Marco Mottinelli

Marco Mottinelli is a Research Fellow at the University of Florida within the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. His academic journey began with a Master's in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from the University of Pisa (2008), followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Bath (2014), focusing on small molecule synthesis for breast cancer treatment under Profs. Barry Potter and Mathew Leese.

• Education:
  • Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, University of Pisa (2008)
  • Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bath (2014)

Marco's research spans Medicinal Chemistry, Pain Management, and Opioid Use Disorder through small molecule synthesis, natural product isolation, and ADMET optimization. His work includes investigating kratom alkaloids like mitragynine for opioid receptor interactions and developing sigma receptor ligands such as CM-398 for neuropathic pain therapeutics.

His recent publications focus on opioid receptor dynamics, ketoamine biosynthesis, and sigma receptor agonists, contributing to novel pain management strategies. Marco has also explored radiolabeled PET tracers for neurodegeneration, including 18F-IAM6067, and conducted structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on guanidine analogues targeting neuropeptide FF receptors.

While no explicit scientific awards or grants are mentioned, his work has been published in reputable journals, reflecting his commitment to advancing neglected tropical disease drug discovery and understanding plant-derived compounds' pharmacological profiles.