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Luca SebastianiView profile

Professor

• Plant Physiology
• Molecular Plant Stress Responses
• Nutraceuticals in Plants
• +3 more

Luca Sebastiani is a Full Professor in Horticultural Sciences (AGR/03) at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Italy, since 2014. He currently coordinates the PhD Course in AgroBioSciences and has previously served as Director of the Institute of Life Sciences (2016-2021). His academic career includes roles as Associate Professor (2002-2014) and Assistant Professor (1998-2002) at the same institution. PhD in Plant Biology from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (1996) MSc in Agricultural Sciences from University of Pisa (cum laude, 1991) Postdoctoral research in agricultural biotechnology (1996-1998) Research Interests: Focus on plant-environment interactions, particularly abiotic and biotic stress responses in crops. Key areas include: Physiological and molecular responses to climate change stressors Nutraceutical enhancement of food crops Plant germplasm conservation using molecular markers Agriculture 4.0 integrating AI, IoT, and robotics Phytoremediation using poplar and Brassica species Scientific Contributions: His work bridges molecular mechanisms (aquaporin function, heavy metal transport) with ecosystem-level applications (precision irrigation, contaminant phytoremediation). Recent publications emphasize genome sequencing, stress tolerance modeling, and nutraceutical food development. ISHS Medal for SapFlow Workshop organization (2011) Giovanni Spitali Foundation Award for PhD dissertation (1998) Collaborations: Extensive international collaborations with institutions like Beijing Forestry University, Comenius University, and Purdue University. Currently supervises projects in plant phenotyping, omics technologies, and sustainable crop management.

• Zoology
• Tardigrade Biology
• Anhydrobiosis
• +4 more

Lorena REBECCHI is a Full Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Her research focuses on tardigrade biology, particularly their survival mechanisms under extreme conditions such as desiccation, temperature extremes, and radiation. She explores phylogenetic relationships, symbiotic microbiota, and evolutionary adaptations of these organisms. REBECCHI's work integrates morphological, molecular, and physiological approaches, contributing to understanding anhydrobiosis, stress responses, and tardigrade ecology. Key research areas include tardigrade phylogeny (e.g., resolving their position within Panarthropoda), environmental adaptations (e.g., thermal tolerance and acid resistance), and astrobiology applications (e.g., space flight experiments). She has described multiple new species and revised taxonomic classifications within Tardigrada. REBECCHI collaborates internationally, evidenced by conferences like the 2024 IADCI meeting hosted at her institution. Publications emphasize comparative transcriptomics, symbiont evolution, and the structural basis of tardigrade feeding mechanisms. Her lab's work on Antarctic tardigrades highlights climate change impacts and genetic diversity. REBECCHI's research has practical applications in biotechnology (e.g., space food systems) and environmental monitoring.

• Forest Genetics
• Population Genomics
• Phylogeography
• +3 more

Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin is a Research Director at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR) within Italy's National Research Council (CNR), based in Florence. He holds a magna cum laude degree in Forest Sciences from the University of Florence (1981) and has held research fellowships at institutions including the USDA Forest Service (USA) and University of Göttingen (Germany). His career includes leadership roles as Director of IBBR and recognition as an Honorary Research Fellow at Bioversity International. Vendramin's research focuses on forest genetics, conservation genomics, and phylogeography. He investigates adaptive responses of trees to environmental change, genetic diversity patterns in glacial refugia, and conservation strategies for endangered species. His work employs genomic tools to study local adaptation, gene flow, and demographic history across Mediterranean and European tree species. Recent publications emphasize climate adaptation mechanisms, genomic signatures of selection, and conservation genetics. Articles from 2021-2023 predominantly explore genetic resilience to glacial cycles, microgeographical adaptation in conifers, and biodiversity conservation frameworks. Research integrates molecular ecology, paleoecology, and landscape genetics. Scientific Awards: Medal for distinguished Italian scientists (Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze, 2022) Honorary Doctorate (University of Zvolen, Slovakia, 2012) Vendramin has led over 35 national/international projects and advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. He coordinates an IUFRO unit and contributes to EU scientific commissions. His laboratory employs genomic techniques for biodiversity conservation, with collaborations across European research networks.

