Student in Translational Medicine, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
Postgraduate Master’s Degree student in “Percutaneous Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease”, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
Education and training
• 05/07/2013: Classical High School Diploma, “Liceo Classico Leoniano – Istituto Paritario Bonifacio VIII”, Anagni (FR), Italy, with a final grade of 100/100 cum laude and nomination for the title of “Alfiere del Lavoro della Repubblica Italiana”.
• 19/07/2019: Master's degree in Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy, with a final grade of 110/110 cum laude. Thesis: “Morphological-bioumoral correlations in patients with ‘healed’ plaques evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography” (Supervisor: Prof. Filippo Crea; Co-supervisor: Prof. Italo Porto).
• 27/01/2025: Residency in Cardiovascular Diseases, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy, completed with highest honors (50/50 cum laude). Thesis: “Evaluating the role of IGF-1 and S-Klotho in plaque phenotype and vulnerability: the VISION study” (Supervisor: Prof. Francesco Burzotta; Co-supervisor: Prof. Giovanna Liuzzo).
• 2024 – 2026: Postgraduate Master’s Degree (Second Level) in “Percutaneous Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease”, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio (ongoing).
Work experience
• 01/2021 – 01/2025: Resident in Cardiovascular Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Comprehensive training in clinical cardiology, cardiovascular imaging, interventional cardiology, and research.
• 01/2024 – 07/2024: Visiting trainee, Ospedale del Cuore di Massa and CNR Research Area, Pisa, Italy. Six-month training interventional cardiology.
• 01/2025 – 09/2025: Consultant Cardiologist, Ospedale Isola Tiberina – Gemelli Isola, Rome, Italy. Clinical activity in cardiology ward, sub-intensive care unit, cardiac intensive care unit, emergency department, and outpatient clinics. Parallel involvement in cardiovascular research.
• 10/2025 – Present: Cardiologist, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Italy. Clinical and research activity in the field of cardiovascular diseases, with a focus on interventional cardiology and advanced cardiovascular imaging.
Research
My research focuses on the study of atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic disease phenotypes using optical coherence tomography (OCT), within a translational framework aimed at identifying the mechanisms underlying plaque destabilization and plaque healing.
During my residency at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, I designed the study “EValuating the role of IGF-1 and S-Klotho In plaque phenOtype and vulNerability: the VISION study”, which is currently ongoing and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06522074).
As part of my PhD in Translational Medicine, I am also conducting research on the correlation between coronary plaque phenotype and lipidomic profiling.
My research activity has been recognized with national awards, including the “Famiglia Luigi Cremonini per la Ricerca Cardiovascolare” Prize (2024), awarded for the research project “EValuating the role of IGF-1 and S-Klotho In plaque phenOtype and vulNerability: the VISION study”, and the Best Abstract Award at the Italian Society of Cardiology (2022) for the work “Sex-based differences in coronary plaque phenotype and healing at optical coherence tomography analysis: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.”
Publications
1. Buonpane A, Biondi-Zoccai G, Versaci F. Molecular Insights on Ischemic Heart Failure: From Core Genes to Hearts. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2023;82(6):440-442. Published 2023 Dec 1. doi:10.1097/FJC.0000000000001486
2. De Innocentiis C, Astore P, Buonpane A, Santamaria AP, Patragnoni F, Santamaria M. Case report: An unusual case of phrenic nerve stimulation in a patient with single chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1088697. Published 2023 Feb 23. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1088697
3. Vergallo R, Lombardi M, Besis G, et al. Pre-stenting residual thrombotic volume assessed by dual quantitative coronary angiography predicts microvascular obstruction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Minerva Cardiol Angiol. 2023;71(4):421-430. doi:10.23736/S2724-5683.22.06156-7
4. Bianchini E, Lombardi M, Buonpane A, et al. Impact of thrombus aspiration on left ventricular remodeling and function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Cardiol. 2024;397:131590. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.131590
5. Buonpane A, De Innocentiis C, Bernardi M, et al. Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Devices: Evidence Synthesis with an Umbrella Review. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024;49(5):102485. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102485
6. Buonpane A, Trimarchi G, Ciardetti M, et al. Optical Coherence Tomography in Myocardial Infarction Management: Enhancing Precision in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. J Clin Med. 2024;13(19):5791. Published 2024 Sep 28. doi:10.3390/jcm13195791
7. Buonpane A, Trimarchi G, Palmieri C, Jabri AAAA, Berti S, Rizza A. Kissing shockwave balloon in a case of extensive calcified abdominal aorta during transfemoral TAVI. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024;49(5):102491. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102491
8. Rizza A, Buonpane A, Palmieri C, et al. Short-term outcomes of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with the new Braile Biomédica® total custom-made abdominal endograft: Experience from three Italian centers. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024;49(9):102689. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102689
9. De Innocentiis C, Buonpane A, Totaro A, et al. It's a long way to the top! Congenital venous anomalies and left isomerism limiting atrial fibrillation transcatheter ablation. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024;49(5):102467. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102467
10. Misuraca L, Buonpane A, Trimarchi G, et al. Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of Aortic Bifurcation Facilitated by Intravascular Lithotripsy With Shockwave Balloon: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024;16(8):e66874. Published 2024 Aug 14. doi:10.7759/cureus.66874
