Phd in INNOVATIVE BIOTECH SOLUTIONS FOR SENSORY ORGANS
DISEASES

email: alessandro.lambiase@uniroma1.it
phone:

NAME: Alessandro Lambiase
e-mail: alessandro.lambaise@uniroma1.it

UNIVERSITY POSITION:
- Full Professor at the Department of Sense Organs of the University of Rome “Sapienza”.
- Vice Director of the Department of Sense Organs at University Sapienza of Rome
- Director of Residency Program of Ophthalmology at University Sapienza of Rome
- Director of PhD Program “Innovative Biotechnologies for Sense Organ Diseases”, University of Rome “Sapienza”.

EDUCATION:
1985 High School Graduation (Maturità classica), Institute "Benedetto da Norcia" (60/60).
1991 Medical School Graduation at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" with experimental thesis "Prevalence of glaucoma in Ponza island", in the department of Prof. Luciano Cerulli (110/110 cum laude).
1996 Completed Residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" with experimental thesis "Nerve growth factor and retinal damage in an experimental model of ocular hypertension. Therapeutic potential", in the department of Prof. Massimo G. Bucci, (50/50 cum laude).
2005 Completed PhD in Advanced Technologies in Biomedicine. University of Rome Tor Vergata.

TRAINING:
August 1991 Clinical internship at the Ophthalmology department of the Aim Shams University Hospital del Cairo, Egitto.
Luglio 1996 Clinical and surgical internship at the "Cattolic Hospital" of Wamba, Kenya.
1996-1998 Clinical and surgical Fellowship at the San Giovanni e Paolo Hospital of Venice, Italy
1999-2002 Research Fellowship at the Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine at the National Research Council (CNR) of Rome, Italy.
Agosto 2000 Clinical and surgical internship at the "Cattolic Hospital" of Wamba, Kenya.
Agosto 2011 Clinical and surgical internship at the "Cattolic Hospital" of Wamba, Kenya.

TEACHING:
1993-97 Organization and supervision of clinical internships in ophthalmology for medical students at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
1995-98 Supervision on graduation theses form medical students and for ophthalmology residents in the Ophthalmology department of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
1997-98 Ophthalmology seminars at the University of Rome Tor Vergata
1998 Ophthalmology seminars at the Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto. Mestre-Venezia, Italy.
1999-2000 Professor position for the residency program in Ophthalmology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, directing the courses: “Diagnostics of anterior segment eye diseases" and “Clinical and instrumental semiotics”.
2000-2001 Professor position for the residency program in Ophthalmology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, directing the courses: “Diagnostics of anterior segment eye diseases" and “Clinical and instrumental semiotics”.
2000-2001 Tutor in Ophthalmology in the integrated Ophthalmology and ENT course of the Medical School at the “Campus Bio-Medico” University of Rome.
2001-2002 Tutor in Ophthalmology in the integrated Ophthalmology and ENT course of the Medical School at the “Campus Bio-Medico” University of Rome.
2007-2009 Member, faculty boardors, PhD in Ocular immunology – XXII ciclo - at the University “Campus Bio-Medico”
2008-2010 Member, faculty board, PhD in Ocular immunology – XXIII ciclo - at the University “Campus Bio-Medico”
2009-2011 Member, faculty board, PhD in ageing and tissue regeneration – XXIV ciclo - at the University “Campus Bio-Medico”
2003-2014 Faculty board member in the ophthalmology residency program of the “Campus Bio-Medico” university of Rome, coordinating the courses: “Physiopathology of binocular vision” and “ophthalmology”.
2003-2014 Faculty board in Ophthalmology in the integrated Ophthalmology and ENT course of the Medical School at the “Campus Bio-Medico” University of Rome.
2008-2014 Vicedirector of the residency school in ophthalmology, “Campus Bio-Medico” University of Rome.
2009-2014 Member, faculty board, PhD in ageing and tissue regeneration – XXV ciclo - at the University “Campus Bio-Medico”
Since 2009 Faculty, Master in Allergology and paediatric immunology, Tor Vergata University of Rome
since 2014 Faculty board in Ophthalmology in the integrated Ophthalmology and ENT course of the Medical School, University of Rome "Sapienza"
since 2014 Faculty board member in the ophthalmology residency program of the “Sapienza” university of Rome, coordinating the courses: “Cornea and anterior segment diseases”.
since 2014 Faculty board member in the in the Course of orthotics and assistant in ophthalmology, University of Rome “Sapienza”.
Since 2018 Director of Residency Program of Ophthalmology at University Sapienza of Rome
Since 2021 Director of PhD Program “Innovative Biotechnologies for Sense Organ Diseases”, University of Rome “Sapienza”.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:
Author of 221 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals; 260 abstracts for national and international ophthalmology conferences; 7 monographs and 13 book chapters
Total Impact Factor: 583,8
Current H-Index: 50
Total number of citations: 9189

