Phd in MORPHOGENESIS AND TISSUE ENGINEERING

email: francesco.fazi@uniroma1.it
phone: 06/3214763

ADDRESS: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic & Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa, 14-16, 00161 Rome, Italy; Telephone 06-49766575; Fax 06-4462854; E-mail francesco.fazi@uniroma1.it

EDUCATION:
• 1998: Degree in Biology, with honors, Department of Cellular Biotechnology and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, with a dissertation entitled: “Molecular and Genetic Alteration of Acute Myeloid Leukemia”.
• 2003: Ph.D. degree in Morphogenetic and Cytological Science, Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, with a dissertation entitled: “Molecular Basis for Transcriptional Differentiation Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia”.

SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE:
• 1999-2003: Ph.D. program in Morphogenetic and Cytological Science. Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 2000-01: Ph.D. student, laboratory of Prof. Pier Giuseppe Pelicci, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
• 2004-07: Post-doctoral Fellow with a project entitled: “Characterization of the biological role of the remodeling chromatin agents on normal and leukemic hematopoietic progenitors”, Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 2007: University Researcher SSD BIO/17. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic & Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 2018: Associate Professor of Histology and Human Embryology SSD BIO/17. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic & Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 2019: National Scientific Qualifications as Full Professor in SSD BIO/17 Histology.

ACADEMIC AWARDS:
• Ph.D. degree award for the doctoral dissertation assigned by the Italian Cell Biology and Differentiation Association, Italy (2003);
• “Silvia Fiocco" award for young investigator involved in researcher on leukemia and lymphoma assigned by National Academy of Lincei, Italy (2008);

SOCIETY MEMBERBERSHIPS:
• Member of the College of Teachers of Histology and Embryology (2007 - to date):
• Member of the Medical Academy of Rome (2012 - to date);
• Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (2013 - to date);
• Member of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology (SIES) (2018 - to date);
• Member of the Italian Society of Histochemistry (SII) (2019 - to date);
• Membrer of Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation (ABCD) (2019 - to date);
• Member of European accociation for Cancer Research (EACR) (2023 – to date);

MEMBER OF EDITORIAL BOARDS:
• Guest Editor for the Thematic Issue entitled: “MicroRNAs: Non-Coding Pleiotropic Factors in Development, Cancer Prevention and Treatment” - microRNA Journal - Bentham Science, (MicroRNA. 2013;2(2):81);
• Guest Topic Editor for the Research Topic entitled “The RNA Revolution in Embryonic Development and Cell Differentiation in Health and Disease” - Stem Cell Research section of Frontiers Cell and Developmental Biology, (Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Sep 14;9:715341);
• Guest Topic Editor for the Research Topic entitled “Protein Homeostasis in Growth, Development and Disease” - Signaling section of Frontiers Cell and Developmental Biology (2022);
• Associate Editor in the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology - Developmental Epigenetics Section (2022);

REVIEWER FOR SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FUNDING AGENCIES:
• Reviewer for several International Scientific Journals as: Blood, Leukemia, Oncogene, Cell Death and Differentiation, Cell Death and Disease, Cancer Research, Frontiers in Oncology.
• Reviewer for National and International Founding Agencies as: Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Italy (Ricerca Finalizzata 2010 and 2011); the Bloodwise UK Foundation, UK (2016); the National Science Center, Poland (2016, 2019 and 2022);

PERSONAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES: Francesco Fazi has a long experience in the field of molecular mechanisms regulating growth and differentiation on a variety of normal and neoplastic cell systems and has been involved in studies showing novel oncogenic mechanisms for the leukemia-associated fusion proteins and the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the differentiation block and therapy response of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. More recently, the work of Francesco Fazi was focused to the development of novel therapeutical approach targeting protein homeostasis, showing that the combination of proteotoxic and oxidative stress in the presence of the differentiation stimulus provide by Retinoic Acid leads to FLT3-ITD positive AML cell death in vitro and in vivo.