Social Media Committee

Ignacio Hernández Morato, PhD
Social Media Committee and Website Coordinator

Ignacio Hernández Morato, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at Complutense University of Madrid. His primary research focuses on the regeneration of the peripheral nervous system, with additional interests in the development of the nervous system and laryngeal proprioception.

Dr. Hernandez-Morato got his Ph.D. at Complutense University of Madrid, investigating the central projections of the rat larynx before and after recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, which leads to non-selective reinnervation of the larynx. He began his initial postdoctoral research at New York Medical College, but in 2016 he transitioned to Columbia University in New York City for a second postdoctoral period. Throughout these years, he investigated the expression of guidance factors within the laryngeal muscles involved in non-selective motor reinnervation of the rat larynx. He also focused on studying proprioceptive innervation in the larynx, aiming to identify its proprioceptive organs.

In 2024, Dr. Hernandez-Morato assumed the role of Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Embryology at the School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he aims to advance his research on laryngeal reinnervation and non-canonical proprioception of muscles in the head and neck, particularly within the larynx. Other areas of interest are science communication and science policy.

Marcello Trucas, MD, PhD
Linkedin Coordinator

Dr. Marcello Trucas is a Lecturer of Human Anatomy (Tenure Track) at the University of Cagliari, where he teaches in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, including courses for international medical students. He also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anatomy at the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. A Specialist in Clinical Pathology, he holds a PhD in Experimental and Clinical Hepato‑gastroenterology with a focus on Human Anatomy.

His research investigates multi‑organ morphological and morphometric changes of the autonomic nervous system in chronic inflammatory conditions, employing electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, and molecular biology. He has a strong interest in neuro‑vascular interactions and is currently engaged in projects using human donor and patient tissues to study ageing, chronic diseases, and degenerative disorders.

Additional interests include the application of Artificial Intelligence in Anatomy, anatomical dissection, and the History of Medicine.

Caterina Franco, MD
Instagram Coordinator

Current PhD Researcher in Molecular Genetics, Biotechnologies and Experimental Medicine at The University of Brescia. Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (SIAI) Caterina graduated from the University of Brescia discussing a thesis regarding the link between oxidative stress and essential hypertensive disease, analyzing the possible role of melatonin supplementation in maintaining oxidative balance and limiting cardiovascular damage. She has been interested in cadaver dissections, learning the technique both in Italy and in Vienna during her medical degree. Over the years, she has investigated the role of oxidative stress and its effect in various experimental models, including a mouse model of autism. She is interested in the field of public health and tropical diseases, which is why she took part to the Tropical diseases and International medicine Course. She is working on her PhD thesis that is focused on tuberculosis infection and in particular on the possible changes that the lung epithelium may undergo following exogenous stimuli in order to better define the role that these changes may have on the spread of the infection. Additional interests include topics related to Human health and rights all around the World.

Eilidh Ferguson, BSc, PGCert, PhD, FRAI, Cert. FA-III
Member

Eilidh is a senior lecturer in Anatomy at the University of Glasgow. She is the anatomy programme lead for Medicine and Glasgow Access to Medicine Programme (GAP), which won the Times Higher Education Award for widening participation in 2019. She coordinates and teaches anatomy across both professional and BSc degree programmes.

Eilidh completed her PhD in juvenile facial identification at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee. Her research focussed on the growth and development of the juvenile face and considered potential methods of identification from facial photographs. Following this, she continued to research facial identification methods at Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University on an MoD-funded project. During this time, she was part of a team providing training courses in facial image comparison and 3D laser scanning.

She then took up an opportunity to travel to the USA, after being awarded a fellowship to conduct research at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Hawaii. She provided identification services to the Department of Defense for skeletal remains recovered from WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars, and her research focussed specifically on the segregation and identification of a large commingled assemblage from the Korean War. Eilidh is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and a certified Forensic Anthropologist who has been involved in forensic casework in both in the UK and Internationally. She is also an elected councillor of the Anatomical Society and currently holds the position of Meetings Officer of the society.

Andrea Brambilla, Undergrad of Medicine.
Bluesky Coordinator

Andrea is currently a medical student at Insubria University, Varese, Italy.

He has been attending the Human Morphology lab of the same university for several years, His main research interest is using Electron microscopy techniques (SEM and TEM) for the investigation of connective tissue and collagen distribution in extracellular matrix.

During university he worked as demonstrator for microscopic anatomy classes and as student tutor. He worked for 6 months at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin - IE on a research project on Collagen fibrils distribution in Human tendons under an Erasmus + Traineeship Grant.

Andrea is member of the Anatomical Society since 2023. He also served as executive board for the Italian medical student Association (SISM), his main work was focused on medical education, Advocacy, communication and international cooperation.

Marta Carretero Hernández, PhD.
Bluesky and Linkedin Assistant Coordinator

Postdoctoral research assistant at the Institute of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. Her main research interest is Osteoarthritis, although she maintains close collaboration with the Neuroendocrinology and Obesity research group at the University of Salamanca, Spain, focusing on studies involving prolactin and the hippocampus. Her expertise as a morphologist focuses on histopathological evaluation, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and microcomputed tomography.

She received her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from the Pontifical University of Salamanca in 2017 and her Master's degree in Life Support and Palliative Care for Cancer Patients from the University of Salamanca in 2018. She completed her Doctorate in Surgery and Odontoestomatology with the highest distinction at the University of Salamanca in 2024. During her predoctoral years (2019–2024), she worked as a teaching and research trainee in the Department of Human Anatomy and Histology at the University of Salamanca. There, she helped develop e-learning tools during the COVID-19 pandemic for the students of the Faculty of Medicine. She is a member of the Spanish and German Anatomical Societies (Sociedad Anatómica Española and Anatomische Gesellschaft).

Hazel Allardyce, MSci, PhD, AFHEA.
Instagram and Website Assistant Coordinator

Hazel Allardyce is an Independent Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on uncovering how vascular endothelial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. By integrating patient-derived cell modelling, morphological characterisation, and mechanistic molecular analysis, her work aims to develop translational strategies that assess the therapeutic potential of targeting endothelial dysfunction in neurodegeneration.

Hazel completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen, where she characterised the cellular pathology of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a paediatric motor neuron disease. She then continued her research within the SMA field as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Aberdeen, focussing on vascular involvement in disease pathogenesis.

Alongside her research, Hazel is an active member of several professional and academic committees, including the Journal of Anatomy Early Career Editorial Board, the UK Anatomical Society Membership Committee, and the UK Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Expert Review Network. She is also a member of the UK Anatomical Society and the British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society.

Hazel is strongly committed to public engagement and involvement in scientific research, working closely with several UK charities dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by neurodegenerative diseases, including Motor Neuron Disease Scotland, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease research.