Dr. Annalisa Astolfi

Nationality: Italian

e-mail: annalisa.astolfi@unife.it

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2732-0747

SCOPUS Author ID: 7005785178

Researcher ID: K-3034-2016

Obtained the National Scientific Licence as Associate Professor in the following sectors:

06/D3 - Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology (Mar 2018)

06/N1 - Medical Technologies and Healthcare profession sciences (Mar 2018)

06/G1 – General and Specialty Pediatrics and Neuropsychiatry (Apr 2018)

05/H2 - Histology (Sept 2018)

05/E3 - Clinical Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (Oct 2018)

06/A2 – General and Clinical Pathology (Sept 2019)

1) Author of 141 publications on peer-reviewed journals, from 2000 to now

2) Scopus h-index = 34

3) Total citation number (Scopus): 3576

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCES

2020 – today: Member of the Academic Board of the Ph.D program in Advanced Therapies and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Ferrara.

2020 – today: Co-Supervisor in the Ph.D. program in Oncology, Hematology and Pathology – University of Bologna, XXXIII cycle (Project: “Development of cellular models for the identification of novel modifier genes in Gaucher Disease”), XXXIV cycle (Project: “Comprehensive characterization of SDH – GIST using NGS data and iPSC models”), XXXV cycle (Project: “Development of cellular models for the study of pediatric clear cell sarcoma of the kidney”).

2019 – today: Assistant Professor in Histology (Bio/17), Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy

2016 – today: Massively parallel sequencing and microarray Specialist, awarded by University of Bologna, Italy.

2016 – 2019: Coordinator and supervisor of "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center Laboratory, assigned by the University of Bologna, Italy.

2016 – 2018: Active member of the national study group of “Cellular and Molecular Biology” at the Italian Association of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology (AIEOP).

2014 – today: Member of the Integrated Research Team “AlmaSequencing” at the University of Bologna, Italy.

2008 – today: Staff scientist at the "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center - University of Bologna, Italy.

2007 – 2008: Senior Post-doctorate Research fellow at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Pediatric Sciences – University of Bologna. Project: ”Identification of the genetic and genomic profile of response to conventional and innovative drugs in pediatric acute leukemias”.

2004 – 2008: Professor with a temporary appointment for “Microarray Technology” at the course of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology - University of Bologna.

2005 – 2006: Research contract at the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Section, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.

2005: Post-doctoral Research fellow at the Department of Experimental Pathology – University of Bologna, Italy. Project: ”Microarray analysis of tumor progression and prevention”.

2002-2004: Research Fellowship from the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research (FIRC) with the project “Her2/neu – induced mammary carcinoma immunoprevention”.

2002: Ph.D. degree in Oncology, at the University of Bologna, Italy.

1999-2001: Ph.D. fellowship in Oncology at the University of Bologna, Italy. Project: “Cytokines and growth factors in musculoskeletal tumors: gene discovery and gene therapy applications”

1998: M.Sc. Degree in Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. 110/110 cum laude.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

2021- today: "Hippo pathway targeting in uterine leiomyosarcoma” finanziato da Sarcoma Foundation of America, Washington DC, USA. Principal Investigator.

2020- today: “Development of targeted treatments for BCOR-driven tumors” – University of Ferrara, Fondo per l’Incentivazione alla Ricerca (FIR) –2020. Principal Investigator

2020 – today: Project #24615 “DETECTION OF NOVEL FUSION RNA SPECIES IN PEDIATRIC AML” - NIH database of Genotypes and Phenotypes -dbGaP. Collaborator.

2020 – today: “Study of pathogenetic mechanisms and of pharmacological approaches to Gaucher Disease through induced Pluripotent Stem Cells” – funded by Fondazione del Monte, Bologna, Italy. Co-Investigator.

