RNA - Genetherapys
Spoke 8 - Chi siamo


UNINA participants have long-lasting expertise in developing advanced delivery strategies for nucleic acids, covering the crucial aspects of their translation to the patient’s bedside. Their current activities are focused on developing polymeric, lipid, and peptide-based nanoplatforms for precision delivery, engineering of AAV, nanoparticle production technologies, paper-based sensors, and in vitro/in vivo models to test delivery efficiency with the support of omics sciences.

Alberto Auricchio
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Federica Fioretto
PhD student

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Francesca Borrelli
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Vincenzo Cerullo
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Medicina molecolare e biotecnologie mediche

Marco Chino
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Stefano Cinti
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Claudia Conte
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Diego di Bernardo
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale

Carlo Diaferia
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Stefania Galdiero
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Pier Luca Maffettone
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale

Francesco Merlino
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Luigi Paduano
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Lucio Pastore
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Medicina molecolare e biotecnologie mediche

Fabiana Quaglia
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Antonio Randazzo
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Annapina Russo
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Angela Zampella
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Pasquale Rapacciuolo
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Laura Tiberi Vipraio
Phd student

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche

Mariangela Rosa
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Pasquale D'Anna
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Lucio Spinelli
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Ilaria De Cristofaro
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Anna Di Porzio
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Lorena Postiglione
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale


National Research Council of Italy (CNR) participants are experts in developing inorganic nanomaterials for drug delivery, novel genetic methodologies for in vivo neuronal cell reprogramming based on AAV9 vectors with superior brain transduction, and the application of extracellular vesicles of natural origin as delivery tools.

Vania Broccoli
Researcher RTI

Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR (IN-CNR)

Francesca Guarnieri
Researcher RTI

Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR (IN-CNR)

Edoardo Moretto
Researcher RTI

Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR (IN-CNR)

Mirko Luoni
Researcher RTD

Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR (IN-CNR)

Ovidio Catanzano
Researcher RTI

ISTITUTO PER I POLIMERI, COMPOSITI E BIOMATERIALI (IPCB) – sede principale di Pozzuoli NA

Mauro Manno
Researcher RTI

IBF PA


Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) participants have consolidated expertise in engineering nanoplatforms for precision medicine, GLP production by microfluidics, and additive manufacturing of microneedles for drug delivery.

Fabio Formiggini
Senior Technician

Despoina Fragkouli
Technologist

Benedetto Grimaldi
Senior Researcher Tenured - Principal Investigator

Giorgia Imparato
Chief Technician

Elena Lagreca
Post-doc Researcher

Atefeh Malek-Khatabi
Post-doc Researcher

Paolo Antonio Netti
Senior Researcher - Principal Investigator - Center Coordinator

Giovanni Perotto
Researcher

Pier Paolo Pompa
Senior Researcher Tenured - Principal Investigator

Tommaso Tedeschini
Post-doc Researcher

Nicola Tirelli
Senior Researcher Tenured - Principal Investigator

Raffaele Vecchione
Chief Technician


University of Milan (UNIMI) participants have strong experience with extracellular vesicles that are close to the clinical application. Leishmania tarentolae-derived microvesicles, and synthetic delivery platforms, such as lipid nanoparticles and lipopolyplexes were developed according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulatory framework. Furthermore, the participants have consolidated skills in developing freeze-drying methods to stabilize nanoparticulate drug delivery systems and avoid cold chain transport.

Claudio Bandi
Full professor

Dipartimento di Bioscienze

Paolo Ciana
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute

Francesco Cilurzo
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Elena Del Favero
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale

Silvia Franzé
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Vincenzo Maria Mazzaferro
Full professor

Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia

Sara Pellegrino
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Valeria Rondelli
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale

Elisabetta Crippa
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute

Zemira De Mitri
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute

Camilla Pozza
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Giulia Anderluzzi
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Federico Ronchetti
ADR

Dipartimento di Bioscienze


University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB) participants are experts in the design, implementation, and study of non-viral biocompatible nanosystems for nucleic acid delivery in the treatment of oncological, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. UNIMIB takes advantage of its cutting-edge automated platforms for the synthesis and characterization of nanocarriers for nucleic acid delivery.

