Alex Manicardi

Alex Manicardi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences at the University of Parma's Faculty of Chemistry. His academic responsibilities span multiple degree programs including Biotechnology, Materials Science, Chemistry, and Environmental and Resource Sciences, where he teaches core courses in organic chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, materials-focused chemistry, and chemical safety across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Professor Manicardi's research program centers on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) engineering for nucleic acid targeting and therapeutic applications. His laboratory develops innovative chemical tools including furan-modified PNAs, photo-inducible crosslinking systems, and proximity-triggered ligation methodologies. This work bridges synthetic organic chemistry with biomedical challenges in cancer therapy (particularly colorectal cancer and glioblastoma) and genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis, focusing on microRNA modulation and sequence-specific DNA/RNA targeting.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a clear trajectory from fundamental chemical methodology development toward biomedical translation. Key trends include red light-triggered DNA alkylation for G-quadruplex targeting, microRNA-inhibiting PNAs that induce cancer cell apoptosis, and furan-based systems enabling bio-orthogonal ligation. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary integration across organic chemistry, chemical biology, and molecular oncology with significant therapeutic implications.