Italy

National Coordinators

Team Leader:

Vacancy

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Team Members (New)

1) Prof. Lucia Migliore - Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pisa, via S. Giuseppe, 22, Pisa, Italy. Phone 39 050 836223 - Fax 39 050 551290 - e-mail: l.migliore@geog.unipi.it

1978: graduated (110/100 cum laude) in Biological Sciences (Univ. Pisa); 1978-1981: research fellow of the National Research Council (CNR); 1981-1992: research scientist in Genetics (Faculty of Sciences, Biology, Univ. Pisa); 1992-2002 Associate Professor of Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis; 2002-present Full Professor of Genetics at the University of Pisa (Faculty of Medicine). In 1984, 1991 and 1999 she payed visits in the Institute of Istology and Anatomy, University of Modena, Italy, in Leiden (Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, State University of Leiden, Sylvius Laboratories, Leiden, NL) and at the School of Applied Sciences, The Robert Gordon University ad Aberdeen (UK).

Area of Interest: presently interested in the study of genetic and environmental factors involved in the onset of complex neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Amiotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), according to the following research lines:

- Neurotoxins that may play a role in neurodegenerative disorders: we are focussing our attention on some neurotoxic metals, able to induce oxidative damage.

- Identification of “a battery of assays” for the detection of oxidative damage at peripheral level in of subjects at risk to develop AD, or with pre-pathogenic conditions (i.e. Mild Cognitive Impairment subjects, Down syndrome patients, young mothers of DS children).

- Studies aimed to primary prevention in subjects with pre-pathogenic conditions of neurodegenerative diseases.

- Studies on susceptibility genes (i.e. folate gene polymorphisms).

- Reduction of toxicity of conjugated nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Lucia has participated in several projects funded by National Research Council, Italian Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, Italian Ministry of Work, Italian Ministry of Defence, British Council/CRUI, UE (Step: Biomonitoring of Human populations exposed to pesticides, Environment: Induction of Aneuploidy by Environmental Chemicals, and Env & Health: Genetic polymorphism and biomonitoring of styrene).

Evaluator for the European Commission Research Directorate-General 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources' Programme Directorate B.I.1 - 'Health, Food and Environment', Key Action 4: Environment and Health. Member of the Technical Working Group on Integrated Monitoring (Subgroup Heavy metals) under the framework of the European Environment and Health strategy, EU.

Lucia has published 62 scientific articles in the field of genotoxicology and cytogenetics, in addition to 150 abstracts and proceedings of national and international meetings. She was a Member of the Executive of the Italian Society of Genetics and actually is Secretary-Treasurer of the Italian Society of Environmental Mutagenesis (SIMA). Referee for many international Journals.

2) Renato Toffanin, Managing Director, ARCHES (www.arches-centroricerca.org)

The Advanced Research Centre for Health, Environment and Space is a private, non-profit organization based in Italy working in the fields of health, environment and sustainability. Its mission is to actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge, and provide support for the development and implementation of EU policies for research and innovation. In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the Centre aims, above all, at the creation of knowledge by establishing collaborations with universities and research organisations and by promoting the training of young scientists. ARCHES also acts as an intelligent interface able to connect the global research community with industry and with policy makers at all levels. As a founding member of the Knowledge4Innovation (K4I) platform and its K4I Forum of the European Parliament, ARCHES is actively involved in the policy dialogue on research and innovation. In the context of EU external relations, ARCHES has recently established collaborations with several Indian universities to jointly expand their research capabilities in conventional and non-conventional programmes. These include research collaborations for regional development and crossborder integration in South Asia.

3) Vincent Aroulmoji Ph.D, Project Coordinator, ARCHES (www.arches-centroricerca.org)

4) ...

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	CWIN (1, 2, ...)	Pilot Schemes (1, 2, ...)	WSWBQoLP	IMIRC	EU FP Calls for Proposals	EU Non FP Calls for Proposals	Non EU Calls for Proposals	Private Project	Other
Lucia Migliore			X	X	X	X	X	X
Renato Toffanin	X	X	X		X
Vincent Aroulmoji	X	X	X		X
...

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Team Members (Temporary):

