Prof. Dr. Mauro Freccero

Mauro was born in Savona, Italy, in 1966. He obtained his Master's Degree in Chemistry from University of Pavia. He subsequently pursued his Ph.D. in the same university with Prof. A. Albini, focusing his doctoral research on synthetic methodologies, photoinduced processes and radical chemistry. During his doctoral studies, he spent one year in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Maryland, USA.

After completing his Ph.D. in 1993, Mauro continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Dublin City University, Ireland, a choice that has shaped his science and his family, then he came back to the University of Pavia to start his independent career in 1996, becoming Assistant Professor late in the same year.

In 2002 he was appointed Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in recognition of his significant contributions to the field. He was promoted Head of the Ph.D. School in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Pavia in  2013 and later, in 2016, he was promoted to Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry. In the same year he was appointed Rector's Delegate for Research Infrastructures at the University of Pavia and President of the Centro Grandi Strumenti of the same university. From 2019 to 2021 he was nominated Deputy Rector for Research at the University of Pavia, and since 2024 he was elected Director of the Department of Chemistry at the same institution.

Throughout his academic career, he has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses, ranging from Organic Chemistry Lab for the Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry to Advanced Organic Synthesis for the Master's Degree in Chemistry, always emphasizing a strong connection between theoretical concepts and experimental practice.

Mauro’s research interests lie primarily in the areas of Synthesis of selective ligands for secondary nucleic-acid structures (particularly G-quadruplexes), diagnostic applications using fluorescent probes, therapeutic applications aimed at new targeted antitumor and antiviral therapies, development of selective ligands for G4 present in the genomes of HIV-1 and Flaviviridae viruses, with the goal of creating innovative antiviral drugs, and design and synthesis of transiently activatable reagents (quinone methides, diazirines, and reactive oxygen species—ROS) directed at DNA secondary structures.

Mauro has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and he regularly presents his findings at national and international conferences. He has established collaborations with various research institutions worldwide, fostering a multidisciplinary environment that encourages innovation and the exchange of ideas. He also actively mentors undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, guiding them in both theoretical and practical aspects of research.

Grants:

1. 2022–2025: PNRR, PE13, "One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions Addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases". Role: Coordinator of the Organic Synthesis Unit at the University of Pavia. Funding: 247 K€

2. 2014–2020: Project within the 7th Framework Programme, HIV LTR G-4 (Consolidator Grant, no: 615879), “G-quadruplexes in the HIV-1 genome: novel targets for the development of selective antiviral drugs”. Role: Second beneficiary of a “Two-beneficiary contract”. Funding: 659.6 K€

3. 2013–2016: AIRC IG2013-14708, “Photoactive molecules targeting telomeric G-quadruplex as multimodal agents in anticancer therapy". Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 265 K€

4. 2011–2013: PRIN 2009MFRKZ8, “Selective Molecular Devices Targeting G-Quadruplexes”. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 250.6 K€

5. 2009–2015: FIRB-IDEA RBID082ATK_003. “New drug for anticancer targeted therapy”. Role: Unit Coordinator. Funding: 480 K€

Selected Publications

1. J. Med. Chem. 2021, 65, 4752 doi/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01905;

2. Nucleic Acids Res. 2020, 48, 4627 10.1093/nar/gkaa186. 

3. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 14528 10.1021/jacs.8b05337. 

4. Nucleic Acids Res., 2018, 46, e115 10.1093/nar/gky607. 

5. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 7520 10.1002/anie.201702096. 

6. J. Med. Chem. 2015, 58, 9639 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01283.