In alignment with our mission, one of the goals of the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) is to help researchers’ careers and foster excellence in peripheral nerve research including clinical, translational, and basic science. Meet the 2026 Laura Feltri Training Grant Recipients and learn more about their projects by clicking on the links below.

Ailin Stephanie Venture, MD
Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires and FLENI, Argentina

About the Project

My project investigates the clinical, immunological and biomarker characterization of neuropathies associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. These neuropathies are common and often disabling, but their immune mechanisms are poorly understood and specific diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers are lacking.

We will perform comprehensive clinical phenotyping in a large cohort of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and use advanced immunological and biomarker assays to discover and validate novel nerve-specific autoantibodies to improve diagnosis and risk stratification, and to validate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) as a biomarker of axonal injury, disease activity and treatment response. This work aims to deepen understanding of immune-mediated neuropathies, refine disease classification by mechanism and enable more personalized patient care.

What stood out for you about the PNS Training Grant and what was your reason for applying?

I applied for the PNS Training Grant because it offers the opportunity to be trained in a world-class peripheral nerve unit and gain international research experience. Joining the Peripheral Nerve Unit at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau will broaden my scientific perspective and allow me to work within a multidisciplinary team focused on immune-mediated neuropathies.

A central motivation was the mentorship under Dr. Luis Querol. His leadership in neuroimmunology, autoantibody discovery and translational research has profoundly influenced my career goals. Training in his group will expose me to advanced techniques not available at my home institutions and accelerate my development as a clinician–scientist.

I was also drawn to the project’s translational focus, integrating clinical phenotyping, biomarker research and autoantibody discovery, to improve diagnosis and mechanistic understanding of immune-mediated neuropathies. My long-term aim is to bring these skills and collaborations back to Argentina to develop local research capacity and improve care for patients with peripheral nerve disorders.

How did you get in touch with your mentor?

I first became familiar with Dr. Luis Querol’s work through his publications and leadership in neuroimmunology and immune‑mediated neuropathies, and later had the opportunity to meet him in person when he gave a lecture at the Argentine Neurology Congress. When I contacted him to explore training under the PNS Training Grant, he proposed developing a project focused on the clinical and immunological characterization of these complex neuropathies. After discussing my clinical background and research goals, we tailored a training plan that aligns with this project, and his strong commitment to mentorship convinced me that training in his group was the ideal path for my development as a clinician–scientist.

Elkhan Yusifov, PhD
University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

About the Project

This project investigates Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy 1 (HSAN1), a rare and progressive genetic disorder that damages sensory nerves, causing patients to lose their ability to feel pain and temperature and leading to severe, chronic limb injuries.

Using human stem cells, the study explores how genetic mutations trigger the buildup of toxic fats that damage nerve cells, specifically focusing on how these toxins disrupt the cells’ energy generators (mitochondria) and electrical activity.

The goal is to map out exactly how these toxic fats cause nerve damage and to build a human-cell-based “pain-on-a-chip” testing platform. This will allow researchers to screen for new drugs without relying on animal testing, paving the way for the first effective treatments for HSAN1.

What stood out for you about the PNS Training Grant and what was your reason for applying?

The PNS Training Grant stood out to me as an exceptional opportunity to join the Peripheral Nerve Society network and connect with global experts in peripheral neuropathies. I was deeply motivated by the chance to pursue this project at the University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, where we will use patient-derived iPSCs to explore how toxic lipids drive sensory neurodegeneration in HSAN1. Conducting this research under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hornemann, who has been an invaluable guide for my academic development, provides the perfect, world-class environment to translate complex lipidomics into meaningful patient insights.

How did you get in touch with your mentor?

I first connected with Prof. Hornemann during a previous collaboration where I developed a novel method using chicken embryo sensory neurons to validate the toxicity of 1-deoxySA in vitro and in vivo, a joint work recently published (Very long-chain fatty acids drive 1-deoxySphingolipid toxicity | Nature Communications). I was deeply fascinated by his lab’s pioneering research and advanced techniques, particularly the use of mass spectrometry for untargeted lipidomics and metabolomics. This inspiring experience directly motivated me to apply to his lab so I could integrate these powerful metabolic tools into my own training and continue driving this research forward.

Paola Pacifico, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

About the Project

“PAIN-3D: High-Resolution 3D Mapping of Skin-Nerve Crosstalk in Patients with Painful Diabetic Neuropathy” investigates how interactions between skin immune cells and sensory nerves contribute to painful diabetic neuropathy. Using high-resolution 3D imaging of cleared skin biopsies from well-characterized patients, the project will map interactions between epidermal Langerhans cells and cutaneous nerve endings within intact tissue. Complementary microfluidic models combining patient-derived skin cells with human dorsal root ganglion neurons will be used to reconstruct and investigate this crosstalk in vitro. The goal is to identify previously unrecognized, targetable neuroimmune mechanisms that drive sensory nerve degeneration and neuropathic pain, providing a foundation for topical and better-tolerated therapies.

What stood out for you about the PNS Training Grant and what was your reason for applying?

I was particularly inspired by the PNS Training Grant’s emphasis on mentorship and scientific development and by its dedication to the memory of Laura Feltri. The grant provides a unique opportunity for early-career researchers to expand their expertise, build a close relationship with their mentors, and establish a distinct scientific direction. I see this grant as an important opportunity to pursue a highly translational project and shape my long-term research direction by integrating peripheral nerve biology, human tissue imaging, and bioengineering.

How did you get in touch with your mentor?

Although I will remain at Northwestern University, this grant has enabled me to assemble an outstanding multidisciplinary mentorship team led by my two primary mentors, Dr. Menichella and Dr. Paller. I will also benefit from the expertise and advanced resources of the Center for Advanced Microscopy at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, as well as the guidance of my co-mentors, Dr. Price and Dr. Miller, in human dorsal root ganglion anatomy, physiology, and electrophysiology. This mentor-driven training plan will provide the technical expertise, interdisciplinary perspective, and professional foundation needed to establish my independent research program focused on neuroimmune mechanisms in peripheral neuropathies.