Research topics

Research topics currently active for the PhD students in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology. The names of supervisors who can host PhD students are in parentheses.

Additional informations can be found on the page of each supervisor.
 

• Molecular determinants of virus-host interaction (F. Magnani)
   
• Structure/function studies of membrane proteins of medical relevance (solute carrier transporters, GPCRs). Membrane protein folding (F. Magnani)
   
• "Deciphering the crosstalk between cellular metabolism and epigenetics to identify novel anti-cancer strategies" (R. Tricarico)

• Genomics, archaeogenomics and phylogeography of human populations and animal species (mainly livestock and others closely interacting with humans) (A. Achilli, L. Ferretti, A. Olivieri, O. Semino, A. Torroni)
   
• Ancient DNA assessment of museum and historical specimens (A. Achilli, A. Olivieri)
   
• Molecular biology, cytogenetics, epigenomics for the study of mammalian centromeres and telomeres and of their involvement in evolution and carcinogenesis (E. Giulotto, S. Nergadze, E. Raimondi)
• Genomics and epigenomics in the study of neurodegenerative disorders in adults and children (C. Cereda)
   
• Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics to understand the role of genetic variation across multiple Human phenotypes, and to model inflammation as predictor of phenotype evolution (F. Lescai)
   
• Genomics, metagenomics and physiological assessment of climate adaptation in arboviral vectors and vector competence (M. Bonizzoni)
• Physiological and molecular mechanisms of seed priming; Hallmarks of the seed pre-germinative metabolism (A. Balestrazzi)
   
• DDR (DNA damage response) mechanisms involving plant TDPs (tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterases) and microRNAs; Development of novel approaches to assess seed quality (A. Macovei)
   
• Functional genomics of insect reproduction; development of metabolomics-based approaches to identify male quality markers for improved fruit fly mass-rearing in pest control programs (F. Scolari, A.C. Croce)
   
• Studi preclinici cellulari e molecolari di patologie infiammatorie e neoplasie gliali del sistema nervoso centrale ed enterico (S. Comincini)
   
• Genetics and molecular pathogenesis of ESKAPE and opportunistic bacterial pathogens for the development of new therapeutic strategies (G. Barbieri)
   
• Bioinformatic and “-omics” analyses on pathogens and parasites, from evolution to epidemiology (D. Sassera, M. Castelli)
   
• Integrated evolutionary analyses on bacterial symbionts using genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology and microscopy (M. Castelli, D. Sassera)
   
• Viral oncogenesis and the role of T-cell response in controlling the development of virus-associated tumors (F. Baldanti)
   
• Cellular and molecular studies of the effects induced by platinum compounds and metabolic diseases on the development of the central nervous system (M.G. Bottone)
   
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying gamete maturation and pluripotent cell differentiation (V. Merico)
   
• Cytochemical and ultrastructural studies of the nuclear processes of transcript maturation and of the influence of epigenetic modifications (M. Biggiogera)
   
• Cyto-histochemical studies of normal and pathological tissues and organs, and in experimental conditions (V. Bertone)
   
• Fluorescence analysis as a tool for investigating biological processes (A.C. Croce, F. Scolari)
   
• Gene cloning, functional characterization and molecular mechanisms of enzymes, antibodies and proteins, potential targets of pharmacological drugs. Development of new antiviral and anticancer drugs, determination of the mechanism of activity and resistance (G. Maga)
   
• Search for new drugs and novel combination regimens against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (M.R. Pasca)
   
• Studies on human monoamine oxidases and their role in oxidative stress; structural biology of enzymes relevant for industrial biocatalytic applications (C. Binda)
• Microbial biotechnologies for production of industrially-relevant molecules (C. Calvio)
   
• Phenotypic and molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens: study of resistome, virulome, plasmidome and biofilm formation from hospital and environmental settings.  (R. Migliavacca, A. Piazza)
   
• Functional and population genomics of harmful insects for tracking the invasion processes and for the development of control methods; studies on mosquito immunity and vector competence (M. Bonizzoni, L.M. Gomulski, L. Ometto)
   
• Improving photosynthesis and crop productivity by modulating photoprotective mechanisms (A. Pinnola)
   
• Mechanisms of action of candidate molecules (natural or synthetic) for the prevention and therapy of human diseases (O. Cazzalini, P. Perucca)
   
• Studies on human hereditary disorders, with a special focus on nucleotide excision repair-defective diseases, as model systems to identify molecular pathways relevant for aging, neurodegeneration and cancer (G. Biino E. Botta, D. Orioli, F. Peverali)
   
• Molecular characterisation of DNA damage tolerance mechanisms and their involvement in the maintenance of genomic stability (S. Sabbioneda)
   
• The DNA damage response in cell physiology, cancer progression and rare hereditary diseases (G. Buscemi, L. Zannini)
   
• Targeting cancer metabolism reprogramming to halt disease progression using in vitro, preclinical, and clinical models (G. Zadra)
   
• Understanding the crosstalk between diet, metabolic pathways, and tumor microenvironment in promoting cancer progression using pathology transcriptomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics approaches (G. Zadra)
   
• Alternative splicing regulation in developmental processes and diseases (G. Biamonti, C. Ghigna)
   
• Bioinformatics approaches for the genomic and functional characterization of long non-coding RNAs (S. Bione)
   
• Genome instability mechanisms: identification and functional characterization of markers relevant for tumor development and progression (O. Cazzalini, P. Perucca)
   
• Cross-talk between DNA and RNA metabolism in response to different stress stimuli, in cancer and neurodegeneration (G. Biamonti, C. Ghigna, S. Francia, G, Liberi, A. Montecucco)
   
• Understand the genetic/molecular mechanisms regulating cancer development, progression and spreading, to identify novel therapeutic targets with translational potential (N. Pellegata)
   
• Identify the genetic/molecular basis of cell type-specific drug vulnerabilities to achieve personalized treatments (N. Pellegata)
   
• An approach based on antibody drug conjugate (ADC) to tackle multidrug resistant tuberculosis (G. Degiacomi)
• A phage-inspired therapy to combat Mycobacterium abscessus infections (G. Degiacomi)