RNA - Genetherapys
Who we are

Led by University of Padua, Spoke 4 coordinates activities related to RNA-based technologies in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Spoke 4 affiliates include Humanitas University, Ri.MED Foundation (Ri.MED), Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro (UMG), University of Bari Aldo Moro (UNIBA), University of Milan (UNIMI), University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), University of Pavia (UNIPV), University of Salerno (UNISA), University of Trieste (UNITS), AstraZeneca, and Stevanato Group.

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Program Spoke flagships Cross-spoke activities

The University of Padua (UNIPD) has a unique cardio-metabolic research group spanning basic, translational, and clinical science. The group has world-renowned experience in cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, cancer and muscle metabolism, metabolic regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis and disease, as well as metabolic cross-talks among tissues, organs, and systems. The clinical group has international leadership in obesity and diabetes research, as well as the designing, promoting, and leading studies of fertilized by pre-clinical findings.

Mattia Albiero
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche

Annalisa Angelini
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Toraco-Vascolari e Sanità pubblica

Angelo Avogaro
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Milena Bellin
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biologia

Giovanni Di Salvo
Full professor

Dipartimento di Salute della Donna e del Bambino

Angelo Di Vincenzo
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina

Gian Paolo Fadini
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Cristina Mammucari
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Anna Raffaello
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Alessandra Rampazzo
Full professor

Dipartimento di Biologia

Rosario Rizzuto
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Vanina Natalia Romanello
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Marco Rossato
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Gian Paolo Rossi
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Giacomo Rossitto
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Marco Sandri
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Roberto Vettor
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina

Carlotta Boscaro
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina

Sara Coletta
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina

Agnese De Mario
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Raphael Severino Bonadio
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Biologia

Gemma Soler Teixidor
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Biologia

Francesca Gasparella
Phd student

Dipartimento di Biologia

Özlem Kartal
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

Pampa Pain
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche

The team has developed protein-based tolerising cardiac oligopeptides to modRNA for heart failure tolerizing vaccination experiments. The team uses an RNA antisense approach for inhibiting disease alleles in LMNA mutation and microRNAs involved in atherosclerosis.

Gianluigi Condorelli
Full professor
Giulio Stefanini
Associate professor
Marinos Kallikourdis
Researcher RTD-B
Mauro Chiarito
Researcher RTD-A
Cristina Panico
Researcher RTD-A
Davide Cao
Researcher RTD-A
Giuseppe Ferrante
Researcher RTD-A
Montserrat Climent Salarich
Researcher RTD-A
Francesca Fanuele
Phd student
Fabrizio Gianferro
Phd student

Ri.MED has a well-proven experience in single-cell RNA sequencing of cardiac progenitor cells from human diabetic patients and mouse hearts with diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Giandomenico Amico
Senior Specialist
Claudia Carcione
Technologist
Anna Paola Carreca
Scientist
Cinzia Chinnici
Principal Investigator
Maria Giovanna Francipane
Principal Investigator
Mariangela Pampalone
Senior Scientist
Simone Dario Scilabra
Principal Investigator
Filippo Calascibetta
Junior Scientist
Andrea Claudio Li Greci
Scientist

UMG participants have consolidated international leadership in stem cell biology and molecular cardiology to improve regeneration and function in diabetes mellitus and related mice models and diabetic human cardiac organoids.

Teresa Vanessa Fiorentino
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche

Donatella Paolino
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica

Massimo Fresta
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute

Daniele Torella
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica

Marta Letizia Hribal
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche

Giuseppe Filiberto Serraino
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica

Salvatore De Rosa
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche

Isabella Leo
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e clinica

Nadia Salerno
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e clinica

The participants of UNIBA have consolidated skills in the molecular mechanisms of non-transmissible high-prevalence diseases with an inflammatory basis, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their chronic complications.

