Curriculum
CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor, academic discipline BIOS-12/A, Human Anatomy, at the Department of Translational Medicine of the University of Ferrara.
QUALIFICATIONS
14-07-1999: Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Bologna
04-04-2003: Ph.D. in Molecular Cytodifferentiation, University of Bologna
TEACHING ACTIVITY
Professor of Human Anatomy for the following degree courses:
Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, Medical Biotechnology, Nursing (Pieve di Cento and Adria).
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
2003-2004: Research Grant at the Institute of Histology and General Embryology, University of Bologna
2004-2006: Research Grant at the current Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara
2006-2008: Research Grant from AREA Science Park of Trieste
2008: Scholarship at the current Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara
2008-2019: Technician at the current Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara
2019-2020: Assistant Professor, academic discipline BIO/09, Physiology, at the Department of Biomedical and Specialized Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara
2020-present: Associate Professor, academic discipline BIOS-12/A, Human Anatomy, at the Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara.
Main Research Topics
The research activity of Prof. Elisabetta Melloni, conducted mainly at the laboratories of the Institute of Histology and General Embryology of the University of Bologna and the current Department of Translational Medicine of the University of Ferrara, has primarily focused on the following areas of interest:
i) analysis and development of in vitro hematopoietic differentiation models, aiming to:
- reproduce the finely regulated progression of differentiation stages observed physiologically in vivo, from the commitment of pluripotent stem cells to specific hematopoietic lineages to the terminal differentiation of progenitors, resulting in the production of leukocytes, red blood cells, and platelets;
- understand the molecular mechanisms and regulatory systems leading to the high levels of morphological and functional specialization characteristic of blood cells;
ii) characterization of the role/activity and mechanism of action of proteins belonging to the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) family, particularly TRAIL (TNF-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand), in various morpho-functional compartments such as: hematopoiesis, bone tissue remodeling, anterior chamber of the eye, and mobilization of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells. Special attention has also been given to evaluating the potential implications of these proteins in the physiopathology of certain hematological neoplasms;
iii) Study of basic biological mechanisms and new molecular targets involved in pathogenesis processes in onco-hematologic patients through the development of advanced experimental protocols and models based on the use of normal and leukemic primary cells. These studies also aimed at the preclinical evaluation of new molecules or pharmacological combinations potentially effective even in cases of the development of drug resistance to conventional therapies;
iv) Study of the activity of innovative drugs, newly synthesized or naturally derived molecules, on in vitro models of inflammation and solid tumors;
v) Analysis of the biological effects of bioactive molecules in the context of degenerative retinal diseases.
Main Research Projects
Prof. Elisabetta Melloni has participated at the following main projects:
MIUR-Prin Project (2004): “Role of TRAIL/Apo-2L in hematopoietic and endothelial physiopathology”
MIUR-Prin Project (2006): “Role of TRAIL in hematopoietic and vascular physiopathology”
AIRC Project (2008): “Combined treatment with Nutlins plus TRAIL as an innovative therapy for hematological malignancies”
MIUR-FIRB Project (2010): “Cancer Stem Cells: Signal Transduction Pathways as Targets of Potential Therapies”
AIRC Project (2011): “Treatment based on Nutlin-3 combinations as an innovative therapy for leukemia and pediatric malignancies”
MIUR-FIRB Project (2011): “FIERCE Project - New Molecular and Cellular Targets for the Development of Innovative Antitumor Therapies”
POR-FESR EMILIA ROMAGNA Project (2014-2020), Axis 1, Action 1.2.2: “CUBIBOX (Customized Biological Box): next-generation platform for in vitro testing”
FIRD Project (2022): “Role of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Degenerations: Analysis of the Activity of Bioactive Molecules on Retinal Damage”
FIRD Project (2023): “Morphological and Functional Evaluations of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Ulcerative Colitis”
FIRD Project (2024): “Study of the Effects of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Molecules in In Vitro Models of Muscular Pathologies”
Scientific Profile
Orcid ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7829-0824
Scopus Author ID: 7005438540
Publications and Bibliometric Indicators calculated at 21/01/2025
Number of publications published in extenso in international scientific journals with a Referees’ board: 75, reported on PubMed and/or Scopus. Hirsch Index/H-index: 24 (source: Scopus). Total number of citations: 2246 (source: Scopus).
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
Since 2011, Prof. Elisabetta Melloni has been part of the staff of the “Laboratorio per le Tecnologie delle terapie avanzate” (LTTA) of the Ferrara Technopole - Life Sciences platform - accredited by the Emilia-Romagna Region as an Industrial Research and Technology Transfer Laboratory, holding, in particular, the following roles:
2011-2014: Scientific Consultant for the Flow Cytometry Service
2011-present: Organizational Management Responsible for the Biobank Service
2014-2018: Contact person for the Flow Cytometry Service
2019-present: Technical Director of the Flow Cytometry Service.
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY
- Deputy-Coordinator of the Degree Course in Medical Biotechnology
- Member of the Teaching Board of the PhD in “Environmental and Health Sciences”
- Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (SIAI)
- Member of the Italian Society of Histochemistry (SII)
- Guest Editor for the following international scientific journals: "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” (ISSN 1660-4601), “Molecules” (ISSN: 1420-3049) and “Biomolecules” (ISSN: 2218-273X).