Andrea SottorivaView profile

Professor

• Cancer Evolution
• Computational Biology
• Genomics
• +4 more

Andrea Sottoriva is the Head of the Computational Biology Research Centre at Human Technopole , Milan, Italy, and holds the title of Professor of Cancer Genomics and Evolution . His work bridges computational biology, evolutionary theory, and clinical oncology to predict cancer progression and design adaptive treatment strategies. University of Bologna – BSc in Computer Science (2006) University of Amsterdam – MSc in Computational Sciences (2008) University of Cambridge – PhD in Computational Biology (2012) Dr. Sottoriva's research focuses on cancer evolution , applying machine learning and population genetics to decode tumor heterogeneity through multi-omics data. His lab integrates patient-derived organoids and spatial genomics to understand how genetic and epigenetic factors drive cancer progression. The 15 most recent publications demonstrate a consistent emphasis on subclonal dynamics (7/15), computational methods (6/15), and evolutionary modeling (5/15). Key themes include adaptive mutability in colorectal cancer , immune editing in post-transplantation relapses, and deep learning applications for tumor heterogeneity. Scientific recognition includes: Cancer Research UK Future Leaders in Cancer Research Prize (2016) His lab currently trains PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in computational oncology, maintaining a living biobank of patient-derived models while pioneering AI-mechanistic hybrid models for clinical translation.

• Entomology
• Biological Control
• Biopesticides
• +4 more

Michele Ricupero is an Assistant Professor (RTD-B) in the Department of Agriculture Food and Environment (Di3A) at the University of Catania, specializing in Applied Entomology. His research focuses on sustainable pest control in protected crops using biological methods and biopesticides, with emphasis on ecotoxicology of natural enemies. Education includes a B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Sciences (with honors), Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, and professional certification as an Agronomist. He conducted international research at institutions including INRA (France), University of Minnesota (USA), and Universidad de Talca (Chile) through Erasmus+ grants. Research interests center on: Biological control of horticultural pests (especially tomatoes) Molecular identification of insects Transcriptomics of plant-insect defenses Bioinsecticide development and ecotoxicology His publications demonstrate strong focus on sustainable pest management, with recent works analyzing non-target effects of pesticides, essential oil formulations, and invasive species dynamics. Awards include: Top Reviewer in Multidisciplinary, Plant & Animal Science (Clarivate, 2019) He advises graduate theses on topics like RNA interference in Lepidoptera and bioinsecticide efficacy. Research funded through PRIN projects, ENI Italy-Tunisia programmes, and Agritech Center. Leads activities in the Biocontrol Lab and serves on the Board of the Italian Entomological Society. Editorial roles include Annals of Applied Biology and guest editorships for Agronomy and Frontiers in Agronomy.

Francesco NeriView profile

Professor

• Epigenetics
• Aging Research
• Cancer Biology
• +5 more

Francesco Neri is a Professor at the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS) at the University of Turin, Italy. His research focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying aging and cancer development, particularly in intestinal stem cells. He leads the Epigenetics of Aging & Cancer Lab located at the Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC) "Guido Tarone" in Turin and maintains collaborations with the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena, Germany. Professor Neri's research interests span several interconnected areas related to aging and disease: Epigenetic drift and DNA methylation changes during aging Intestinal stem cell biology and regeneration in aging Inflammaging (age-related chronic inflammation) Gut microbiome dysbiosis in elderly individuals Development of dietary interventions for healthy aging Colon cancer development and epigenetic mechanisms His research group employs cutting-edge technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing, organoid culture systems, and various genome-wide approaches (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, Bisulfite-seq) to investigate the molecular mechanisms connecting aging with intestinal dysfunction and cancer. Recent work has revealed important connections between interferon gamma signaling, intestinal stem cell function, and tissue regeneration in aging. Professor Neri's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on aging, epigenetics, and intestinal biology, with numerous high-impact publications in journals such as Nature Communications, Cell Reports, and Nature Reviews. His work shows a clear trajectory from fundamental epigenetic mechanisms to translational applications in aging and cancer. His research has important implications for developing interventions to improve intestinal health in elderly individuals and potentially prevent age-related diseases including cancer.

