EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER

• 1987-1992 - MSc in Pharmacy 110/110 magna cum laude - University of Pisa

• 1996-1999 - PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Catania

• 1998-1999 - Visiting Scientist - College of Pharmacy - University of Minnesota (USA)

• 2001 - Assistant Professor at the University of Napoli "Federico II"

• 2001 - Visiting Scientist - IMIM (Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar) - (Barcelona)

• 2002 - Visiting Scientist - Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie - Technische Universität, München (Germany)

• 2005 - Associate Professor at the University of Napoli "Federico II"

• 2008 Visiting Scientist - Rega Institute for Medical Research - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)

• 2012 - Full Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Napoli "Federico II"

RESEARCH INTEREST AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Since the beginning of his PhD thesis, Prof. Lavecchia has focused on drug discovery projects. He has taken an interdisciplinary and integrated strategy involving in silico studies, synthesis and the in-depth study of both the ligands (small molecules), which are potential therapeutic agents, and their protein targets (receptors). Initially, he worked in the field of analgesic drug design, investigating the kappa and mu opioid structures as molecular targets. This work was performed in collaboration with other research groups in Italy and in USA. During his PhD at the College of Pharmacy - University of Minnesota (USA), he augmented his skills in structure-based drug design. He applied these skills to search for new drug candidates against cancer, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, and HIV/AIDS, after having become Assistant Professor at the University of Napoli "Federico II". Since 2005, he has also been devoted to the development of both ligand- and structure-based in silico tools that are able to predict the interactions between drugs and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). These latter are nuclear receptors therapeutically used to combat hyperglycaemia associated with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Due to the interdisciplinary character of drug discovery projects, he has worked with other research groups, gaining important experience in cooperating with and managing external collaborations. Since 2007, Prof. Lavecchia has been independently initiating research projects and leading a drug design and discovery team.  

Prof. Lavecchia is the author of over 121 publications in international journals with a high impact factor (J. Med. Chem., J. Biol. Chem., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Biochemistry, Mol. Canc. Ther., Oncotarget, Curr. Med. Chem., Drug Disc. Today., etc.) [Total citations: 3050 (Scopus); H-Index: 35 (Scopus)], 3 PCT patents, 11 invited reviews, 1 book chapter, and has participated in several Italian and International Conferences presenting his researches.

He is author of a chapter entitled “Prostanoids” in the book “ Medicinal Chemistry” by A. Gasco, F. Gualtieri, C. Melchiorre, published by Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (CEA), Milan 2014.

He is author of the book “A Guide to Vaccines and Vaccinations”, published by Tecniche Nuove, Milan 2009.

Furthermore, he is a regular contributor of scientific articles to the journals “Farmacia News” (Tecniche Nuove, Milan) and “NCF” - Notiziario Chimico Farmaceutico (Tecniche Nuove, Milan).

Since 2001, he has been the advisor for several diploma and PhD theses.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

In 2006, he was awarded the "Farmindustria Prize for Pharmaceutical Research", which is dedicated to scientists younger than 40 years old.

In 2009, Prof. Lavecchia was awarded the prize "Start-cup Federico II" for the best business idea, "Prenylation Protein Inhibitors as New Anticancer Agents", 2009.

In 2010, he was awarded the Prize "Start-cup Federico II" for the best business idea, "New Phytotherapeutic and Nutraceutical Substances in the Treatment of Dyslipidaemias, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome", 2010.

AD-HOC REFEREE FOR INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS

Journal of Medicinal Chemistry; Scientific Reports; European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters; Future Medicinal Chemistry; PLoS ONE; Journal of Computer Aided-Molecular Design; ChemMedChem, Proteins; ChemBioChem; Journal of Molecular Biology; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Biochimica and Biophysica Acta; Britannic Journal of Pharmacology.  

AD-HOC REFEREE FOR RESEARCH AGENCIES

Swiss National Science Foundation, Czech Science Foundation, Swiss Cancer League, National Science Centre, MIUR-Italy (Ministry of Education University and Research) PRIN, FIRB, and SIR Projects  

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Bentham's Current Medicinal Chemistry (http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-medicinal-chemistry/)  

MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Italian Chemistry Society (SCI), Division of Medicinal Chemistry Member of the Academic Board of the PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Science of the Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy (2013)

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS

Currently, his working on joint projects with Professor Horst Kessler (Institute for Advanced Study, Department Chemie TU München, Garching, Germany), Professor Jan Balzarini (Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium), Professor Hernest Hamel (National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA), Professor Karl-Norbert Klotz (Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany), Professor Yves Pommier (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA), Professor Andrea Brancale (Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, UK), Professor James Turkson (Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Orlando, USA), Dr. Rita Mukhopadhyay (Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University, Miami), Dr. Tomasz Cierpicki (Department of Pathology, West Medical Center, University of Michigan, Miami).  

GRANT SUPPORT

In 2003, Professor Lavecchia took part as Research Fellow to the PRIN 2002 (Italian Research Grants for Project of Relevant Interest), two-years project, entitled “Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Active Peptidomimetics on the Human Urotensin Receptor and on PPARs.”

In 2004, he took part as Head of Research Unit to the PRIN 2004, two-years project, entitled “Design and Synthesis of New Antitumoral DNA-Intercalating Drugs and Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors.”

In 2006, he took part as Head of Research Unit to the PRIN 2006, two-years project, entitled “Molecular Modelling and Design of Integrase, Reverse Transcriptase, and Tat-TAR Complex Inhibitors as Anti-AIDS Agents.” In 2008, he took part as Head of Research Unit to the PRIN 2008, two-years project, entitled “Drug Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity of New Molecules Targeting Cellular Mitosis in Antitumoral Therapy.”

In 2010, he took part as Project Coordinator and Head Researcher to the triennial project funded by Cariplo Fundation entitled “Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) in the Regulation of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism: a Multidisciplinary Approach for the Identification and Characterisation of new ligands to improve Therapeutic Interventions in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic syndrome.”

In 2010, he took part as Head of Research Unit to the PRIN 2010-2011, three-years project, entitled “Design, Synthesis and Biological Studies of Innovative Drugs Directed against Relevant Targets in Cancer Therapy.”