Serena Sanna and Valeria Orrù, researchers at the Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRGB), have been included in the 2026 update of the Stanford–Elsevier database commonly known as the World’s Top 2% Scientists list. Compiled by John P. A. Ioannidis of Stanford University and published in the Elsevier Data Repository, the database presents standardized citation indicators across scientific disciplines.
Their inclusion highlights the international impact of the research conducted at CNR-IRGB in genetics and biomedicine.
Research activities
Serena Sanna, Research Director at CNR-IRGB, studies the genetic basis of complex traits and the biological mechanisms underlying disease, combining genetic data with microbiome research and other omics approaches.
In recent years, her research has focused on women’s health and biological differences between the sexes, particularly through the Women4Health research cohort.
The cohort receives funding from several sources, including the ERC Starting Grant awarded to Serena Sanna in 2022 for the SEMICYCLE project.
Valeria Orrù, Senior Researcher at CNR-IRGB, specialises in immunogenetics, with a particular focus on the genetic determinants of immune-cell traits and their contribution to complex diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. Her research also explores age-related changes in the immune system and the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on immune-cell abundance and function, with the ultimate goal of elucidating underlying biological mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
About the Stanford–Elsevier database
The 2026 update of the Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators was published on 7 October 2026 and is based on Scopus data. It reports separate indicators for citation impact over an entire research career (career-long, through the end of 2025) and for citations received during 2025 (single-year).
These indicators include citation counts, the h-index and the composite c-score, which takes co-authorship and author position into account.
CNR-IRGB congratulates Serena Sanna and Valeria Orrù on this recognition and celebrates their contribution to the Institute’s international research profile.
Further information
• Stanford–Elsevier dataset — 2026 update (original source)
• Search results by IRGB affiliation (independent website)
• Serena Sanna — CNR-IRGB profile
• Valeria Orrù — CNR-IRGB profile
• Women4Health — CNR-IRGB project page
• SEMICYCLE — CNR-IRGB ERC-funded project
Prepared by Corrado Serra — CNR-IRGB Communications and Press Representative