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Fetal Surgery
• Gynecologic Endoscopy
• +4 more

Massimo Candiani is a Full Professor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy, specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He serves as Director of the Complex Structure of Obstetrics and Gynecology at San Raffaele Hospital and has held leadership roles at multiple institutions including San Paolo Hospital and Milanocuore. His career spans over three decades with extensive clinical, academic, and research contributions. Specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics (1993) European University Certificate in Gynecologic Endoscopy (1993) Medical Degree from University of Milan (1989) His research focuses on maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic endoscopy, and women's health disorders. Recent publications address topics like fetal brain imaging segmentation, MRKH syndrome patient experiences, and urinary incontinence epidemiology. His work bridges clinical practice with translational research. Over the past year, Candiani has contributed to studies on predictive biomarkers for preeclampsia, colposcopy quality assurance, and postoperative complication modeling. These publications demonstrate his expertise in integrating clinical data with innovative diagnostic approaches. He actively participates in national and international conferences as speaker/moderator, with over 200 presentations since 1989. Notably, he was coordinator of the endoscopy unit at Milan's University Center for Experimental Fetal Surgery.

• Pharmacology
• Cannabinoid Research
• Neuroscience
• +4 more

Federica POLLASTRO is an Associate Professor at the University of Eastern Piedmont 'Amedeo Avogadro', Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her research focuses on cannabinoid pharmacology, drug delivery systems, and neuropharmacology, with particular emphasis on the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. She leads projects such as NOrCa (Exploring Cannabis waste for circular economy applications) and has collaborated on initiatives like PRIME (green chemistry processes) and NUTRAcore (bioeconomy-driven food ingredients). Her work addresses cannabinoid synthesis, cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroprotection. Key collaborations span European institutions, with projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and Piedmont Region. Publications emphasize transcriptomic analysis of cannabinoids' effects on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and glioblastoma models. Research activity highlights include: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles (2005–2025) Principal Investigator on grants totaling €2M+ (e.g., FFABR 2017, NOrCa 2023–2025) Development of novel cannabinoid derivatives and drug delivery systems Investigations into bitter taste receptor signaling in gastrointestinal physiology

• Environmental Science
• Marine Pollution
• Microplastics Analysis
• +3 more

Fabiana Corami is a Researcher in Environmental Sciences at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Statistics. Her work focuses on microplastics analysis, environmental pollution, and toxicological evaluations of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. She collaborates with the Research Institute for Green and Blue Growth and the Research Institute for Complexity, contributing to interdisciplinary projects addressing marine and terrestrial pollution. Research Interests: Microplastics distribution, trace metal bioaccumulation, sediment toxicity, environmental remediation, and biomonitoring using aquatic organisms. Key Projects: Studies on microplastic contamination in Svalbard glaciers, Venice Lagoon sediments, and highway runoff. Development of novel methodologies for microplastic detection using FTIR and Py-GC/MS. Her recent publications (2020-2024) investigate microplastic ingestion by marine species, toxicogenomic effects of contaminants, and geochemical speciation of trace elements in ecosystems. She also explores environmental policies for sustainable sediment management in lagoon environments. Corami's research integrates analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, and field studies to address global environmental challenges, with a focus on climate-impacted regions like the Arctic and Mediterranean.

