People

Research topics

Development and validation of combined methodologies to characterize ‘multi-target directed ligands’ for decreasing the risk of neurodegeneration:

1) development of combined analytical methodologies (mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, circular dichroism and surface plasmon resonance) for the in vitro target characterization and elucidation of the mechanism of ligand-target interaction.

2) Isolation and structural characterization of new compounds of natural origin (plants, foods extracts) and in vitro evaluation of their neuroprotective effect such as conformational changes of Aß peptide, tau protein hyper-phosphorylation and inhibition of enzymes involved in amyloid plaque and neuroifibrillary tangles formation.

The main fields of research are nutritional biochemistry and cellular biochemistry.

The main research interests are:

-      identification of preventive strategies to counteract chronic-degenerative diseases by dietetic compounds

-      study of the modulation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in neurodegeneration by natural and synthetic compounds

study of the role of nutraceuticals in increasing lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.

Research topics

1. Study of medicinal and food plants, analysis of different classes of specialized metabolites in plants and derived products and evaluation of in vitro bioassays. This research field involves the preparation of raw extracts and fractions enriched in particular classes of specialized metabolites, their analysis through spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques, and the evaluation of in vitro antioxidant power and other enzyme activities.

2. Study of the response of plants to abiotic stress and of the role of plant extracts as biostimulants in modulating stress responses. In particular, extracts prepared from waste products from the processing of different plant matrices are studied for their potential use as biostimulants, i.e. agents that are able to improve the growth and development performance of plants, and to modulate the response of the plant itself abiotic stress

Research topics

The research activities are carried on in a multidisciplinary environment aimed at evaluating human movement in different application contexts, such as kinesiology, joint biomechanics, sports medicine, promotion of lifestyles. In particular, the research activity refers to areas such as:

• Promotion of physical activity to improve the quality of life
• Evaluation of movement kinematics using non-invasive technologies
• New methods for the treatment of limb amputations by osseointegration
• Innovative technologies for the evaluation of stability and articular kinematics through static and dynamic Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA)

Research topics

My studies are oriented towards the developmental age both in school and extra-school education. In particular, he studies didactic strategies and methodologies, in the field of Physical Activities and Physical Education, referring to health and well-being in the different ages of development, with particular attention to preschool and school age. I am interested in the educational strategies of Outdoor Education, Embodied Education and Cooperative Learning as inclusive frame for the education and prevention of the youth generation.

Research topics

My research activity focuses on the biomechanics and the energetics of human locomotion in the water environment. I am particularly interested in analyzing the swimmer’s drag and how the hydrodynamic resistance influences the mechanical and physiological responses, also in based exercises like gait in water. Swimming performance optimization, swimming training and human energy cost are other keywords of my research topics. More recent interest regards human movement analysis through modern wearable technologies to understand the main determinants of human aquatic movement for motor learning and performance.

Research topics

The main research interests include sports performance analysis and training methodology in competitive athletes, with particular focus on the biomechanics and bioenergetics of running, aerobic fitness testing, the implementation and assessment of post-training and post-competition recovery strategies, and match analysis in team sports

Research topics

1) Antitumor Pharmacology

- Identification of plant-derived compounds with potential cancer chemopreventive activity and definition of their mechanism of action at cellular and molecular levels.

- Preclinical development of phytochemicals and their synthetic derivatives as antitumor drugs.

2) Cellular and Genetic Toxicology

- Investigation of critical cellular and molecular events related to carcinogenesis induced by exposure to xenobiotics (drugs, phytochemicals, pesticides, sport supplements, etc.).

- Cytoprotective effects and safety of sport supplements.

Research topics

- identification of circulating biomarkers (microRNAs and proteins) of treatment response in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients in order to (1) stratify patients towards the best therapeutic strategy and (2) identify early onset of resistance during treatment.

