Simona Fontana

Simona Fontana serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics at the University of Palermo's School of Medicine and Surgery. Her academic position is firmly established within the Bi.ND Department, where she maintains active research and teaching responsibilities with office hours scheduled on Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Dr. Fontana's research expertise spans multiple critical areas in cancer biology, with particular focus on extracellular vesicles, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and proteomic analyses. Her laboratory work centers on understanding how tumor-derived extracellular vesicles shape the pre-metastatic niche and influence cancer progression. She specializes in both discovery proteomics for characterizing protein signatures of cellular phenotypes and targeted proteomics for identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on extracellular vesicle biology and cancer mechanisms. Her work spans fundamental research on vesicle trafficking and cargo delivery, diagnostic applications of salivary vesicles in oral cancer, immune evasion mechanisms, natural product effects on cancer cells, and the role of exosomes in tumor heterogeneity and metastasis. This demonstrates a comprehensive approach to understanding cancer progression from multiple angles.

Dr. Fontana actively participates in several significant research projects including the START project on molecular stratification of giant cell arteritis patients (2018-2022), a Proof of Concept project on oligonucleotides for tumor treatment (2021-2022), the PROGEMA project on green extraction processes (2018-2020), and the Horizon 2020 'Health in a cup' project on Sicilian citrus compounds (2014-2020).

She maintains extensive research collaborations both nationally and internationally, including work with Prof. Aurelio Lorico at Touro University Nevada, Professor Caccamo in General Pathology, Professor Campisi in Odontostomatological Diseases, and the Agrumaria Corleone company. Notably, she serves as Head of the local Mass Spectrometry Unit at BiND as part of the National Program 'Mitochondrial Human Proteome Project' coordinated by the World Human Proteomics Organization.

Her laboratory facility comprises three research rooms and a dedicated cell culture room, equipped with advanced instrumentation including a confocal microscope, TEM, SEM, and mass spectrometry systems for shotgun and SWATH proteomic analyses, supporting both internal research and third-party services.