• Food Microbiology
• Lactic Acid Bacteria Ecology
• Fermented Foods
• +3 more

Prof. Benedetta Bottari is an Associate Professor at the Department of Food and Drug Science, University of Parma. She specializes in food microbiology, focusing on lactic acid bacteria, fermented foods, and microbial dynamics in dairy products like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Her research employs molecular techniques like PCR analysis and fluorescence microscopy to study microbial viability and biodiversity. Educational Background: PhD in Food Science and Technology (2006–2009), University of Parma MSc in Food Science and Technology (2004), University of Parma BSc in Agricultural Studies, Diploma from G. Marconi High School (1994–1999) Research Interests: Prof. Bottari’s work centers on microbial ecology in food systems, probiotic development, food safety, and the application of advanced molecular methods to study cheese microbiota. She has contributed to projects on prebiotic effects, UV treatment for microbial abatement, and the role of microbial communities in food quality. Grants & Projects: Co-led projects on Parmigiano Reggiano microbiota and probiotic strain selection Scientific coordination of EU-funded dairy science education initiatives Collaborations with industries like Tetra Pak and CIPACK for food safety solutions Teaching: She teaches courses in Food Microbiology, Probiotics, and Functional Foods across undergraduate and graduate programs in Food Engineering, Gastronomy, and Nutrition. Labs & Teams: Her research group focuses on food microbiology, collaborating with institutions like SIMTREA and the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium to advance food technology and safety.

Lorenzo FarinaView profile

Professor

• Network Medicine
• Bioinformatics
• Systems Biology
• +6 more

Lorenzo Farina is a Full Professor at Sapienza University of Rome's Faculty of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics, specializing in Electronic and Computer Bioengineering (ING-INF/06). With over 25 years of academic leadership, he co-founded Italy's first Bioinformatics degree program and established key oncology precision medicine initiatives, maintaining active collaborations with Harvard Medical School's network medicine division. His educational background includes a cum laude Electronic Engineering degree and PhD in Systems Engineering, both from Sapienza University. These foundational studies evolved into pioneering work in positive linear systems theory, evidenced by his highly-cited Wiley textbook Positive Linear Systems: Theory and Applications (2000). Farina's research centers on network medicine – applying complex network science to molecular medicine since his 2004 breakthrough. His work spans cancer mechanisms (breast, glioblastoma, lung), drug repositioning (including COVID-19 applications), and liquid biopsy biomarker development. Current projects focus on miRNA-based network biomarkers for cancer diagnostics and immunotherapy response prediction, integrating multi-omics data through advanced computational frameworks. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals dominant themes: sexual dimorphism in cancer networks (MIRROR platform), immunotherapy response signatures, and critical examinations of AI's role in precision medicine. His work consistently bridges computational innovation with clinical applications, particularly in oncology diagnostics and therapeutic optimization. His scientific recognition includes: 2001 Guillemin-Cauer Award for best IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems article 2014 SysBio Award for annual best publication Farina actively mentors through interdisciplinary programs he established, including the Network Oncology doctoral program. His laboratory collaborations span Sapienza's Oncogenomics and Immunology Laboratories, Harvard's Channing Division of Network Medicine, and clinical departments in oncology and radiology, driving translational research from computational models to patient applications. He leads multiple research teams focused on network-based diagnostics, including the MIRROR platform for cancer disparity analysis and liquid biopsy development teams investigating circulating miRNA networks for early cancer detection across multiple malignancies.

• Plant Reproduction
• Apomixis
• Molecular Genetics
• +4 more

Fulvio Pupilli is a Research Director at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR-CNR), in Perugia. His research focuses on plant reproductive biology, particularly apomixis (asexual seed reproduction) in grasses like Paspalum simplex . He holds a Laurea in Biology from the University of Perugia (1985). Key activities include molecular genetics of apomixis, comparative genomics, and collaborative projects with Argentina on apomixis characterization. He has coordinated EU-funded projects and developed methods for crop improvement through apomictic systems. His work integrates cytogenetics, transcriptomics, and epigenetics to understand apomixis mechanisms. Pupilli has authored over 60 publications, reviewed for journals like Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture , and contributed to international conferences. His research bridges fundamental biology and applied agriculture, aiming to engineer apomixis into crops for clonal propagation.