11. Rizza A, Di Sibio S, Buonpane A, et al. A Clinical Case of Aneurysmal Dilatation of the Aortic Arch Distal to the Origin of an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery Treated with Castor Single-Branch Stent Graft Implantation and Right Carotid-Subclavian Bypass. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2025;12(7):251. Published 2025 Jun 29. doi:10.3390/jcdd12070251
12. Buonpane A, Romagnoli E, Bianchini F, et al. Integrating inflammatory and nutritional markers: the prognostic value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte/albumin ratio for one-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Minerva Cardiol Angiol. Published online November 27, 2025. doi:10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06956-X
13. Buonpane A, De Caterina AR, Trimarchi G, et al. Uncovering Plaque Erosion: A Distinct Pathway in Acute Coronary Syndromes and a Gateway to Personalized Therapy. J Clin Med. 2025;14(15):5456. Published 2025 Aug 3. doi:10.3390/jcm14155456
14. Buonpane A, De Caterina AR, Trimarchi G, et al. Unveiling the Causes of Acute and Non-Acute Myocardial Ischemic Syndromes: The Role of Optical Coherence Tomography. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(7):1218. Published 2025 Jul 4. doi:10.3390/medicina61071218
15. Buonpane A, Trimarchi G, Di Muro FM, et al. From Vision to Illumination: The Promethean Journey of Optical Coherence Tomography in Cardiology. J Clin Med. 2025;14(15):5451. Published 2025 Aug 2. doi:10.3390/jcm14155451
16. Di Muro FM, Spadafora L, Buonpane A, et al. Functional Mitral Regurgitation in the Transcatheter Era: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pathways. J Pers Med. 2025;15(8):372. Published 2025 Aug 13. doi:10.3390/jpm15080372
17. Trimarchi G, Carerj ML, Zito C, et al. Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Multimodal Imaging Diagnostic Perspective. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(6):961. Published 2025 May 23. doi:10.3390/medicina61060961
18. Buonpane, A.; Ciardetti, M.; Trimarchi, G.; Scalone, G.; Coceani, M.A.; Pastormerlo, L.E.; Marchi, F.; Paradossi, U.; Berti, S.; Passino, C.; et al. SGLT2 Inhibitors After Myocardial Infarction: Evidence, Mechanisms and Gaps in Knowledge. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 2260. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062260
CONGRESS PUBLICATIONS
• Buonpane A, Ricchiuto A, Lombardi M, et al.
Sex-based differences in coronary plaque phenotype and healing at optical coherence tomography analysis. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2022.
• Ricchiuto A, Lombardi M, Bianchini E, Buonpane A, et al.
Clinical impact of healed coronary plaque: an optical coherence tomography study. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2022.
• Buonpane A, Ricchiuto A, Lombardi M, et al.
Acute coronary syndrome in neoatherosclerosis with major stent malapposition and OCT-guided PCI. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2022.
• Vergallo R, Ricchiuto A, Ridolfi F, Buonpane A, et al.
Culprit plaque morphology and healing capacity in patients with and without preinfarction angina: an OCT study. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2021.
• Ricchiuto A, Vergallo R, Lombardi M, Buonpane A, et al.
The fingerprint of plaque healing detected by optical coherence tomography imaging. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2021.
• Vergallo R, Lombardi M, Betti M, Buonpane A, et al.
Coronary plaque healing and diabetes: insights from OCT imaging. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2021.
• Maino A, Vergallo R, Ricchiuto A, Buonpane A, et al.
Benefits of optical coherence tomography in spontaneous coronary artery dissection. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2021.
• Bianchini E, Vergallo R, Buonpane A, et al.
Hazy spots: through the eye of optical coherence tomography. European Heart Journal Supplements. 2021.
BOOK CHAPTER
• Bernardi M, Biondi-Zoccai G, Buonpane A, Peruzzi M, Romagnoli E, Rubino MT.
ChatGPT for medical research: a user-friendly manual. Edizioni Minerva Medica, 2024. (Introduction)
Courses
I have attended several national and international congresses and advanced training courses in cardiology, with active participation as a presenting author in selected meetings.
• 2019: Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC), Rome, Italy.
• 2021: GISE Congress, Milan, Italy. Oral presentation: “A case report of Acute Coronary Syndrome: an ambiguous coronary angiography finding clarified by optical coherence tomography”.
• 2022:
– GISE Congress, Milan, Italy.
– Cuore e non solo – Basic Science, Genoa, Italy.
– PLACE, Rome, Italy. – Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC), Rome, Italy. Oral presentation: “Sex-based differences in coronary plaque phenotype and healing at optical coherence tomography analysis: a single-centre retrospective cohort study”. (Best Abstract Award).
• 2023:
– Ablating Sudden Death, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
– Cuore e non solo – Interventional Cardiology, Genoa, Italy.
– GISE on the Beach, Rome, Italy. Oral presentation: “Unraveling the cause of very-late stent thrombosis with optical coherence tomography imaging: the mechanism guides the treatment.”
– Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC), Rome, Italy. Oral presentation: “It's a long way to the top! Congenital venous anomalies and left isomerism limiting atrial fibrillation transcatheter ablation".
• 2023:
– Advanced Life Support (ALS), Italian Resuscitation Council, Rome, Italy (certification obtained).
– ICH Good Clinical Practice E6 (R2), Global Health Network (certification obtained).
• 2024:
– XXVI Course on Antithrombotic Therapies in Cardiology, Florence, Italy.
– Total Occlusion and Bifurcation Intervention (TOBI), Milan, Italy.
– GISE Congress, Milan, Italy.
• 2025:
– Conoscere e Curare il Cuore, Florence, Italy. Oral presentation: “Integrating Inflammatory and Nutritional Markers: The Prognostic Value of the Platelet-to-Lymphocyte/Albumin Ratio for One-Year All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.”
– Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC), Rome, Italy (participant in “SIC Cardiopentathlon”).
• 2025 – ongoing: – Postgraduate Master’s Degree (Second Level) in “Percutaneous Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease”, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio.