معرفی
Prof. Silvia Rivara is a Full Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Food and Drug, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Italy, holding this position since 2018. Previously, she served as Associate Professor (2005-2018) and Assistant Professor (1998-2005) at the same institution. She maintains a visiting professorship at the University of Lincoln (UK), School of Pharmacy (2018-2021), and currently holds administrative roles including Delegate for Departmental Teaching Activities since 2017.
Education:
- 1995: Degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Parma
- 1999: Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Pavia
Research Interests:
Prof. Rivara specializes in computational and experimental medicinal chemistry with emphasis on drug design, structure-activity relationships, and ligand-target interactions. Her work integrates chemoinformatics and molecular modeling to develop novel compounds targeting:
- Melatonin receptors (MT1/MT2) for neuroprotection
- Endocannabinoid system components (FAAH, MGL)
- Tyrosine kinase receptors (EGFR, FGFR, EphA2) in oncology
- Heparanase in tumor angiogenesis
- Bacterial RNA polymerase for antimicrobial development
Publication Trends:
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals consistent focus on computational drug discovery applied to cancer therapeutics (EphA2/EGFR inhibitors), neuropharmacology (melatonin-FAAH dual-target ligands), and antimicrobial development (RNA polymerase inhibitors). Key methodologies include multiscale free-energy simulations, structure-based virtual screening, and in vitro/in vivo validation, with notable expansion into drug-gut microbiota interactions since 2023.
Advising and Intellectual Property:
As a member of the Teachers Board for the Ph.D. program in Drugs, Biomolecules and Health Products, she supervises doctoral candidates. Her third mission activities include two significant patents:
- Italian Patent 0001348600 (2008): Tricyclic alkylamides as selective MT1/MT2 melatonin receptor ligands
- US Patent US 8,791,163 (2014) & EP1973868(B1) (2015): Novel melatonin ligands with antidepressant and sleep-inducing properties
Research Environment:
Prof. Rivara leads computational medicinal chemistry research within the Department of Food and Drug at the University of Parma, collaborating with pharmacologists, microbiologists, and oncologists across European institutions. Her team employs integrated in silico/in vitro approaches with facilities at Campus Scienze e Tecnologie (Padiglione 08 - Plesso di Farmacia), focusing on molecular mechanisms of drug action and therapeutic innovation.
