Concetta Gardi received her degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Siena, Italy (summa cum laude) in 1983. In 1984 she became qualified as a Professional Biologist. In 1990 she received her PhD in Experimental and Molecular Pathology at the University of Turin (Italy) and in 1991 she become Assistant Professor at the Institute of General Pathology, University of Siena. From 1991 to 2007 she was Assistant Professor for "Cellular and Ultrastructural Pathology", "Immunology" and "General Pathology" at the University of Siena Medical School. From 2003 to 2013 she held a teaching position for the course of "Immunology and Immunopathology" at the University of Siena, Faculty of Natural and Biological Sciences. From 2013 at present: Assistant Professor of General Pathology at the University of Siena Medical School. 2002-2011: She was member of the Faculty Board of the PhD School for Biology and Cellular Physiopathology of the University of Siena. She is active member of the New York Academy of the Sciences and of Italian Society of Pathology; and Associate Member to the Institute of Food Sciences (CNR, Italy). She is referee for the European Journal of Pharmacology, Current Drug Discovery Technologies, Journal of Medical Toxicology, Mediators of Inflammation and International Journal of Molecular Sciences. She has participated at several national and international scientific meetings and published numerous scientific papers in the field of pulmonary and hepatic pathology. At present, her main lines of research are: 1. Evaluation of new pharmacological compounds in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; 2. Role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of liver and lung fibrosis; 3. Evaluation of mindfulness-based programs on brain plasticity and stress-related diseases.