REFEREE positions:
2006 Spanish Ministery of Health
Since 2011 Italian Ophthalmology Society (SOI)
Since 2012 ANVUR

REFEREE of scientific journals
1998-2002 Allergy
Since 2002 Investigative of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Since 2004 Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophtalmol
Since 2005 Ophthalmology
Since 2005 American Journal of Ophthalmology
Since 2005 Ophthalmic research
Since 2005 Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
Since 2005 New England Journal of Medicine
Since 2005 Current Medical Literature - Ophthalmology
Since 2007 Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
Since 2008 Experimental Eye Research
Since 2008 Ocular Immunology and Inflammation

Awards and prizes:
1994 "Travel Award" XV Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Sweden.
1995 "Travel Award" XVI Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, ECACI '95, Spain.
1995 "Astra Poster Award" XVI Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Spain.
1996 International "Steven Newburgh" award.
1997 “Righetti” award.
1998 “Righetti” award.
2000 “Sanofi-Synthelabo Award” XIX Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, July 1-5, 2000, Lisbon, Portugal.
2000 “Travel Award" XIX Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, July 1-5, 2000, Lisbon, Portugal.
2001 Exchange Research Fellowship Award Winners” award, EAACI
2002 “Honorable Award” for research activity, XX Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, May 9-15, 2001, Berlin, Germany.
2003 SOI award for scientific research for the project “Potential role of nerve growth factor in the pathogenesis of Keratoconus”

RESEARCH GRANTS
1995-02 MURST 60% (investigator)
1999 Young researcher award at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” for the project "Proliferative and differentiative effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on primary and secondary cultures of human corneal cells: potential clinical applications in the productions of epithelial sheets for the autologous transplant. (coordinator)
2000 Young researcher award at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” for the project "nerve growth factor (NGF) in the pathophysiology of intraocular tissues:animal model studies to evaluate NGF role in physiological and pathologic conditions". (coordinator)
2001 Young researcher award at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” for the project "Potential use of cultured corneal limbal implants for the treatment of patients affetti da deficit limbare totale: valutazione clinica e biologica. (coordinatore)
2003 Research grant for the project “Potential gene therapy for a human genetic disease (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis) by using corneal stem cells transduced with TrkA-gene” for the national Stem Cell project of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. (coordinator)
2005 Research grant for the project “Multicenter, randomised, double masked, controlled studies on the efficacy of Cyclosporine eye drop treatment in preventing Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) relapses and in treating the acute phase” sponsored by the Italian Pharmaceutic Agency (AIFA). (coordinator)
2005 Project “Reconstruction of the ocualr surface in patients with ocular caustications, using cultured conjunctival sheets”, Ricerca Finalizzata, Ministery of health. (Coordinator of partner unit)
2005 Project “potential therapeutic use of nerve growth factor in glaucoma: studies in patients and in an animal model”, Ricerca Finalizzata, Ministery of health. (Coordinator of partner unit)
2006 project “Multicenter, randomised, double masked, controlled clinical trial on the safety and efficacy of Cyclosporine A eye drop treatment on patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid”, ricerca ricerca indipendente sui farmaci, Italian Pharmaceutical Agency (AIFA). (Coordinator of partner unit)
2006 Project “Diagnosis and treatment of visual disability in total limbal stem cell deficiency”, Ricerca Ordinaria, Ministery of health. (Coordinator of partner unit)
2007 Research grant winner for the project “Development of nerve growth factor (NGF) as a drug to be used in ocular diseases and diseases of the central nervous system”. PRIN, MIUR. (coordinator).
2008 Project “Systematic review and methanalysis on safety and efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for retinitis pigmentosa”, ricerca ricerca indipendente sui farmaci, Italian pharmaceutical agency (AIFA). (Coordinator of partner unit)
2009 Project “Nerve growth factor (NGF) as a main actor in the activation/recruitment of ocular surface stem cells: in vitro and in vivo studies”, Scientific Research Grant, Cassa di Risparmio di Roma, (Coordinator of partner unit)
2014 Project “Role of interleukin 8 (IL8) in inflammatory diseases of the ocular surface: potential use as diagnostic biomarker”, Scientific Research Grant, University of Rome “Sapienza”.
2015 Project “Characterization of NGF and NGF-receptors’ pathway in allergic diseases as a novel biomarker”, Scientific Research Grant, University of Rome “Sapienza”.
2016 Project “From the eye to Pseye: Role of nerve growth factor in the crosstalk between the nervous and immune system in patients with Graeve’s disease”, Scientific Research Grant, University
of Rome “Sapienza”. Principal Investigator
2017 DOMPE’ FARMACEUTICI SPA "A 2 Week, Randomized, Double-masked, Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate Tolerability, Safety, Permanenceon the Ocular Surface and Efficacy of
Two Concentrations of Lubricin (20 and 50 g/mL) EyeDrops Versus Sodium Hyaluronate (HA) 0.18% Eye Drops (Vismed®) in Patients With OcularDiscomfort Following Refractive Surgery"LUB0116MD PI
2018 Project “Neuroinflammation in chronic Graft versus Host Disease: changes of Nerve Growth Factor pathway in patients with ocular, nasal and oral involvement” Scientific Research Grant,
University of Rome “Sapienza”. RG1181643635F00D. Principal Investigator
2020 Project “Novel tools to detect virus shedding in biological fluids during 7 days monitoring: Potential use to improve diagnosis of recovery after SARS-CoV-2 infection” Scientific Research
Grant, University Sapienza of Rome. Principal Investigator
2020 PI: “Clinical evaluation of long term efficacy of Cenegermin eye drop treatment at concentration of 20µg/ml 6 times daily versus amniotic membrane transplantation or autologous serum eye
drops in patients with moderate to severe neurotrophic keratopathy” OXA project. Principal Investigator

