Phd in LIFE SCIENCE

email: antonio.coluccia@uniroma1.it
phone:

Biosketch – Antonio Coluccia, PhD
Dr. Antonio Coluccia is an Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Sapienza University of Rome. He earned both his MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies and his PhD in Pasteurian Sciences at Sapienza, where he developed a strong foundation in molecular modelling and structure-based drug design. His early postdoctoral training included research appointments at the Istituto Pasteur – Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, where he deepened his expertise in molecular dynamics and computational approaches to antiviral drug discovery.
Throughout his career, Dr. Coluccia has pursued an interdisciplinary research program focused on the rational design of small-molecule therapeutics targeting cancer, viral infections, and bacterial pathogens. His work integrates virtual screening, structure-based optimization, docking, and advanced molecular dynamics simulations with medicinal chemistry and biological evaluation. This combination has contributed to the development of inhibitors acting on diverse molecular targets, including β-catenin, DVL1, tubulin, EPAC1, carbonic anhydrases, and several viral enzymes. He has also contributed to the discovery of antiviral compounds active against pathogens such as HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses, and dengue virus.
Dr. Coluccia has authored 78 peer-reviewed publications, which have collectively received more than 3,100 citations, resulting in an h-index of 31 (Scopus, June 2024). His research activity is supported by multiple competitive grants, serving as Principal Investigator and Unit Director in national and international projects. His funded work includes several ISCRA high-performance computing projects dedicated to molecular dynamics studies on EPAC1, CCRL2, and FtsZ inhibitors, a Sapienza University grant on DVL1 inhibitor discovery, a project funded by Fondazione Italiana Fibrosi Cistica, and a PRIN2020 project on antibacterial drug discovery pipelines.
In addition to his research, Dr. Coluccia is deeply involved in academic teaching. He lectures in Medicinal Chemistry for the MSc in Biochemistry (taught in English), Analisi dei Medicinali I in the Pharmacy program, and CNS Disease Therapies in the Postgraduate School of Hospital Pharmacy. His contributions also extend to innovation and technology transfer, with two patents related to EPAC inhibitors and quinoline derivatives.
Dr. Coluccia’s work reflects a sustained commitment to advancing drug discovery through the integration of computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and molecular pharmacology. He continues to mentor students, lead collaborative research groups, and contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases and cancer.