PRESENT POSITION
Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna.
EDUCATIONAL CAREER
1987: Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (mark: 110 /110 cum laude), Faculty of
Pharmacy, University of Bologna (Italy).
1991: Ph. D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bologna.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
1987-1988: Fellowship by ALFA WASSERMAN S.p.A, Bologna.
1988-1990: PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bologna.
1990-1991: Visiting Researcher at School of Pharmacy, University at Buffalo, New York (USA), supervisor: Prof. D. J. Triggle.
1992-1998: Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
1998-2020: Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna.
2014: Attainment of National Scientific Qualification to function as Full Professor in Italian Universities in the discipline group 03/D1 - Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Tossicologiche e Nutraceutico-Alimentari.
2020- :Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna.
MEMBERSHIP/SERVICES OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
1988-present: Member of Italian Chemical Society (Division of Medicinal Chemistry).
2000: Co-organizer of the XVI International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry held in Bologna in
September 2000.
2002-2005: President of the University Degree in ‘Scientific Information on Pharmaceutical Products'.
2005-2012: Member of the Board Meeting of University of Bologna.
2005-2012: Member of Teaching and Research committees of the University of Bologna.
2009-2012: Member of the board of the rector as a delegate to coordinate Library system and Portal.
2013-2015: Member of Master Commettee at University of Bologna.
2013- : Member of PhD board in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
SCIENTIFIC PUBBLICATIONS
102 Pubblications (original and reviews articles), 2 patent, 1 book, 10 book chapters, and 65 posters and oral communications.
BIBLIOMETRIC INDICATORS (Scopus/WOS) updated on July 2019
Scopus: Total citations 3301; h-index 30
COORDINATOR OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
PRIN 2009, Head of the Bologna University research unity: New molecules for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive dysfunction.
PRIN 2017, Head of the Bologna University research unity: Combined targeting of TSPO/CK1delta/GSK3beta/Fyn for effective control of neuroinflammation: a chemical biology approach.
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
1997-2000: Partecipant to UE Project Biomed 2 entitled “Structure, Function and Molecular Pharmacology of Neurotransmitter Receptors – Polyamines as Key Tools and Potent Neuroprotectans” in collaboration with Nottingham, Copenhagen and Berlin Universities.
Research fields:
1) Design and synthesis of new ligands for the characterization of muscarinic and adrenergic receptor subtypes.
2) Design and synthesis of new ligands acting as anticancer.
3) Design and synthesis of multipotent ligands in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
4) Design and synthesis of polyamines in the characterization of receptor and ion channels.
5) Design and synthesis of polyamines as MAO inhibitors.
Scientific collaborations:
- Prof. Stephen Neidle, University College of London, UK
- Prof. Heather M Wallace, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- Prof. Kazuei Igarashi, Amine Pharma Research Institute Innovation Plaza at Chiba University, Japan
- Prof. Ian Mellor, University of Nottingham, UK
- Prof. Claudio Stefanelli, Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Italy.
- Dr. Emanuele Domenico Giordano, Department of Electrical,Electronic and Information Engineering,University of Bologna
- Dr. Maria Luisa Di Paolo, University of Padua, Italy
Referee of J. Med. Chem., Bioorg. Med. Chem., Eur. J. Med. Chem., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., Chem.Med.Chem., Curr. Med. Chem.
TEACHING ACTIVITY
2001-present: Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
1999-present: Drug Analysis II, School of Pharmacy
1995-1996, 1998-2001: Receptor Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy
1996-1999: Quantitative Drug Analysis,Faculty of Pharmacy
TUTOR OF PhD AND UNDERGRADUTE STUDENTS
- Tutor of 4 PhD thesis in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Tutor and co-tutor of 72 thesis in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmacy.