Francesco Ribaudo
Papers
1
Total Citations
22
H-Index
1
About
Francesco Ribaudo is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on the neurobiology of consciousness and the mechanisms of neural plasticity in severe brain injury. His work centers on understanding how the brain adapts—or fails to adapt—following acute trauma, particularly in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOCs). In his most-cited study, Ribaudo demonstrated that serum BDNF levels are significantly reduced in DOC patients, providing the first direct evidence of impaired neurotrophic support in this population. Crucially, he also showed that robot-assisted lower-limb training, a form of verticalization therapy, does not restore BDNF levels, challenging assumptions about the plasticity-inducing effects of passive rehabilitation. This work, cited over 20 times, has opened new avenues for investigating whether alternative interventions—such as pharmacological or neuromodulatory approaches—might better stimulate the neurotrophin pathways essential for recovery. By bridging molecular biomarkers with clinical rehabilitation, Ribaudo’s research offers a critical framework for identifying which patients might benefit from targeted plasticity-enhancing therapies, making his contributions highly relevant to both basic neuroscience and translational neurorehabilitation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1