Matrix Pathobiology, Extracellular Matrix, Matrix-mediated cell regulation and singaling, Pharmacological targeting, Biochemical Assays, Proteoglycans, Glycosaminoglycans, Metalloproteinases

I am a passionate researcher with a wide-ranging research experience. As an undergraduate student in Italy, I sequenced the sunflower mitochondrial DNA and during my PhD, I characterized thyroid-specific transcription factors. I studied the dopaminergic system during my first postdoctoral experience at the IGBMC in Strasbourg, France. During these early years, I was highly productive. However, my fruitful experiences helped me realize Science is not about publications. The real excitement is to investigate the unknown, to make original discoveries. Research that aims at incremental discoveries may be easier but it is certainly not exciting. I had the opportunity to test myself during my second postdoctoral training (Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, USA). My project was centered on understanding the biological role of inositol pyrophosphates (PP-IPs). In one year I managed to biochemically purify the enzymatic activity from rat brain and to clone the inositol hexakisphosphate kinase (named IP6K), thereby opening a new scientific field.

In summer of 2004, I moved to London to establish my independent laboratory. My laboratory mainly studies cell signaling events mediated by PP-IPs and has substantially contributed to the establishment of this class of molecules as fundamental cellular messengers. We initially proposed, and subsequently provided fundamental evidence, that PP-IPs lie at the interface between cell metabolism and cell signaling, thereby playing a key role in regulating cellular energetics. To understand how PP-IPs regulate basic metabolism we have focused our attention on phosphate homeostasis discovering that PP-IPs regulate the metabolism of inorganic polyphosphates (polyP) the linear chain of phosphate. This was an innovative and highly influential concept that we helped to establish.

Another strength of my laboratory is based on my strongly believe that the generation of new analytical methods represents a fundamental aspect of scientific innovations, Therefore, my laboratory has contributed a number of technological advances that have been instrumental in propelling PP-IPs into mainstream research. For example, the PP-IPs PAGE analysis allows the detection of these molecules by simple toluidine staining. The new TiO2 based inositol phosphates purification protocol we developed is opening previously unforeseen research opportunities in my lab and elsewhere around the world.

Finally, I strongly believe that science is an open enterprise and my laboratory freely shares published and unpublished data, protocols, tools, and reagents. This attitude together with our distinctive theoretical and technical expertise has contributed to the high standing achieved by my research group.

I am the Communications and Digital Platforms Associate at FEBS, and I help manage content and use of online platforms and sites such as the FEBS Network, FEBS website and FEBS Congress website, but particularly on the FEBS Network. Previously I have managed the funding programmes of a number of UK research charities, mainly in the field of cancer. I have supported the income generation teams at those organisations with science communication, as well as developed e-learning resources for staff and students at the Institute of Cancer Research. I have a BSc in Biochemistry, an MSc in Nutrition and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics. After years in London I have now moved back to Spain, where I continue to work as a science communicator.

Paraoxonase-1, glucagons like peptide-1 receptor, G-proteins, molecular interactions, enzyme kinetic, signalling, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus 2, technology for teaching and learning

Glycobiology

Atherosclerosis, inflammatory diseases, biomarkers

I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo. My research interest in general is the area of genetics of type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, pharmacogenetics of diabetes, association of inflammatory biomarkers and free fatty acids with diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome.

My current research is exploring the Self Propulsion Bio-Hybrid Micro-Robots fabrication for heavy metal removal from ocean water and developing a Novel Nano-Robotic Shuttle to treat GBM brain cancer at MultiScale Biomedical Robotics Lab, DGIST, South Korea. And bio-fluidics nanomedicine that integrates the latest advances in drug delivery technologies for brain cancer patients at IAAM Sweden. Also, I'm working theoretically on some collaborative projects with Sweden, Taiwan, Israel, and India.

I spent 40 years teaching and researching, and developed a particular interest in education and career development. I chaired the Education Committee and was Careers advisor for the UK Biochemical Society. In these roles, and my work with students at the University of Manchester, I realised how important it is for young scientists to recognise their skills and be able to "sell" themselves to potential employers (and grant awarding bodies). I now run CV support sessions for young scientists on behalf of the FEBS Education Committee, of which I was a founder member.

biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, molecular visualisation, technology for teaching and learning