Maurizio Romano, PhD

BIOSKETCH

CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor, University of Trieste, Italy.

INSTITUTIONAL ADDRESS: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via A. Valerio 28, 34127, Trieste, Italy.

EDUCATION/TRAINING: University of Trieste, Italy: BSc, Biology, 1990;  PhD, Experimental Pathology, 1994.

BRIEF CAREER INFORMATION:

My research is rooted in the intricate world of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS, FTLD, IBM, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. My journey began with an exploration of inflammatory and genetic disorders, where I contributed to the development of monoclonal antibodies targeting human eosinophil granulocytes.

Since 1990, my tenure as a Guest Scientist at ICGEB, Trieste, has been marked by a deep dive into the realm of splicing defects in human diseases. My work on Cystic Fibrosis led to the discovery of TDP-43, a pivotal regulator of CFTR pre-mRNA splicing. This groundbreaking finding, coupled with the subsequent link between TDP-43 and neurodegenerative diseases, ignited my passion for unraveling the complex interplay between RNA binding proteins (RBPs), non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and disease pathogenesis. My laboratory is a hub of interdisciplinary research, where we employ a diverse toolkit of techniques, including bioinformatics, cellular, immunological, and molecular biology. Our research endeavors are multifaceted, encompassing the study of RBPs in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, the exploration of the therapeutic potential of SigmaR1 and SigmaR2 ligands, the identification of biomarkers for Parkinson's disease, and the investigation of splicing alterations in genetic diseases.

By dissecting the molecular mechanisms underpinning these diseases, we aim to elucidate the intricate pathways leading to neurodegeneration and other complex disorders. We aim to contribute to advancing knowledge in the field with the ultimate goal of translating our findings into effective therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative disorders.