Alessandro Provenzani

Alessandro Provenzani is a Full Professor at the Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) at the University of Trento. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying cancer biology, neurodegenerative diseases, and translational control of gene expression. He is particularly interested in RNA-binding proteins such as HuR and their roles in cancer metabolism, drug resistance, and stem cell biology.

Provenzani teaches courses including Biology applied to Biotechnology, Cell biology, and Translational Control in Disease, emphasizing stem cell biology, cellular differentiation, and experimental methodologies. His work integrates molecular biology, pharmacology, and systems biology approaches to address translational challenges in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Key research themes include:

• RNA-binding proteins in cancer progression and therapy resistance
• Metabolic reprogramming in tumors (e.g., NAMPT enzyme roles)
• Design of small molecules targeting protein-RNA interactions
• Role of non-canonical translation initiation in disease

Recent studies highlight development of HuR inhibitors, modulation of autophagy pathways, and analysis of C9orf72 repeat expansions in ALS/FTD. His lab utilizes advanced techniques like high-throughput screening, CRISPR-based assays, and metabolic profiling.