Phd in LIFE SCIENCE

Thematic area: Pharmaceutical chemistry.
SSD: CHIM/08.

Brief resume: I graduated in July 2022 in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Tecnology. During the fourth year of university, I choose to do a MSc thesis in Medicinal Chemistry, working on the design and synthesis of biologically active organic compounds. In particular, I developed new molecular hybrids between quinolones and bacterial carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, since, due to ever-increasing antibiotic resistance, the effort to develop new antibacterials or modify existing ones is to date a priority. My laboratory experience stimulated me to further deepen and expand my knowledge, and to apply for this PhD.

Brief description of my project: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder which progressively leads neurons in parts of the brain to break down and die. People living with HD develop hyperkinetic movement disorder (chorea) and abnormal body postures, as well as problems with behavior, emotion, thinking, and personality. Unfortunately, to date there are no effective treatments that can stop or prevent the onset of this devastating disease. However, recent and growing numbers of studies are showing how the sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) may be implicated in the control of several neurodegenerative disorders, including HD.
The focus of my PhD project relies on the study of σ1R agonists as potential cytoprotective agents for Huntington’s disease. Specifically, I am applying structured-based computational methods, such as molecular dynamics and molecular docking, from available crystallographic structures, with the aim of designing and synthesizing new small molecules as σ1R modulators.
The goal is to unequivocally establish the binding mode of receptor antagonists and agonists (with a focus on the latter), and to establish their essential pharmacophoric portions. Indeed, although many binding partners have been proposed for the σ1R, the differences between the two classes have to be unambiguously determined yet.

Also: During my first year I had the opportunity to work on different publication and to partecipate in conferences, doctoral schools, seminars and courses. In particular, I presented several posters and I made an oral presentation during the XXVIII National
Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry (NMMC28).