Valeria Chiono

Valeria Chiono serves as a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) at Polytechnic University of Turin. She holds multiple leadership positions including Deputy Coordinator of the Doctoral College in Bioengineering and Medical-Surgical Sciences, Member of the Interdepartmental Center PolitoBIOMed Lab - Biomedical Engineering Lab, and Member of the Research Ethics Committee (ARI). Her academic career spans significant contributions to biomedical engineering with expertise in cardiac tissue engineering, nanomedicine, and advanced drug delivery systems.

Dr. Chiono's research focuses on biomimetic materials for cardiac regeneration, including hydrogels for drug delivery, 3D bioprinting of cardiac tissues, and non-viral gene therapy using polymer-lipid nanoparticles. Her work emphasizes green technologies that utilize polymers from food industry byproducts and agricultural waste, minimizing organic solvent use. Key research areas include cardiac tissue engineering, in vitro tissue models (blood-brain barrier, fibrotic cardiac tissue, skin models), and antimicrobial coatings.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward precision nanomedicine for cardiac regeneration, with significant focus on microRNA delivery systems, engineered cardiac tissue models, and biomimetic scaffolds. The research consistently bridges fundamental biomaterials science with clinical applications in cardiovascular medicine, featuring collaborations across European institutions and industry partners.

Award highlights include:

• Back Cover in Advanced Healthcare Materials (2020)
• BioPmed Award 2014 - Gold

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Chiono supervises numerous PhD students in the Bioengineering and Medical-Surgical Sciences program, with current students working on cardiac regeneration, nanomedicine, and tissue engineering projects. She has secured substantial research funding including multiple European Research Council (ERC) grants such as BIORECAR and DESIRE, and coordinates national projects under Italy's PNRR initiative.

Her laboratory work centers on the BIOINSIDE LAB within DIMEAS, developing innovative platforms for cardiac tissue modeling and drug delivery. The research integrates advanced manufacturing techniques, biomaterials science, and cellular reprogramming strategies to address unmet needs in cardiac regeneration.