معرفی
Paolo Versacci is a dedicated researcher and pediatric cardiologist currently serving as Ricercatore a Tempo Determinato Tipologia B at the Dipartimento Materno Infantile e Scienze Urologiche, Facoltà di Medicina e Odontoiatria of Sapienza Università di Roma. He also holds the position of Dirigente Medico di I Livello at the Policlinico Umberto I di Roma, where he serves as a pediatric cardiologist in the U.O.C. di Cardiologia Pediatrica. Since 2016, he has been responsible for the "Centro Malattie Rare – Sindromi Genetiche e Malformative Complesse – Cardiologia" at Policlinico Umberto I, focusing on Marfan syndrome, Noonan syndrome, LEOPARD syndrome, and DiGeorge syndrome.
Dr. Versacci's educational background includes a Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia (1993, 110/110 con lode), Specializzazione in Pediatria Generale (1999, 70/70 con lode), Dottorato di ricerca in Tecnologie Biomediche in Medicina Clinica (2015), and Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale a Professore di II Fascia (2021-2030). His extensive training includes fellowships at Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital and numerous specialized courses in pediatric cardiology and emergency medicine.
His research focuses on the etiology, epidemiology, and genetics of congenital heart diseases, particularly those associated with genetic syndromes. He has made significant contributions to understanding the cardiac manifestations of RASopathies, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and other genetic conditions. His work spans diagnostic techniques for congenital heart diseases and acquired heart conditions in pediatric patients. Dr. Versacci has been instrumental in establishing genotype-phenotype correlations for various cardiac malformations.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on the intersection of cardiology and genetics, particularly in RASopathies and chromosomal deletion syndromes. His research increasingly focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac malformations and the clinical implications of specific genetic variants. The trend shows a progression from descriptive clinical studies toward more sophisticated molecular and mechanistic investigations, reflecting the evolving field of cardiogenetics.
- Travel Grant of $500 from International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) for oral presentation
Dr. Versacci actively participates in academic mentoring as a thesis advisor and co-advisor for medical and specialized degree programs at Sapienza University. He serves as Principal Investigator for the "DI-SOUND study" (starting November 2024), a multicenter project funded by PNRR for €1,000,000 focused on digital diagnosis of cardiac sounds in pediatric patients. His research has been supported by numerous institutional grants from Sapienza University, examining cardiac function in various genetic syndromes including Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
As Chairman of the "Area Cardiogenetica e Malattie Rare" within the Società Italiana di Cardiologia Pediatrica (SICP), Dr. Versacci leads a multidisciplinary team focused on rare genetic cardiac conditions. His work involves close collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for managing patients with DiGeorge syndrome. The research group he participates in, led by Professor Bruno Marino, has established one of Italy's most comprehensive registries for genetic syndromes with cardiac manifestations, facilitating both clinical care and research initiatives.