- in vitro (2D, 3D and organoid cell cultures) and in vivo (xenograft and rat hepatocellular carcinoma model) characterization of molecular pathways involved in the process of tumor progression, metabolic reprogramming and resistance. In particular, the involvement of hepatocarcinoma-specific microRNAs in the phenomenon of multi-drug resistance is investigated in order to identify innovative therapeutic strategies based on the combination of microRNAs and molecularly targeted drugs or immunotherapy.

Research topics

• Biomechanics of human movement in the aquatic environment and study of the performance in swimming sports.
• Biomechanical and energy analysis of movement in performance and specific training and enhancement models in the various water sports.
• Evaluation of new technologies used to improve sports performance.
• Analysis of motor activity in water as an aid to functional re-education programs and for psycho-physical well-being.

Research topics

he main research fields are nutritional biochemistry and cellular biochemistry.

The main research interests are:

- the study of strategies to reduce the risk of chronic / degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative ones, through the identification of nutraceutical compounds in the prevention and counteraction of cell damage following different type of stresses;

- the study of the signal transduction pathways involved in the adaptive response to physical exercise;

- the study of bioactive and nutraceutical compounds as modulators of signal transduction pathways at the cellular level.

Research topics

Development, validation and application of novel sampling, pre-treatment and analysis of biologically active compounds in complex matrices. Development and implementation of low-invasivity microsampling techniques.

Extraction and separation, green analytical chemistry (GAC) of specialised metabolites from plants (medicinal plants, food, food supplements).

Original analytical methods for the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of Central Nervous System agents, for substance of abuse analysis and for anti-doping testing.

Research topics

Investigation of human performance, fatigue and physical activity behaviour using an interdisciplinary approach that combines exercise physiology with motivation psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Specific areas of research include but are not limited to:

●The psychobiology of endurance performance;

●Mental fatigue and human performance;

●Development of novel interventions to facilitate physical activity behaviour in the general population;

●Fatigue in clinical populations (e.g. cancer-related fatigue and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis).

Research topics

The main research field concerns the design and synthesis of small molecules as potential therapeutic agents and as probes for the study of biological processes. The study is aimed at multifactorial diseases. In fact, these diseases can be more effectively counteracted by using a new design approach recently emerged in the medicinal chemistry, the so-called Multitarget-Directed Ligand (MTDL) strategy which consists in designing a single chemical entity capable of interacting simultaneously with multiple biological targets involved in the development of a given pathology. In addition, two new research lines are dedicated to a) designing new PROTACs as anticancer agents and b) developing new organocatalytic domino reactions that allow to obtain new natural-product-like scaffolds.

Research topics

The main research interests include 1) the development of algorithms that combine clinical, biochemical, and serological parameters, together with histologic data, to allow an early diagnosis and the institution of appropriate therapy in patients with autoimmune hepatitis; 2) the search for genetic, molecular, and serologic elements that support the identification of the specific phenotype of primary biliary cholangitis with the aim of modulating therapy and follow-up in a personalized manner.

Research topics

The research interests fall into three main themes:

1. Metabolism and biological roles of polyamines

2. Response to cellular stress. Mechanisms activated by metabolic stress, including physical exercise.

3. Regulation of cell growth and cell death. Molecular mechanisms leading to cancer cell death in response to anticancer molecules.

Research topics

The research areas are:

• Global Citizenship - Global citizenship education, global education, development education
• Sustainability - education for sustainable development
• Diversity - intercultural education, multicultural education
• Education of the body – form a phenomenological perspective, embodied education, embodiment

My research is interdisciplinary and relates to global citizenship education, intercultural education; education for sustainable development and embodied education. Much of my research employ qualitative research methods, but I’m also doing also desk based documentary analysis of policy and practice. Research is closely linked to the activities of the international research centre of Global Citizenship Education.

Research topics

My research activity mainly focuses on:

-Identification of natural or synthetic compounds as new therapeutic agents against chronic degenerative diseases and characterization of their mechanisms of action at cellular and molecular level.

-Study of non-thermal plasma or photodynamic therapy as innovative anticancer pharmacological strategies.