Concluded national research projects

The present research aims to setting up an OS biomarkers profile correlated with the neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental outcome of the newborn.

Prevention of perinatal brain damage is one of major importance for public health and obviously for individual well being. Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions resulting from damage to the motor and sensory areas, which affect the brain's ability to control movement. Lack of oxygen during labor and delivery, maternal infections, prematurity can contribute to brain injury and cerebral palsy. Phagocyte activation, intrauterine hypoxia, postnatal ischemia-reperfusion generate free radicals (FRs) that play a key role in the developing brain damage. 

Research Project RF-2009-1499651 Co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Health and the Region of Tuscany

Researchers involved

The compounds object of this research project are structurally analogues of phosphoramidon a well-known inhibitor of Zmp-1 enzyme of M. Tubercolosis, the pivotal role of which has been very recently confirmed by a mouse experimental model of tubercolosis. The metallo-protease activity of  phosphoramidon elicited by its ability  to chelate  zinc ion is the main feature. In the design of novel compounds, characterized by a low molecular weight and a reduced structural complexity, X-ray structure of Zmp-1 protein in complex with its inhibitor along with biochemical studies aimed at the  understanding of the main amino acid involved in the interaction with the substrate have been taken into account. The synthesis of  title compounds is still in progress.

Project PRIN 2009 prot. 200993WWF9_004

Scientific coordinator of research unit

The aim of the project is the design, computational characterization and synthesis of new organic dyes to be used for the production of DSSC solar cells that could result to be competitive in comparison with the already available Silicon systems. A life cycle analysis of all the steps constituting the whole DSSC production process on a lab scale is performed to achieve a systematic and complete assessment of environmental impacts and burdens (in energetic and environmental terms) deriving from the process.

POR CREO FSE 2007-2013 – RT

Researchers involved

Microwave assisted hydroformylation and carbonylation for the preparation of HSP90 inhibitors.

PRIN 2009

Scientific coordinator of research unit

The focus of the project is the development of new interdisciplinary methodologies, spectroscopic and structural, for the characterization of structure, dynamics and of the intermolecular interactions in solution of proteins and of the comparison with the same systems in the crystal state. The aim is to understand the various states of maturation of the polypeptide towards the final folded state in the different cellular compartments. In this way the study, at the level of mechanistic systems biology, of the assembly of multi-protein complexes is made possible.

Project PRIN 2009

Scientific coordinator of research unit

The goal of the project is to identify and optimize new chemical entities, inhibitors of the human enzyme glutaminyl cyclase(QPCT), to allow the development chronic therapies of Alzheimer disease, a syndrome for which there is no effective therapy and affecting more than 30 million people worldwide.

POR Creo Fesr 2010-2013 FINDING

Scientific coordinator

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in women. The standard first-line treatment is a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin (DDP). Drug resistanceis commonly observed during therapy. Following the observation of a new inhibition mechanism of the enzyme thymidylatesynthase involved in OC and subject of a FP6 European study participated by us, we conceived this new project aimed to develop molecules for the inhibition of OC cell growth avoiding resistance phenomena.

Project AIRC 2010-2013

Scientific coordinator of research unit