Research activities and Working groups

Interdisciplinary working groups were established involving 36^th and 37^th cycle PhD students
and faculty from the PhD Scientific Board.
The workflow within these groups began with a clinical question posed by the clinically trained
PhD students, then data generated by the research groups or available in public databases were
collected and analyzed by the computer-trained doctoral students and faculty.
Finally, the results were discussed within the group.

Main Research activities

XXXIX Cycle

1) Application of artificial intelligence and molecular biology tools for the identification of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers of malignant melanocytic lesions (PhD student Andrea Ascione; Tutor Prof. G. D'Amati).

2) Study of hereditary predisposition to the development of neoplasms in pediatric age to identify new potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. (Doctoral student Roberto Carta; Tutor Prof. A. Mastronuzzi).

3) High-throughput analysis of microRNAs in solid tumors and development of preclinical cellular models of neoplastic pathologies with special reference to patient derived organoids (PDOs) in brain tumors. (PhD student Sara Cassandro; Tutor Prof. A. Po).

4) Genomic Landscape of intrinsic resistance to immune checkpoint-inhibitor therapy in renal cell carcinoma. (PhD student Mattia Alberto di Civita; Tutor Prof. D. Santini).

5) Analysis and characterization of tissue and circulating biomarkers in solid tumors with special interest in biliary tract and brain tumors. (PhD student Nicole Feverati; Tutor Prof. E. Ferretti).

6) Research projects on radiology and oncology topics in precision medicine and "big data, Radiomics and other "omics" sciences. (Doctoral candidate Giorgio Maria Masci; Tutor Prof. V. Panebianco).

7) Precision medicine in ovarian and endometrial cancer: an integrated molecular and clinical approach. (Doctoral student Lucia Musacchio; Tutor Prof. E. Ferretti).

8) Research and evaluation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer patients, in the absence of gene mutations, undergoing immunotherapy. (PhD student Lucrezia Tuosto; Tutor Prof. C. Napoletano).

9) Study of molecular patterns of immunosuppression and immune depletion in glioblastoma. (PhD student Flavio Valentino; Tutor Prof. A. Rughetti).

XXXVIII Cycle

1) Research in cancer immunology, biomarkers and innovative therapies. (PhD student Angela Asquino Tutor Prof. A. Rughetti).

2) Research and evaluation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in head and neck cancer patients. (Doctoral student Tanja Milena Autilio Tutor Prof. E. Ferretti).

3) Search for new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in pediatric brain tumor patients. (PhD student Federica D'Antonio Tutor Prof. A. Mastronuzzi).

4) Research projects on radiological and oncological issues in precision medicine (Doctoral student Martina Pecoraro; Tutor Prof. V. Panebianco).

5) Research and evaluation of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in Lung Cancer patients. (Doctoral candidate Daniele Marinelli Tutor Prof. D. Santini).

6) Study of drug-drug interaction in solid tumors. (PhD student Fiorenza Santamaria Tutor Prof. A. Botticelli).

XXXVII Cycle

Two main projects of research are being conducted by the PhD students and the Scientifi Board along with the interdisciplinary Working Groups:

Molecular study and network analysis in non-smoker lung cancer and brain tumors.

PhD student Caterina Alfano Tutor Prof. L. Farina

PhD student Edoardo Cerbelli Tutor Prof. A. Botticelli

PhD student Giuseppe Caruso Tutor Prof. A. Botticelli

Doctoral student Giada Del Baldo Tutor Prof. A. Mastronuzzi

Doctoral student Angelica Pace Tutor Prof. A. Rughetti

Doctoral student Simona Pisegna Tutor Prof. A. Botticelli

XXXVI Cycle

Doctoral student Alessio Cirillo Tutor Prof. A. Botticelli

Doctoral student Mario Occhipinti Tutor Prof. L. Farina

Doctoral student Fabio Scirocchi Tutor Prof. A. Rughetti

PhD Alumni

Dr. Marco Filetti Tutor Prof. L. Farina

Dr. Alessio Ugolini Tutor Prof. M. Nuti