2019 – today: “Molecular and clinical study to improve the efficacy of adjuvant therapy in uterine leiomyosarcoma”- funded by Fondazione S.Orsola, Bologna, Italy. Co-Investigator

2019- today: “Identification of molecular targets in young GIST patients resistant to standard therapies” -funded by Fondazione Carisbo, Bologna, Italy. Co-Investigator

2018 – 2019: “Development of preclinical disease models in the pediatric hemato-oncological field”, funded by Associazione Margherita Onlus, Bologna, Italy. Principal Investigator.

2016 – today: “My First AIRC” grant 2016, MFAG Id.19117, “Hedgehog pathway targeting in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia” funded by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC). Co-Investigator.

2015: Beta-test for Exome enrichment protocol, funded by Illumina Inc. (San Diego, CA). Principal Investigator.

2015 – today: “Genomic Study of pediatric Clear Cell Sarcoma of the kidney”, at the Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. Principal Investigator.

2014 – 2016: “Whole transcriptome paired-end sequencing in pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions: from early detection to therapeutics implications”, funded by “Bando Giovani Ricercatori 2013 “Alessandro Liberati” - Programma di ricerca Regione-Università. Collaborator.

2014 – 2017: “Protocol 2013-0193 - Genetic predictors of analgesic response to opioid therapy in outpatient palliative care patients with cancer pain”, in collaboration with MD-Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX. Co-Investigator.

2014 – today: “High throughput genome study to identify predictors of aggressiveness in patients with sporadic desmoid tumor who undergo a wait and see approach”. DTRF Grant Award 2013, in collaboration with IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Milano, Italy. Partner.

2014- today: Participation in the Integrated Research Team (IRT) Alma Sequencing, University of Bologna, Italy.

2014 – 2017: “My First AIRC” grant 2013, MFAG Id.14327, “Whole-genome study of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors using NGS approach”, funded by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC). Co-Investigator

2014 – 2015: “Hedgehog signaling pathway as a new therapeutic target in normal-karyotype pediatric acute myeloid leukemias” and “Preclinical trial of new Hedgehog pathway inhibitors in pediatric acute myeloid leukemias with poor prognosis”, funded by Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy. Partner.

2013 – 2016: “Identification of cytogenetic and molecular subgroups of acute myeloid leukemias showing L-Asparaginase in vitro efficacy”, funded by EUSA-Pharma, Oxford, UK. Co-Investigator.

2013 – 2016: “Innovative approaches to the diagnosis and pharmacogenetic-based therapies of primary hepatic tumours, peripheral B and T-cell lymphomas and lymphoblastic leukaemias” WP4: “Innovative clinical trials addressed by pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomics approaches”, “Programma di ricerca Regione-Università 2010-2012. Co-investigator in the WP4 Unit directed by Prof. Andrea Pession.

2013 – today: “INT 54/13: Whole-transcriptome and whole-exome sequencing observational study on biological samples of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, malignant myoepitelioma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans”, in collaboration with IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Milano, Italy. Partner.

2012 – 2013: “Clonal evolution in the early relapse of normal-karyotype pediatric acute myeloid leukemia evaluated by whole exome sequencing”, funded by Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy. Partner.

2010 – 2013: PRIN n° 2009FZZ4XM_004 bando 2009 “Integrated genomic analysis of the response to neoajuvant radio-chemotherapy in resectable and locally-advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma”, funded by

PRIN ministerial funding from the “Ministero dell’Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca”, Italy (PROGRAMMA DI RICERCA – MODELLO A - Year 2009 – prot. 2009FZZ4XM). Co-Investigator.

2008 – today: “Genomic analysis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, GIST – BIOGIST study”, funded by Novartis Oncology and AIG (Associazione Italiana GIST). Partner.

2008 – today: Member of the multidisciplinary research group “GIST Study Group” (www.giststudygroup.it), Bologna, Italy.

2007 – today: Participation in the prospective monocentric studies AllerGene “Study of the genetic predisposition to allergy in childhood” and AllerGene2 “Study of the genetic predisposition to atopic dermatitis in childhood”, partially funded by Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna. Co-investigator.

