Cancer Genomics & Systems Biology LabDirector
Prof.ssa Frullanti Elisa, PhD
(https://docenti.unisi.it/it/frullanti)
Prof. Elisa Frullanti has been studying the molecular and genetic basis of lung cancer (LC) for over 10 years, first at the INT in Milan (2006-2012) and then at the University of Siena (since 2012). At the INT, supported by the AIRC grant, she conducted research projects aimed at identifying functional genetic elements associated with the prognosis of LC through genome-wide association studies, genetic linkage studies and transcriptome, winning the 2011 Galilei Young Research Scientist Award from Rotary International for her research. She then won two annual research grants from the Umberto Veronesi Foundation for the project Exome sequencing in young non-smoking patients with LC. She moved to Siena where the exome analysis platform was available. Here she became Junior Researcher (2016) and Senior Researcher (2018) researching the genetics of cancer and other diseases using new genetic techniques and innovative omics approaches. She has extensive experience in omics genetic techniques, in next-generation sequencing of germline, somatic and circulating DNA, investigating the contribution of germline and somatic genetic variation to cancer susceptibility and outcomes. In recent years, EF has introduced in her laboratory the use of NGS for liquid biopsy as an innovative diagnostic and prognostic technique for early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of cancer growth and resistance, coordinating 2 PhD students and a postdoc. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she has dedicated part of her research activities to the study of the genetic basis of clinical variability of the response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since 2022, she has been the director of the Cancer Genomic and Systems Biology Lab of the Department of Medical Biotechnology of the University of Siena. EF’s research activity is supported by 82 original articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals with a total IF>400 and an H-index of 26.
Researchers:
Dr. Palmieri Maria, PhD
Maria Palmieri graduated in 2016 with 110/110 cum laude from the University of Siena in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a thesis entitled “ANA1, a gene involved in the organization and duplication of centrioles in Drosophila melanogaster”. In 2017 she won a PhD scholarship in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) carrying out her research in the field of medical oncology at the Medical Genetics under the supervision of Prof. Elisa Frullanti in Siena and obtaining the title Excellent cum laude defending the thesis entitled “Cell free-DNA-NGS liquid biopsy for solid cancers and vascular malformations”. Her studies focused first on the exploration of the genetic basis of lung cancer in young non-smoking patients and then on the application of liquid biopsy in patients with different types of advanced solid tumors. During his PhD years, she developed the liquid biopsy technique through the use of next-generation sequencing in cancer patients and subsequently also in patients affected by various vascular malformations. The results obtained were illustrated through oral and poster presentations in various national and international scientific conferences such as ASHG, ESHG, ISSVA and SIGU. In December 2020 she obtained his PhD with a final grade of excellent and honors with a thesis entitled “Cell free-DNA-NGS liquid biopsy for solid cancers and vascular malformations”. In January 2021 she won a postdoctoral research grant from the Department of Medical Biotechnology on “CRISPR / cas9 gene editing for the treatment of PCDH19 mutation disease”. In the last two years she has been working on the analysis of multi-omics data through systems biology for precision medicine with a focus on the cfDNA exome of metastatic patients. Her research work is supported by 39 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including 12 as first author and 2 as last author and an H-index of 17.
Dr. Serio Viola Bianca, PhD
Viola Bianca Serio is a molecular biotechnologist and currently a post-doc at the Cancer Genomics & Systems Biology laboratory of the University of Siena. She obtained her PhD in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine at the same university, with a thesis entitled: “cfDNA-NGS Liquid Biopsy as a new strategy to face advanced cancers: the usefulness of Liquid Biopsy in Cancer molecular characterization, detection of targetable mutations and insights into treatment resistance”, obtaining the Doctor Europaeus award with honors (Excellent cum laude). Her research activity focuses on the analysis of circulating DNA (cfDNA) via Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies for the molecular characterization of advanced solid tumors. She has carried out international internships at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and University College London (UCL), contributing to projects on epigenetics, liquid biopsy and therapeutic resistance. Her skills range from molecular biology to bioinformatics, with a strong propensity for translational research. She is the author of 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 4 of which as first name.
Dr. Rosati Diletta, PhD
Dr. Diletta Rosati has been working on bioinformatic analyses of genetic material since 2020 at the University of Siena. During her PhD in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine, she developed projects aimed at characterizing malignant pleural mesothelioma, focusing on identifying molecular markers useful for differential diagnosis and prognostic evaluation, through transcriptomic and bioinformatic analysis. Subsequently, she obtained a research grant funded by INAIL as part of the project Identification of the fingerprint of asbestos exposure in mesothelioma, aimed at identifying characteristic expression profiles of mesothelioma associated with asbestos exposure, intending to highlight potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers. The results of this project were presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Italian Cancer Society – Science-driven Approaches to Achieve Early Diagnosis of Cancer and Overcome Therapy Resistance, held in Milan, where she received the Prize for the Best Poster on
mesothelioma, awarded by the Buzzi Unicem Foundation.
Dr. Debora Maffeo
Dr. Angela Rina
Dr. Angela Rina obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2020 and a master’s degree in Health Biology with honors in 2022 at the University of Siena, presenting a thesis entitled “The importance of the FISH method in the diagnosis of lymphomas with alteration of the 11q gene”. During her master’s degree, she completed an internship at the Pathological Anatomy department of the Siena University Hospital, where she acquired skills in the diagnostic process of oncological samples. In particular, she studied the use of the FISH method (fluorescent in situ hybridization) for the identification of genetic alterations characteristic of solid tumors, developing the ability to analyze and interpret the results. Since 2023, she has been a PhD student in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) at the University of Siena. His research activity is focused on the study of the genetic bases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) through the use of exome sequencing (WES) techniques. At the same time, he participates in projects that involve the use of liquid biopsy and exome sequencing on cfDNA to study genetic alterations in lung cancer and other solid tumors. Starting in November 2024, she will combine his doctoral program with the beginning of the School of Specialization in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, always at the University of Siena, to integrate research activity with clinical diagnostic practice in the laboratory setting.