EVCNA Expert Interview Series XVII - Prof. Dr. Gabriella Pocsfalvi
On August 9, 2026, Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids (EVCNA) had the pleasure of hosting a special interview with Prof. Gabriella Pocsfalvi, conducted by Dr. Norhayati Khan of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Prof. Pocsfalvi is a member of the EVCNA Editorial Board and leads the Extracellular Vesicles and Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy.
During the interview, Prof. Pocsfalvi reflected on her scientific journey in extracellular vesicle (EV) research and discussed the rationale and research journey behind her work on Ginkgo biloba-derived nanovesicles. She shared her perspectives on key biological and methodological questions surrounding plant-derived vesicles, including their functional significance and the importance of rigorous and reproducible research approaches. Drawing on her experience, she also offered advice to early-career researchers, emphasizing scientific curiosity, openness, reproducibility, and resilience, while sharing her perspectives on emerging directions in EV research and her expectations for the continued development of EVCNA.
We sincerely thank Prof. Gabriella Pocsfalvi and Dr. Norhayati Khan for sharing their expertise and perspectives with the EVCNA community. We hope this interview will provide readers with valuable insights into the evolving field of plant-derived nanovesicles and the broader landscape of extracellular vesicle research.
Watch the following video for expert insights from Prof. Dr. Gabriella Pocsfalvi:
Interview Questions:
Q1: Could you briefly introduce your research group, including your main research interests and the key achievements that you consider most significant?
Q2: Your presentation focuses on “Ginkgo biloba–derived nanovesicles.” What inspired your team to explore ginkgo-derived nanovesicles as a novel plant-derived extracellular vesicle platform?
Q3: During your research journey, what major scientific challenges have you encountered in the field of plant-derived extracellular vesicles, and how did your team overcome these challenges?
Q4: Based on your extensive experience in extracellular vesicle research, what qualities or mindsets do you believe are essential for young researchers to succeed in this field?
Q5: Looking ahead, what do you consider the most promising research directions and opportunities for plant-derived extracellular vesicles over the next 5–10 years?
Q6: As an open-access journal dedicated to extracellular vesicles and circulating nucleic acids, how do you think EVCNA can contribute to advancing scientific communication, collaboration, and innovation in this rapidly developing field?
About the Interviewee:
Dr. Gabriella Pocsfalvi is Research Director at the Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Naples, where she leads the Extracellular Vesicles and Mass Spectrometry (EV-MS) Research Group. She is an internationally recognized expert in extracellular vesicle (EV) research, with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple patent applications. Her research focuses on the isolation, characterization, proteomics, and bioinformatics of EVs from diverse biological sources, with particular emphasis on plant-derived extracellular vesicles and nanovesicles and their applications in nutrition, agriculture, and nanomedicine. Dr. Pocsfalvi is actively engaged in the international EV community and currently chairs the Plant EV Task Force of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV). She also coordinates the Horizon Europe MSCA project FarmEVs and contributes to the EIC Pathfinder project NutriEV, advancing the development and application of plant-derived EVs in sustainable systems and precision health.
Editor: Weiwei Chai
Production Editor: Xingyue Luo
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids