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIS:
since 1991 Member, Italian Ophthalmologsy Society (SOI)
since 1994 Member, ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)
1994-96 Member, Italian Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology
1995 Member, APIMO
2001 Member, Ocular Surface Society
since 2002 Member, TFOS (Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society)
since 2004 Member, SOU (Society of University Ophthalmologists)
2005-2006 Member, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Since 2008 Member, SICSSO (Italian Society of Stem Cells and Ocular Surface)
Since 2009 Membrer, SIDSO (Italian Society of Dacriology and Ocular Surface)
Since 2009 Member, SIUMIO (Italian Society of Uveitis and Inflammatory Ocular diseases
Since 2010 Member, EuCornea


BOARD memberships
Since 1999-01 Editoral board of the “Newsletters” EAACI
Since 2007 Member, SO ONLUS
Since 2007 Member, Joint Task force on Practice Parameters - Allergic Eye Disease (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology- AAAI)
Since 2009 Editoral board of the “Adipobiology" journal
Since 2010 Vice-Presidente, NGF ONLUS
Since 2010 Member, Dompè pharmaceuticals board for the clinical/industrial development of NGF in ophthalmology
Since 2011 Member, SIUMIO directive board
Since 2012 President, ANPOV ONLUS

PATENTS
Inventor of 4 patients, of which 3 international patents (PCT/IT97/00292; PCT/IT00/00016; RM2005A000447) and 1 national patents (RM2006A000237).