Loreto Gesualdo
Full Professor
Fabio Sallustio
Associate Professor
Annalisa Natalicchio
Associate Professor
Angelo Cignarelli
Associate Professor
Francesco Giorgino
Full Professor
Paola Pontrelli
Associate Professor
Michele Vacca
Associate Professor
Antonio Moschetta
Full Professor
Ighli Di Bari
Researcher RTD-A
Nicola Marrano
Researcher RTD-A
Silvia Cultrera
Phd student
Angela Fulvia Tricase
Phd student

UNIMI has a long history of research in atherosclerosis, immunometabolic disorders, and other cardiometabolic-related syndromes. UNIMI participants are active in the study of innovative approaches to control the over-activation of the immune-inflammatory response and the metabolic reprogramming with siRNA, ASO, and other innovative techniques to determine the pharmacogenomics signature influencing siRNA therapeutics response.
Daniele Andreini
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche

Andrea Baragetti
Researcher RTD

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari

Fabrizia Bonacina
Researcher RTD

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari

Sara Della Torre
Researcher RTD

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche

Giuseppe Danilo Norata
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari

Giulio Pompilio
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche

Luca Valenti
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei Trapianti

Silvia Roda
Phd student
Farzaneh Inanloo Nigi Jak
Technologist

Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei Trapianti

Annalisa Moregola
Technologist

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari

Participants from UNINA have consolidated expertise in deciphering the role of snoRNA as diagnostic and therapeutic tools in experimental models of cardiovascular pathophysiology and disease. UNINA focuses on designing the combination of miRNA/Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) agonists as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases by identifying specific epigenetic profiles involved in the development of obesity and adipose tissue dysfunctions.

Francesco Beguinot
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali

Giovanni Esposito
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Pietro Formisano
Full professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali

Anna Franzone
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Armando Ialenti
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Antonio Lavecchia
Full professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Michele Longo
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali

Pasquale Maffia
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Cinzia Perrino
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Gabriele Giacomo Schiattarella
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Valentina Sepe
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia

Grazia Canciello
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate

Fabrizio Martora
Phd student

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali

Martina Ridino'
Phd student

Dipartimento di Farmacia

UNIPV participants have consolidated expertise in proposing therapeutic solutions based on RNA and novel gene therapies for cardiovascular diseases and skills to prepare therapeutic constructs and viral vectors.
Moises Di Sante
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica

Palma Mangione
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Francesca Lavatelli
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Francesco Pasqualini
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Architettura

Silvia Giuliana Priori
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Andrea Mazzanti
Researcher RTD-B

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Sofia Giorgetti
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Carlo Napolitano
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Silvia Malinverni
Phd student

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Chiara Di Antonio
Phd student

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Chiara Marabelli
Research Fellow

Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare

Alessandro Enrico
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Architettura

UNISA participants have internationally consolidated expertise in the identification of molecular regulators for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. They have experience in multi-omics analyses to elucidate the molecular changes in biofluids and tissues and to elucidate the efficacy and safety of these novel therapies.
Carmine Vecchione
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Annibale Alessandro Puca
Full professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Michele Ciccarelli
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Fabrizio Dal Piaz
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Viviana Izzo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Roberta Tarallo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Albino Carrizzo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Elena Ciaglia
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

Eduardo Maria Sommella
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Simona Pace
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento di Farmacia – DIFARMA

Francesca Picone
Phd student

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia ed Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana – DIPMED

UniTS will provide its well-established expertise in gene therapy, cardiomyocyte biology, and cellular/animal models of human cardiac diseases, to identify and manufacture novel RNA therapeutics for cardiovascular disorders, with the particular goal of inducing cardioprotection, neo-angiogenesis, and cardiac regeneration.

Mauro Giacca
Full professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Rocco Barazzoni
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Serena Zacchigna
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Rossana Bussani
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Francesco Zaja
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Pierangelo Gobbo
Associate professor

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche

Chiara Collesi
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Marco Merlo
Associate professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Gianfranco Sinagra
Full professor

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Francesca Bortolotti
Researcher RTD-A

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

Matteo Maria Riccio
Phd student

Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze mediche, chirurgiche e della salute

AstraZeneca is an R&D leader in cardio-renal-metabolic management, as well as the development of drugs for cardiovascular diseases and heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and metabolism.

Peter Fenici
Medical Head Innovation
Valeria Manuelli
Medical Information Specialist
Vincenzo Bartoli
Head of Digital Customer Engagement
Raffaela Fede
Medical Director
Marco Gnesi
Medical Evidence Advisor
Ilaria Coco
Medical Advisor
Claudia Donadon
Head of Tax

The Stevanato Group offers a pioneering clinical-grade containment solution for RNA-based drugs and the customized delivery of drugs for diabetes management.