LAB MEMBERS

Background/significant  experience:

Research: His current research projects mainly deal with the pharmacological characterization of new opioid ligands  and the analysis of  cellular and molecular effects of agonists/antagonists/allosteric modulators of said receptors. This is performed with the aim of developing innovative treatments for pain management, addiction, and psychiatric illnesses. Furthermore, his research also includes molecular pathway analysis of the effects of analgesic opioids and innovative ligands in the realm of a Quantitative Systems Pharmacology approach. 

Teaching: Andrea Bedini is currently teaching "Pharmacological Biotechnology" at the Bachelor in Biotechnology (University of Bologna), "Pharmacotherapy of Biological Drugs" at the Master Program in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (University of Bologna),  "General Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy I" and "Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy II" at the Single Cycle Degree in Pharmacy (University of Bologna). He is also currently teaching "Pharmacological aspects of pain therapy" and "Pharmacotherapeutic aspects of central nervous diseases treatment" at the Specialization School in Hospital Pharmacy (University of Bologna).

Background:

Research: Her main research projects currently deal with the study of new therapeutic targets constituted of leukocyte and RGD integrins that have not been yet adequately explored in the context of central and peripheric inflammatory responses and in cancer processes. Moreover, she deals with the pharmacological characterization of new ligands for said integrins and the analysis of their contribution to the modulation of inflammation, oncogenesis and nociception.

Teaching: Monica Baiula is currently teaching Pharmacological Biotechnology in the Biotechnology Bachelor's course, Pharmacotherapy of Biological Drugs in the Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Master's course, and Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy II in the Pharmacy Master's course,  at the University of Bologna .

Research: His current main research projects deals with animal models of neonatal stress. This is performed by utilizing antisense oligonucleotides directed against Pro-opiomelanocortin in the prevention of neonatal stress in order to prevent the dysregulation of the HPA axis and the consequent metabolic syndrome in adulthood.

Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Bedini 

Co-supervisor: Monica Baiula

PhD Thesis: Cellular signalling and molecular pathway analysis in specific neuronal cell models - QSPainRelief EU H2020 Project 

Project Description: The aim of the PhD research project is to produce quantitative data from in-vitro molecular pathway analysis in specific cell models (i.e. primary cultures from rat and mouse, SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, and sex-differentiated mouse organotypic brain slice cultures) in order to contribute to the QSPainRelief platform implementation. The overarching goal of this 5-year-long EU-funded research project is to identify alternative combinational treatment paradigms, with improved analgesia (pain relief) and reduced adverse effects via a mechanism-based QSP approach, using algorithms and advanced in silico technologies. 

Supervisor: Monica Baiula

Co-supervisor: Prof. Andrea Bedini

PhD Title: “Analysis of the anti-cancer and antinflammatory effects of innovative integrin ligands”

Project Description: The aim of the PhD research project is the pharmacological characterization of innovative integrin ligands. In particular, we’re going to evaluate compounds effects in reducing tumor cells survival, proliferation and metastasis; as well as integrin antagonists ability in reducing inflammation in inflammatory-based diseases.

Supervisor: Monica Baiula

Co-supervisor: Prof. Andrea Bedini

Thesis title: Characterization of integrated mechanisms contributing to neuroinflammation-related central dysfunctions for the development of innovative RNA-based drugs

Project Description: The aim of this project is to better understand the dynamics of molecular determinants, including REST, that characterize the neuronal-astrocyte crosstalk under neuroinflammatory condition with the aim of identifying new targets for the development of innovative RNA-based drugs.