Marco Antoniotti
Full professor

Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione

Silvia Maria Luisa Barabino
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Diego Bonetti
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Miriam Colombo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Francesca Granucci
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Rosa Maria Moresco
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia

Davide Prosperi
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Francesca Re
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia

Lucia Salvioni
Researcher RTD

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Stefania Garbujo
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze

Davide Ferrario
Phd student

Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia


University of Palermo (UNIPA) participants have consolidated skills in the development of tailor-made biopolymers able to integrate nanostructures, such as carbon nanodots, to form interpolyelectrolyte complexes and to decorate extracellular vesicles for the development of nanoplatforms for RNA/DNA delivery.

Riccardo Alessandro
Full professor

Gennara Cavallaro
Full professor

Alice Conigliaro
Associate professor

Emanuela Fabiola Craparo
Associate professor

Mariano Licciardi
Full professor

Nicolò Mauro
Researcher RTD-A RTD-B

Fabio Salvatore Palumbo
Full professor

Salvatore Emanuele Drago
Researcher RTD-A


University of Padua (UNIPD) participants have expertise in the generation of innovative supramolecular platforms for cell-selective and controlled RNA/DNA delivery (polyplexes, lipoplexes, and nanoparticles). Furthermore, they have expertise in biological characterization of nanosystems by preclinical tools, (i.e. 2D/3D cells, zebrafish) and advanced ex-vivo/in-vivo organ perfusion.

Francesco Argenton
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biologia

Patrizia Burra
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Paolo Caliceti
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco

Nora Cazzagon
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Umberto Cillo
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Mariangela Garofalo
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco

Stefano Indraccolo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Fabrizio Mancin
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale

Margherita Morpurgo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco

Emanuele Papini
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Gianfranco Pasut
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco

Stefano Salmaso
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco

Chiara Tessari
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Toraco-Vascolari e Sanita’ Pubblica

Alessia Lanubile
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Giulia Frassinella
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Martina Stocco
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Silvia Pozzo
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche

Angela Piersanti
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Biologia


University of Pisa (UNIPI) participants have consolidated expertise in extracellular vesicles (naturally obtained by specific cell culture) or camouflaged soft nanosystems (obtained by coating natural cationic polymers, lipids, or cyclodextrins with specific cell membrane fragments).

Lorenzo Arrico
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale

Ranieri Bizzarri
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell’Area Critica

Francesca Cella Zanacchi
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Fisica

Martina De Felice
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Fisica

Lorenzo Di Bari
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale

Angela Fabiano
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Lorenzo Germelli
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Chiara Giacomelli
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Concettina La Motta
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Lucrezia Luisotti
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Laura Marchetti
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Claudia Martini
Full Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Chiara Migone
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Giovanni Petrarolo
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Filippo Petri
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale

Anna Maria Piras
Associate Professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia


University of Salerno (UNISA) participants have consolidated skills in advanced technologies for powder production (supercritical fluids), microfluidics, and the evaluation of Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion Toxicity (ADMET) by mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods.

Rita Patrizia Aquino
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Giulia Auriemma
Researcher

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Raffaella Belvedere
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Pietro Campiglia
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Iolanda De Marco
Full professor

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale – DIIN

Pasquale Del Gaudio
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Giovanni Falcone
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Danila La Gioia
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Stefania Marzocco
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Simona Musella
Researcher

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Giacomo Pepe
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Antonello Petrella
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Ernesto Reverchon
Full professor

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale – DIIN

Carla Sardo
Researcher

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA


University of Turin (UNITO) researchers have robust expertise in developing delivery systems based on the engineering of naturally occurring extracellular vesicles and nanoplatforms.

