The scientific activity in the academic year 2021-2022 concerned all topics related to the PhD themes. Many of the results obtained by the PhD students have been presented at various national and international congresses (see PhD students). Furthermore, the PhD students produced numerous publications in international journals. The reports on the research activity carried out by the PhD students, countersigned by the Guide / Tutor Lecturers, and their publications are on the website of the Department of Experimental Medicine, under the PhD in Experimental Medicine, at the following link:
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/ANNUAL-REPORT-EXPERIMENTAL-MEDICINE_nL3522_EN.aspx
The research topics developed by first year PhD students concerned:
- Characterization of mitochondria-related neuroprotective mechanisms of Neuroglobin;
- Evaluation of differentiation potential of dental pulp stem cells following hypoxic stimulus;
- Role of microbial co-infections and immune response in the persistence of human papillomavirus mucosal infections;
- Characterization of epi-metabolic cross-talk contributing to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma onset and progression;
- Evaluation of the efficacy of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: expression of the biomarker at circulating, tissue and cellular levels;
- Role of autonomic dysfunction and inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome with unaffected coronary arteries: a complex relationship with potential therapeutic implications;
- Correlation of circulating levels of MST1 and MST1-P in platelets and EPCs of patients with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress;
- Effects of the hypoxic microenvironment and role of polysialic acid in glioblastoma.
The research topics developed by second year PhD students concerned:
- Potential of UPR manipulation in colon cancer treatment;
- Characterization of the Interferon response during SARS-CoV-2 infection and of the host factors determining COVID-19 severity;
- Study of the response to anti SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in "fragile" populations;
- Bioenergetics in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, new experimental approaches and therapeutic potentials;
- Cardiac fibrosis in atrial fibrillation;
- Correlation between aortic wall shrinkage and inflammatory response after EVAR;
- Extracellular vesicles in liquid biopsy and tissue samples in adult diffuse gliomas: possible role of H3F3A p.Tyr55f;
- Intervertebral disc degeneration: study of the underlying mechanisms of degeneration on an in vitro model.
The research topics developed by third year PhD students concerned:
- Study of the secretome of ASCs: epigenetic and molecular approaches for the optimization of therapeutic potential;
- Crosstalk EMT / autophagy: role of the aberrant expression of the mesenchymal isoform FGFR2c;
- Role of autophagy in the induction of post-translational modifications of proteins in extracellular vesicles during autoimmune diseases;
- Analysis of interferon-related genes that control papillomavirus replication in vitro and mediate anti-papillomavirus response in vivo;
- The expression of the ID4 protein controls the immune-related pathways in basal-type breast cancer;
- RNA as prognostic biomarkers in patients with acute coronary syndrome: the RNA-ACS study;
- Role of biomarkers and unconventional cardiac imaging methods (speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiac MRI) in the evaluation of myocardial damage and in the prognostic stratification of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis;
- Multiparametric scoring in heart failure;
- Endocannabinoid system: possible target in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease;
- Role of IL-23 in atherosclerotic plaque;
- Role of autophagy stimulation through the administration of trehalose in cardiomyopathy induced by doxorubicin.
The results of the research conducted by PhD students were presented in three Teacher-PhD students meetings held in 2022 (27th June, 18th July, 27th September) with the aim of promoting scientific interactions and content discussion.