• Genomics
• Transcriptomics
• Network Biology
• +7 more

Pasquale Luca Curci is a Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), part of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) in Bari. His work focuses on integrating large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets to uncover biological mechanisms in plants, particularly in crops like durum wheat and artichoke. His research interests span genomics, transcriptomics, and network biology, with a strong emphasis on nitrogen use efficiency, gene regulatory networks, and plant stress responses. He employs systems biology approaches to identify key genes and regulatory elements involved in plant development and adaptation. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on plant genomics, particularly in durum wheat and Cynara species. His work integrates omics data to understand gene function, stress responses, and evolutionary relationships. Key themes include nitrogen metabolism, microRNA regulation, chloroplast genomics, and cross-species network analysis. He has led and coordinated multiple national and international research collaborations with institutions in Belgium, Sweden, Spain, France, and Italy, focusing on gene function discovery, nitrogen efficiency, and germplasm characterization. Integrative network analysis for gene function discovery in wheat (with BASF Agricultural Solutions, Belgium) Cross-species network biology in plants (with SweTree Technologies, Sweden) Transcriptomics and regulatory networks in durum wheat (with Sequentia Biotech SL, Spain) Phenotypization and genomic analysis of durum wheat (with Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna) Asparagine synthetase genes in durum wheat (with INRA-CNRGV, France) He has contributed to the development of genomic resources for Cynara and has published extensively on chloroplast genomics, transcriptomics under nitrogen stress, and genetic diversity in vegetable crops. His work supports crop improvement and sustainable agriculture through advanced molecular tools.

• Genomics
• Functional Genomics
• Structural Genomics
• +3 more

Massimo Delledonne is a Full Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Verona. His research focuses on clinical genomics, functional genomics, structural genomics, and metagenomics. He teaches modules such as Genetics and Human Genomics across undergraduate and graduate programs, including Molecular and Medical Biotechnology and Medical Bioinformatics. Affiliations: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona Committees: Faculty Board of PhD in Biotechnology, Biotechnology Teaching Committee Spin-offs: EDIVITE s.r.l., Microbion S.r.l., Enerzyme s.r.l. (among others) His research interests include genome assembly, single nucleotide variant analysis, and applications of next-generation sequencing technologies. Projects span plant and human genomics, with a focus on crop improvement, disease diagnostics, and microbial interactions. Recent work includes studies on lupin diversity, common bean evolution, and grapevine genetics. Key projects include IBEARAD (Bioinformatics for Agricultural Resilience) and SYMPHONY (Phaseolus vulgaris genome analysis). He leads interdisciplinary efforts in genomic medicine, plant genomics, and environmental genomics.

Francesco IorioView profile

Researcher

• Computational Biology
• Pharmacogenomics
• Cancer Biology
• +3 more

Francesco Iorio is a Research Group Leader in Computational Biology at Human Technopole (Milan, Italy), leading research in computational cancer pharmacogenomics and therapeutic target discovery. He holds a PhD from the University of Salerno and TIGEM (Naples), focusing on computational methods for drug discovery. Previously, he was a Senior Bioinformatician at EBI, leading CRISPR-Cas9 screen analyses across cancer cell lines to identify synthetic lethalities and therapeutic targets. He led the Cancer Dependency Map Analytics team at Wellcome Sanger Institute, developing algorithms for integrating large-scale cancer datasets. Since 2019, he serves as a Scientific Advisor to the Cancer Research Horizon–AstraZeneca Functional Genomics Centre. His research integrates computational methods with experimental data to uncover cancer dependencies, drug mechanisms, and biomarkers. Key contributions include tools like CRISPRcleanR for bias correction in CRISPR screens, and CELLector for selecting cancer cell line models. His work spans pharmacogenomics, functional genomics, and CRISPR technologies, with a focus on translating findings into clinical applications. Publications highlight advancements in CRISPR screen analysis, cancer dependency mapping, and drug repositioning. Current projects aim to advance precision medicine through computational frameworks for understanding tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic vulnerabilities.