2007 – 2008: ”Identification of the genetic and genomic profile of response to conventional and innovative drugs in pediatric acute leukemias”, Research fellowship at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Pediatric Sciences – University of Bologna.

2005 – 2007: “Liver metastases from colorectal cancer: risk factors, prognosis and molecular-base treatments”, funded by PRIN ministerial funding from the “Ministero dell’Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca”, Italy (Year 2005): Partner.

2005 – 2006: “Gene expression profiling study of adult and pediatric tumor”, funded by Fondazione CARISBO, Bologna, Italy. Collaborator.

2005: “Microarray analysis of tumor progression and prevention”, at the Department of Experimental Pathology – Research fellowship from the University of Bologna, Italy.

2002 – 2004: “ Immunoprevention of Her-2/neu induced mammary carcinoma”. Winner of the grant from the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research (FIRC). Duration: 36 months. Principal Investigator.

2000 – 2001: “Microarray development and applications in rhabdomyosarcoma” funded through the “Young Researcher Program” of the University of Bologna. Principal Investigator.

1999 – 2001: “Cytokines and growth factors in musculo-skeletal tumors: gene discovery and gene therapy applications”. PhD project in Oncology, XIV cycle, University of Bologna.

TEACHING ACTIVITY

2019 – 2020: Histology - Integrated teaching module of ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY at the Bachelor’s degree in medical biotechnology, University of Ferrara.

2009 – 2014: Guest lecturer at the Professional Master Programme in Palliative Care – University of Bologna, Italy.

2006 – today: Supervisor of degrees theses in the courses of Medicine and Surgery, Biological Sciences, Health Biology, Medical Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Evolution, Cellular and molecular biotechnology.

2004 – 2008: Professor with a temporary appointment for “Microarray Technology”, at the course of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology - University of Bologna, Italy.

AWARDS AND PRIZES

2017 – today: Member of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP)

2016 – 2018: Active member of the national study group of “Cellular and Molecular Biology” at the Italian Association of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology (AIEOP).

2010: Co-investigator in the project “Study of the non-HLA genetic polymorphisms associated to prognosis of pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantiation”, by Masetti R., Prete A., Rondelli R., Astolfi A., Urbini M., Libri V., Gasperini P., Pession A., winner of the National Award of the Italian Association of Bone Marrow Donors (ADMO).

2006: Winner of the Prize from the Association of Nutrition and Food Researchers (ARNA), University of Bologna for the project “EPA and DHA regulate genes implicated in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure”.

Scientific congress organization

Scientific organization of the 5° AIEOP in Lab Workshop, of the National Study Group of “Cellular and Molecular Biology” at the Italian Association of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology (AIEOP). Bologna, May 28-29, 2018.

Scientific organization of the Meeting “Pancreatic Cancer: new challenges, new hopes?”. S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna. March 31^st, 2017.

Scientific organization of the “International symposium on: The Impact of Genomic Deep Sequencing on Paediatric Research and Clinical Practice”, University of Bologna, November 19-20, 2015.

Scientific organization of the Meeting “New Drugs in Pediatric Oncology”, Bologna, March 21-22, 2008.

The research activity of Annalisa Astolfi is documented by 22 oral communications as selected or invited speaker and 141 publications on peer-reviewed journals, with an H-index of 34

Web publications, Book chapters.

Astolfi A. “New method enables analysis of preserved cancer specimens with exome sequencing” Illumina iCommunity Newsletter, April 2015. (https://emea.illumina.com/content/dam/illumina-marketing/documents/icommunity/astolfi-nextera-rapid-capture-cancer-article-370-2015-001.pdf)

Astolfi, A. and Croci, S. Gene Therapy of muscular dystrophy. In: Terapia Genica, by P.-L. Lollini, C. De Giovanni, e P. Nanni, 1 ed, pp. 174-185