Roberta Cavalli
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia Del Farmaco

Claudio Cecone
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Chimica

Chiara Dianzani
Researcher

Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia Del Farmaco

Stefania Pizzimenti
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche

Francesco Trotta
Full professor

Dipartimento di Chimica

Domitilla Meloni
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia Del Farmaco

Benedetta Bussolati
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze Per La Salute

Maria Felice Brizzi
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche

Stefania Bruno
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche

Jacopo Burrello
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche

Alessia Brossa
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze Per La Salute

Saveria Femminò
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche

Elena Ceccotti
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche

Michela Arena
Phd student

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze Per La Salute

Marta Fornaro
Phd student

Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze Per La Salute


Antares Vision Group is active in the pharmaceutical market and guarantees the protection of products, profit, people, and the planet through inspection systems for quality control, Track & Trace solutions for anti-counterfeiting and supply chain transparency, smart data management tools for maximized efficiency and digitalization of the supply chain, from raw materials to consumer.

Cesare Furlanello
Senior Researcher and Chief Scientific Officer

Alessandro Chiarini
Senior Data Manager and Business Developer

Ivan Radojevic
Software Development Manager

Nemanja Djuricic
Software Developer

Marko Ilic
DevOps engineer


Chiesi Group is an international research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment.

With its headquarters in Parma (Italy) and with over 85 years of experience, Chiesi operates within 31 countries and has more than 6,500 employees. Its research and development center in Parma works alongside six other important R&D hubs in France, the USA, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden.

Francesco Amadei
Senior scientist

Andrea Casazza
Senior scientist

Tomaso Guidi
Senior scientist

Marcello Nutini
Senior scientist

Lolita Piersimoni
Senior scientist

Elisa Sgarbi
Senior scientist

Michael Vernizzi
Junior scientist


Dompè Pharmaceuticals is recognized for its expertise in research, development, and production of innovative therapies across various therapeutic areas. Specializing in biotechnology, it has notable proficiency in developing treatments for rare diseases, ophthalmology, and diabetes, focusing on biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine. Dompé Pharmaceuticals is known for its commitment to scientific innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and collaborations to advance novel therapeutic solutions for unmet medical needs.

Tiziana Romeo
Head of R&D Technology

Simone Luca Mattioli
Protein Formulation Senior Specialist

Nicola Detta
Protein Formulation Manager


Stevanato Group is a global leader in providing advanced solutions for drug containment, drug delivery systems, and pharmaceutical services. With a specialization in glass primary packaging for pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, Stevanato excels in producing high-quality innovative solutions like glass containers, syringes, and cartridges for injectable drugs. The company’s expertise spans engineering, manufacturing, and delivering state-of-the-art solutions in drug packaging, drug delivery devices, and analytical services, which cater to the needs of pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Stevanato is renowned for its focus on innovation, sustainability, and commitment to advancing technologies in pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery systems.


Takis Biotech is a biotechnology company at the forefront of vaccine and immunotherapy research. Renowned for its expertise in developing cutting-edge technologies for cancer immunotherapy, Takis Biotech focuses on creating innovative therapies using DNA-based vaccines and gene therapy approaches. With a primary focus on oncology and infectious diseases, Takis Biotech specializes in designing personalized and targeted immunotherapies to combat various cancers and emerging infectious agents. The company’s proficiency lies in preclinical research, vaccine development, and advancing novel therapeutic strategies through collaborations and innovative scientific advancements. Takis Biotech’s commitment to groundbreaking research places it as a pivotal player in immunotherapy and vaccine development.

Emanuele Marra
Senior Researcher

Giuseppe Roscilli
Senior Researcher

Alessia Muzi
Researcher

Federico D’alessio
Researcher


Mariangela Amoroso
Country Medical Lead & Medical Head Specialty Care

Mattia Battistini
Healthcare Solution & Innovation Manager