Phd in MOLECULAR MEDICINE

email: rocco.palermo@uniroma1.it
phone: 0649255139
building: RM110 - Regina Elena Edificio B
room: 407

PRESENT POSITION
Associate Professor, SSD MED/04 – General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

EDUCATION AND CAREER
2024 - present: Associate Professor, SSD MED/04 – General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2021 - 2024: Assistant Professor (RTDB), SSD MED/04 – General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2018 - 2021: Assistant Professor (RTDA), SSD MED/04 – General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2012 - 2018: Post-doctoral research, Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy.
2011 - 2012: Post-doctoral research (Assegno di ricerca, SSD MED/04 – General Pathology), Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome, “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy;
2009 - 2011: Post-doctoral research fellow, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome, “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2006 - 2009: Scientific collaborator, Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome, “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2003 - 2006: Ph.D. in Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy.
2003: Graduation in Biological Sciences, University of Rome, “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.

MOST RELEVANT RESEARCH LINES
1. Notch signaling crosstalk with other oncogenic pathways in cancer;
2. Mechanisms of regulation and role of microRNAs in leukemia;
3. Epigenetic and post-translational processes underlying aberrant Notch signaling expression and activity in cancer;
4. Notch signaling implication in self-renewal and differentiation of cancer stem cells;
5. Novel compounds of natural or synthetic origin endowed with Notch signaling inhibitory activity.

ADDITIONAL INFO

PATENTS
U.S. patent number 11,104,657 granted on 31 08 2021 for “Notch inhibitors for use in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia”. Invention credited to: Botta B, Ghirga F, Giulimondi F, Ingallina C, Mori M, Palermo R, Quaglio D, Screpanti I, Tottone L, Zhdanoskaya N.

FIVE SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
1. N. Zhdanovskaya, S. Lazzari, D. Caprioglio, M. Firrincieli, C. Maioli, E. Pace, D. Imperio, C. Talora, D. Bellavia, S. Checquolo, M. Mori, I. Screpanti, A. Minassi and R. Palermo, Identification of a Novel Curcumin Derivative Influencing Notch Pathway and DNA Damage as a Potential Therapeutic Agent in T-ALL. Cancers, 14, 5772 (2022).
2. L. Tottone, N. Zhdanovskaya, A. Carmona Pestana, M. Zampieri, F. Simeoni, S. Lazzari, V. Ruocco, M. Pelullo, P. Caiafa, M. P. Felli, S. Checquolo, D. Bellavia, C. Talora, I. Screpanti, R. Palermo, Histone Modifications Drive Aberrant Notch3 Expression/Activity and Growth in T-ALL. Frontiers in oncology 9, 198 (2019).
3. M. Mori, L. Tottone, D. Quaglio, N. Zhdanovskaya, C. Ingallina, M. Fusto, F. Ghirga, G. Peruzzi, M. E. Crestoni, F. Simeoni, F. Giulimondi, C. Talora, B. Botta, I. Screpanti, R. Palermo, Identification of a novel chalcone derivative that inhibits Notch signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Scientific reports 7, 2213 (2017).
4. V. Kumar, R. Palermo, C. Talora, A. F. Campese, S. Checquolo, D. Bellavia, L. Tottone, G. Testa, E. Miele, S. Indraccolo, A. Amadori, E. Ferretti, A. Gulino, A. Vacca, I. Screpanti, Notch and NF-kB signaling pathways regulate miR-223/FBXW7 axis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 28, 2324-2335 (2014).
5. R. Palermo, S. Checquolo, A. Giovenco, P. Grazioli, V. Kumar, A. F. Campese, A. Giorgi, M. Napolitano, G. Canettieri, G. Ferrara, M. E. Schinina, M. Maroder, L. Frati, A. Gulino, A. Vacca, I. Screpanti, Acetylation controls Notch3 stability and function in T-cell leukemia. Oncogene 31, 3807-3817 (2012).