After earning a Laurea (~PhD) in biological sciences/physiology (1985) at the University of Ferrara, Italy, Renato Alberto Travagli, PhD, worked on a series of projects related to the autonomic nervous system at an Italian pharmaceutical company. A short time later (1989), he relocated to Georgetown University where he earned a PhD in pharmacology (1993), before moving to Oregon for a postdoctoral period. His first faculty position was at West Virginia University (1995), followed by an academic position in Michigan and promotion to associate professor of medicine (2001) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor then professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center – Louisiana State University (2004) and, finally, professor of neural and behavioral sciences at Pennsylvania State University (2010).

Throughout his career, Dr. Travagli’s research interests have been centered on the central control of homeostasis, with a particular emphasis on gastrointestinal functions. Dr. Travagli has been funded since 1997 by both NIH and NSF, has co-authored 77 manuscripts and several book chapters, trained 13 post-doctoral fellows and, in 2010, was awarded the “Masters Award in Gastroenterology for Outstanding Achievements in Basic or Clinical Digestive Sciences.”