Dr. Francesco Tovoli, MD
Bologna, 27.11.1982
Education
- 2001: graduated at the High School in Bologna (Scientific Lyceum Augusto Righi, National Plan of Computer Studies) with final mark 100/100.
- 2007: graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Bologna with final mark 110/110 cum laude. Degree discussion title: ‘HCV and rheumatologic diseases’.
- 2013: postgraduate in Internal Medicine at the University of Bologna with final mark 70/70 cum laude. Degree discussion title: ‘New serological markers of celiac disease in patients with autoimmune hepatitis’.
Professional curriculum
- 2005 – 2006: Senior Tutor for Medicine and Surgery students (ex DM 198/03) at the Internal Medicine ward (Director Prof. L. Bolondi).
- 2006 – 2007: Senior Tutor for Medicine and Surgery students (ex DM 198/03) at the Department of Human and General Physiology.
- 2008 – 2013: Fellow at the Division of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna. Participation to research activities about autoimmune disorders, in particular about clinic and laboratory features of systemic rheumatic diseases, celiac disease and autoimmune liver diseases. Coworker in clinical activities of the Division of Internal Medicine, including Internal Medicine wards and outpatient clinics (Rheumatology, Regional Referral Center for Coeliac Disease). During this period performed over 2,000 ultrasound examinations and over 300 nailfold videocapillaroscopies.
- May 2012 – October 2012: period of observation at Rheumathologic Ultrasound Examination Outpatient Service (Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna).
- September 2013 – June 2014: Research fellow c/o Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna. Title of the research project: “MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of polymialgia rheumatica”.
- June 2014-June 2016 Junior Assistant Professor (fixed-term) c/o Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna. Actively involved in the Emilia-Romagna Region Strategic Program “Innovative approaches to the diagnosis and pharmacogenetic-based therapies of primary hepatic tumours, peripheral B and T-cell lymphomas and lymphoblastic leukaemias” as a Co-Investigator.
- February 2017- January 2022 Research fellow c/o Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna. Title of the research project: “Prognostic biomarkers in the setting of systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma”.
- October 2018: Italian National Scientific Abilitation for Associate Professor in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
- Since February 2022: Senior assistant professor (fixed-term) c/o Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna
Research experience
- From February 2017 Principal Investigator of the project “Toxicant associated fatty liver disease and toxicant associated steatohepatitis: a bench to bedside approach with identification of hepatotoxic agents in a large series of rat models and prospective validation in a human cohort of patients diagnosed as non fatty liver disease (Italian Ministry of Health Grant – Project Young Researchers, total grant 288,000 euro).
- From February 2017 to April 2019 Principal Investigator of the Internal Unit Center of the project “A multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase III study of two anti-angiogenic strategies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with cross-over at first-line failure: metronomic Capecitabine/Sorafenib (Arm A) vs Sorafenib/metronomic Capecitabine (Arm B)” (Italian Drug Agency Grant 2012 – Project leader: Prof. Giovanni Brandi)
-Conduction of clinical trials and multicentre studies on hepatocellula carcinoma
- Partecipation as Co-Investigator in strategic research programs financed by independent public Istitutions (Region Emilia-Romagna, Italian Drug Agency). Co-Investigator in large sponsored randomized clinical trials about first and second-line systemic treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (investigational drugs: regorafenib, tivantinib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, nivolumab and ipilimumab).
- Diagnosis of celiac disease and other autoimmune diseases by use of immunoassay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence (anti endomysium, non organ specific antibodies, anti nuclear on Hep2 cells, anti neuronal antibodies, anti enterocyte antibodies, anti neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies) and histochemical techniques.
Teaching experiences
2005-2007 - Tutor for medical students
2008-present - Tutorial for students preparing their senior thesis or research dissertation
2015 - Appointed Professor of the teaching "The Rheumatic foot" - School of Podiatry - University of Bologna
2015-2016 - Appointed Professor of the teaching "The Diabetic foot" - School of Podiatry - University of Bologna
Editorial board participation
Breakthrough of scientific activity (as of March 2022)
AUTHORED PAPERS ON PEER-REVIEW JOURNALS INDEXED IN PUBMED: 100
- GOOGLE SCHOLAR: H-index: 27;Total citations: 3359
- SCOPUS: H-index: 22; Total citations: 2273
- WEB of SCIENCE: H-index: 21; Total citations: 1853