1) Gabriele Siciliano. Professor. Department of Neuroscience. University of Pisa, via Roma 67. e-mail: gsicilia@neuro.med.unipi.it. Gabriele Siciliano first obtained a degree in Medicine (cum laude), specialised in Neurology (cum laude), then in Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, obtained a PhD in Neurological & Neurosensorial Sciences and proceeded to do Post-Doctoral Research in the Neurosciences. He successively became Assistant Neurologist, University Researcher and University Associated Professor in Neurology. Since 1993, he is Head of the Clinical Centre for Myopathies and Head of the Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa. Since 1993 he is responsible for the Unit of Neuromuscular Diseases and for the Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis in the Department of Neuroscience - Neurological Clinics - University of Pisa, with main interests in clinical, laboratory and molecular aspects of neurodegenerative and neurogenetic disorders, acquired and genetic diseases of peripheral nervous system and skeletal muscle. These activities are conducted in collaboration with some overseas centres and laboratories. Since 1986 he has been engaged in studies on muscular dystrophies, metabolic diseases of muscle and motorneuron diseases. In particular, he has studied several issues on muscle fatigue, in collaboration with the Muscle Research Centre, University of Liverpool (Prof. RHT Edwards), exercise in normal and myopathic subjects, motorneuron output evaluation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, subsarcolemmal excitability in myotonic syndromes and muscular dystrophies, analysis of metabolic parameters in McArdle's disease and mitochondrial myopathies. In the same period he has been engaged in epidemiological and therapeutical studies on neuromuscular disorders, in particular the use of selenium in Steinert disease, idebenone in mitochondrial myopathies, mexiletine in congenital myotonia, TRH and riluzole in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As far as mitochondrial myopathies are concerned, he is currently studying the effects of aerobic training programs, the relationship between metabolic and catecholaminergic systems during exercise, the pathogenic role of mitochondrial transcription factors, the diagnostic usefulness of magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, he is working on the possible role of mitochondrial involvement and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. He was an invited expert for the European Commission for the Quality of Life program. The scientific production is represented by over 100 full papers, in specialized cited international journals, dealing with the above indicated arguments. Sponsored projects from Pisa University, Telethon-Italy, Italian Health Ministry.

Scientific Publications: - International full paper: n° 120. - National full paper: n° 65. - International and national abstracts: more than 250. [Read more...]

2) Dr. Alessandro Saba . Alessandro Saba was born in Pisa (Italy) on July 29, 1966. He took his secondary school degree at the “Liceo Scientifico” and then, his doctoral degree in Industrial Chemistry at the Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry Department - University of Pisa. He is qualified for the profession of state chemist.

From his doctoral degree dissertation to date, except for a period spent at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), he conducted research activity at the National Council of Research (CNR), “Istituto di Chimica per i Composti Organo-Metallici, Sezione di Pisa”, ℅ Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry Department - University of Pisa, and at the Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry Department itself. He also is in force to AmbiSEN (Environment and Endocrine and Nervous System High Technology Center for the Study of the Effects of Harmful Agents), center of excellence of the University of Pisa.

From November 20, 2000, through September 21, 2001, he performed research as a visiting scientist at the Mass Spectrometry Core Facility of the University Center for Pharmacy - University of Groningen (NL), directed by Dr. Andries P. Bruins, with a Postdoctoral Fellowship offered by the University of Groningen.

Alessandro Saba’s research activity is mainly devoted to the use of mass spectrometry (MS), both in gas and in liquid phase, for the structural characterization of synthetic, biological, pharmaceutical, environmental, food,..., organic compounds. Moreover, besides studies about the fundamentals of mass spectrometry, he set up selective and sensitive, either qualitative or quantitative, methods to detect organic compounds in very complex matrices. Basically, the research fields could be summarized as follows:

1. Coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) to mass spectrometry. In particular: investigation about common electrolytic processes occurring inside the interface by which this two techniques are coupled and both design and building of a reliable CE/MS interface(presently in use in Dr. Bruins’ laboratory).

2. Analysis of organic pollutants in the atmosphere, water and fibers of industrial interest by GC/MS and HPLC/MS.

3. Identification of organic compounds from natural products and food.

4. Studies about Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization: a new ionization technique. Coupling of a home build source to Perkin Elmer/Sciex API III Plus triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

5. Development of mass spectrometry based methods for the quantification of endogenous and exogenous molecules in biological fluids, such as steroids, carnitines and aminoacids, and various drugs.

Alessandro Saba’s scientific work is documented by 15 articles, reviews and book chapters, 5 invited lectures at national and international meeting, 7 oral communications, 18 poster communications and 1 technical notes. Moreover he delivered 9 lectures at advanced courses on mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis, organized by several Italian Universities.

3) Dr. Filippo Santarelli - Bambino Gesù Hospital, Roma

4) Prof. Giancarlo Solaini - University of Bologna

5) Dr. Elena Matteucci - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa; e-mail: ematteuc@int.med.unipi.it

Graduated at the Faculty of Medicine (110/110 cum laude), University of Pisa, on July 28th, 1977. Qualified as Doctor-Surgeon in November 1977. Qualified as Cardiologist by six-month-training in the Instrumental Cardiology ward of the Institute of Medical Pathology, University of Pisa, in 1978. She has been an Intern for two years (September 1st, 1978, to August 1st, 1980) in the Second Medical Clinic, University of Pisa. Specialisation in Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa, July 21st, 1980. Specialisation in Diabetology, University of Parma, June 29th, 1983. She has been appointed a Confirmed Researcher since August 1st, 1980, in the Second Medical Clinic of Pisa, now Department of Internal Medicine.

Area of Interest: diabetes mellitus, its pathogenesis, course and complications. Elena has studied 1) erythrocyte insulin receptors and tried to set up a method using physiological experimental conditions; 2) diabetic lipid disorders and therapy; 3) early indicators of diabetic nephropathy: albuminuria and enzymuria; 4) erythrocyte membrane active ion transports (both primary and secondary ones), such as ATPases and Na/H exchanger; 5) endocrine autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes mellitus, measurement of ICA and anti-GAD64; 6) redox state and circulating antioxidant defences.

6) Prof. Massimo Gennarelli - University of Brescia

7) Dr. Elena Pegoraro - University of Padova