CLINICAL ACTIVITY:
1992-93 Medical Doctor for the Italian Air Force.
1993-96 Resident in the ophthalmology department of the Rome Tor Vergata University.
1996-98 Volunteer Medical Doctor at the Ophthalmology Unit of the "SS. Giovanni e Paolo" hospital of Venice, Italy. In this period he performed 50 cataract procedures, 100 day hospital procedures, 40 corneal transplants (assistant surgeon), 570 laser procedures.
1996-98 Medical Doctor at the Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto (Mestre-Venezia Eye Bank). In this period he performed 250 ocular explants.
1998-2002 Medical Doctor in the Ophthalmology Unit of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. In this period he performed clinical and surgical activity on anterior segment eye diseases.
2000-2003 Consultant, Ophthalmology Unit of the “Campus Bio-Medico” university of Rome.
2003-2014 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome. Clinical and surgical activity.
2014-2018 Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at University-Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome Italy
Since 2018 Full Professor of Ophthalmology at University-Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome Italy
Since 2019 Director of Rare, Degenerative and Inflammatory Ocular Disease Unit at University-Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Rome Italy
CLINICAL TRIALS
2002-2003 ALLERGAN
Multicentrice phase 3b, randomised, double-masked, parallel group environmental study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Epinastine-Hydrochloride 0.05% ophthalmic solution compared with Ketotifen Fumavate 0.025% ophthalmic solution both used twice daily involving patients with acute allergic conjiunctivitis” n° 198027-502-0. INVESTIGATOR
2002-2003 TUBILUX PHARMA
TBX 024/002-003 “Efficacy and tolerability of TBX024 ophthalmic microemulsion in patients with dry eye: randomized multicentric single masked clinical study” INVESTIGATOR
2003 ALLERGAN
“Monocentric single blind randomized study to evaluate safety and efficacy of a 0.05% Epinastine ophthalmic solution in controlling allergy symptoms in patients with positive conjunctival allergen provocation test” INVESTIGATOR
2005-2007 Ministero della Salute - FINALIZZATA
Multicentric study: “Conjunctival epithelium reconstruction by in vitro cultured stem cells" Coordinator of partner unit
2005-2007 AIFA
“Cyclosporine Clinical trial multicenter, randomised, double masked, controller studies on the efficacy of Cyclosporine eye drop treatment in preventing Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) replases and treating the acute phase” COORDINATOR
2006-2008 Ministery of Health
Project “Potential role of nerve growth factor in glaucoma: studies in an animal model and in patients”, Ricerca Finalizzata, Ministery of Health. Coordinator of partner unit
2007 NOVAGALI PHARMA
NVG 05Ll01 “Phase II/III, multicenter, double masked, randomized,parallel group trial with dosage reduction on efficacy and tolerability of Cyclosporine A NOVA22007 (CsA) 0.05% and 0.1% cationic emulsion versus vehicle in patients with vernal keratoconjnctivitis” INVESTIGATOR
2007
“Clinical pilot phase 3 comparative, open, randomized, multicenter, parallel group study on efficacy and safety of topical ketotifen associated with artificial tearsversus saline solution associated with artificial tears, in the treatment of dry eye” INVESTIGATOR
2006-2008 AIFA
“Multicentric, randomized, double masked, controlled, on the efficacy and safety of Blicalutamide treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)”. INVESTIGATOR
2006-2008 AIFA
“Multicentric, randomized, controlled, double-masked, on efficacy and treatment of Cyclosporine eye drop treatment in patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid” Coordinator of partner unit
2008 NOVAGALI PHARMA
“Phase 3 clinical trial, multicentric, randomized, double masked, controlled, on NOVA22007 cationic emulsion ophthalmic eye drops (Ciclosporine 0,1%) versus vehicle in patients with moderate to severe dry eye syndrome” INVESTIGATOR
2009 ALLERGAN
Multicenter randomized double masked parallel group study on the efficacy of Cyclosporine 0,01% ophthalmic solution versus vehicle (QID) for 3 months, followed by 9 months open study on atopic keratoconjunctivitis (Prot.n. 192371-016-00) INVESTIGATOR
2009
“National Register of patients with lacrimal dysfunction” by the Italian Society of the Register of Patients with lacrimal dysfunction. INVESTIGATOR
2009 FARMIGEA
“Double masked pilot study comparing 3 months of Xiloial monodose versus Optive monodose treatment in dry eye patients” INVESTIGATOR
2009 ALCON
“Evaluation of the results of patients' questionnaires on the health of ocular surface under Travoprost APS (Alternate Preservative System) versus XALATAN treatment” INVESTIGATOR
2010 CHIESI
“Retrospective evaluation of the efficacy and safety of autologus cultivated limbal stem cells transplantation for restoration of corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency due to ocular burns” Coordinator of partner unit
2014 DOMPE’
“Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of rhNGF in Patients With Stage 2 and 3 Neurotrophic Keratitis. (REPARO)” Coordinator of partner unit
2015 DOMPE’
“Rare diseases: prevalence of neurotrophic keratitis in patients with diabetes type 1 and 2. RANK study”. Coordinator
2015 DOMPE’
“Tolerability, Safety and Efficacy of Lubricin (150 µg/ml) Eye Drops Versus Sodium Hyaluronate (HA) 0.18% Eye Drops in Patients With Moderate Dry Eye (DE)” Coordinator

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS:
Italian Universities (grants and pubblications)
CNR - Insitute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine (grants and publications)
Istituto Superiore di Sanità (grants and publications)
Modena Regenerative Medicine Center (grants and publications)
European Brain Research Institute (publications)
University of Helsinki – Dept. ophthalmology (publications)
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (publications)
University Miguel Hernández (publications)
University Complutense of Madrid (publications)
University of Valladolid (publications)
University Ludwig Maximilian of Munich (publications)
Hebrew University of Gerusalem (publications)
Federal University of Sao Paulo (publications)

MAJOR INTERESTS:
- Immunology of anterior segment inflammatory diseases, with a special focus on allergic diseases.
- Nerve Growth Factor in anterior and posterior ocular segment diseases.
- Translational research on the use of corneal stem cells in anterior segment ocular diseases