Biography

2014 - 2017
PhD student in Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London

2016
Junior Associate Intern, McKinsey & Company, Milan, Italy

2015
Visiting PhD student, University of Cape Town (UCT), Department of Human Biology

2012 - 2013
MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering with Biotechnology, Imperial College London

2008 - 2011
BSc in Chemical Engineering, Universita' degli studi di Napoli "Federico II"

Research Interests

My research interests are quite broad, and include applications of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena in the study of biological and physiological systems, as well as analysis, design, and optimizations of bio-processes and water treatments. My current project is focused on the formulation of a mathematical model to predict the formation of thrombus in aortic dissection, and to gain better insight into the development and progression of this catastrophic disease. This involves the use of CFD software and numerical tools for the solution of complex fluid dynamics problems, and the image-based analysis of patient specific models. In the past I have carried out both modeling and experimental studies of bio-processes for wastewater treatment and production of energy from biomasses in microbial fuel cells.

Project Title

"Predicting thrombus formation in patient-specific Type B aortic dissection."

The outcomes of patients affected by Type B aortic dissection are affected by the formation of thrombosis in the false lumen. If it was possible to predict which patients would go on developing thrombus formation and to what extent, treatments could be significantly improved.

This project focuses on the development of a mathematical model to predict thrombosis in aortic dissection based on the analysis of hemodynamic parameters. Such a model will permit to gain better insight in the development and progression of aortic dissection, and will provide powerful information to predict future evolutions and optimize endovascular and medical treatments. 

Supervisor(s)

Prof Xiao Yun Xu

Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK

Conferences

C. Menichini, Z. Cheng, R.G.J. Gibbs, X.Y. Xu, Patient-specific prediction of False Lumen Thrombosis in Type B Aortic Dissection. The 16th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering (ICBME 2016), Singapore, 7 - 10 December 2016 (Invited oral presentation).

C. Menichini, Z. Cheng, R.G.J. Gibbs, X.Y. Xu, Predicting False Lumen Thrombosis in 3D Patient-Specific Models of Type B Aortic Dissection. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C 2016), National Harbor, MD, USA, June 29 - July 2, 2016 (Oral presentation). 

C. Menichini, X.Y. Xu, Mathematical Modeling of Thrombus Formation in Idealized Models of Aortic Dissection. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C 2015), Snowbird resort, Utah, USA, 17-20 June 2015 (Poster presentation). 

C. Puchongkawarin, C. Menichini, C. Laso-Rubido, S. Fitzgerald, B. Chachuat, Towards a New  Understanding of the Balance between Energy Use and Effluent Quality, Enviro14, Adelaide, Australia

C. Puchongkawarin, C. Menichini, C. Laso-Rubido, S. Fitzgerald, B. Chachuat, Model-based Methodology for Plantwide Optimization of WWTPs: A Case Study,  2nd IWA Specialist Conference on EcoTechnologies for Sewage Treatment Plants 2014, Verona, Italy.

Publications

C. Menichini, Z. Cheng, R.G.J Gibbs, X.Y. Xu, A computational model for false lumen thrombosis in type b aortic dissection following thoracic endovascular repair, Journal of Biomechanics, 2017.

C. Menichini, Z. Cheng, R.G.J Gibbs, X.Y. Xu, Predicting false lumen thrombosis in patient-specific models of aortic dissection. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2016.

C. Menichini, X.Y. Xu, Mathematical Modeling of Thrombus Formation in Idealized Models of Aortic Dissection - Initial findings and potential applications. Journal of Mathematical Biology 2016; 73(5): 1205-1226

C. PuchongkawarinaC. Menichinia, C. Laso-Rubido, S. Fitzgerald, B. Chachuat. Model-based Methodology for Plant-wide Analysis of Wastewater Treatment Plants: Industrial Case Study. Journal: Water Practice and Technology, Vol 10 No 3 doi: 10.2166/wpt.2015.059. aEqual contributors. 

Awards and Funding

2016: "Postgraduate Academic Rep Team of the Year", Imperial College Union. 

2015: "IC Trust travel grant", to present at the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C 2015), Snowbird resort, Utah, USA, 17-20 June 2015.

2014 - 2017: "Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarship", fully funded PhD scholarship awarded by the Department of Chemical engineering, Imperial College London.

2013: "Geoffrey Hewitt Prize", awarded by the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College to the most outstanding MSc student in Advanced Chemical Engineering.