Curriculum
POSITION
PhD Nicoletta Bianchi
- Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Reader of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari n. 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Degree in Biology on July 14, 1992 (Title of the thesis: “Differential transcription of the human gene for estrogen receptor in normal and neoplastic cells”)
- PhD in Biotechnology on July 14, 1998 (Title of the thesis: “Biomolecular technologies applied to the characterization of interactions between DNA and molecules capable of modulating gene expression”)
Phone: +39-0532-455447
mobile. +39-339-6559668
e-mail: nicoletta.bianchi@unife.it
- Member of the Doctoral College of Advanced therapies and experimental pharmacology
- Since 2018 Member of the Signal Transduction Society (Germany)
- Since 2022 Member of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Member of the Editorial Board of Non-coding RNA (MDPI)
- Investigator selected by REPRISE (register of scientific experts of Italian MIUR, Ministry of Education, University and Research) for the topic “basic research”
- To date (2024)
Scientific profile
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9280-6017
Researcher ID: H-1902-2015
Scopus ID: 7102299760
Total number of publications in national and international journals with the Referees board reported on Scopus = 179
Number of publications in which the author has a leadership function (first / last and / or corresponding author) = 34
Total number of citations (source Scopus) = 5056
Hirsch Index / H-index = 41 (Scopus source)
She is included in the Top Italian Women Scientists Biomedical Sciences (VIA Academy) at 282nd. H-index = 47; citations = 6526; Area = biochemistry - mol cell biology; Macroarea = Biomedical Sciences (Verified Google Scholar MyCitations Last Update: on 16th of January 2023)
Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors:
1998-2000: F.I.R.C fellowship (Italian Foundation for Cancer Research), title of the project: Real-time analysis of the interaction between cellular oncogene promoters and DNA-binding drugs or triple helix forming oligonucleotides: use of biosensors. (University of Ferrara, Italy)
2000-2018: Technician. (University of Ferrara, Italy)
2015-2018: Reader of Molecular and Recombinant Technologies at the School of Biotechnology (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy)
2018-2021: Researcher (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy)
2019 to present: Reader of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy)
2021 to present: Associate Professor (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy)
Experience:
2003-2006: N. Bianchi was Scientific Manager of ThalLab (Research Laboratory on Gene Therapy and Pharmacogenomics of Thalassemia), dealing with pre-clinical experimentation on erythroid cultures isolated from peripheral blood of patients with beta-thalassemia (http://www.talassemiaricerca.it/) taking care of relationships with several Italian and foreign hospitals:
•Immunohematology and Transfusion Service S.I.T. ULSS 18 – Rovigo Hospital, Italy
•Pediatric Clinic I, Down Syndrome Center, "Santa Chiara" Hospital – Pisa, Italy
•Pediatric Clinic of Ferrara Hospital - Ferrara, Italy
•International Centre for Transplantation in Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia, Mediterranean Institute of Haematology, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata University, Roma, Italy
•Department of Hematology, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel
•Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University - New York, USA, later working at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Abramson Research Center Philadelphia, USA
These structures were involved, both for the recovery of biological samples used for product development ("drugs") and/or set up of protocols for the care of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease with the aim to implement clinical trials and to carry out national and European research projects. (University of Ferrara, Italy)
2005-2006: N. Bianchi obtained benefits from Spinner, for People with Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas and a High Content of Knowledge (Spinner global grant - Services for the promotion of Innovation and Research, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy). The activity of Dr. Bianchi allowed development several patents. (University of Ferrara, L. Borsari street, 46 - 44121 Ferrara, Italy)
Projects:
From 2000 to present: N. Bianchi has been involved the Operative Units in several important research projects (The most important: AIRC 2003 - 2004 - 2012); TELETHON 2007 (Project n°GGP07257) - TELETHON 2010 (Project n°GGP10214); THALAMOSS 2012, Progetto n°306201-FP7-HEALTH-2012-INNOVATION-1; Industrial research and innovation project titled National Centers "National Center for HPC, Big Data and Quantum Computing", PNRR - Spoke 8a InSilico Medicine (2022 to present)
Award:
2019-2022: N. Bianchi gets the Premier AIMS Award Announcement (i.e. RaD Discovery Award, C4C Discovery Award, and Innovator Award) of Atomwise (San Francisco, USA) as Principal Investigator along with Prof. Carlo M. Bergamini. The project is aimed to develop small molecular inhibitors, designed by Artificial Intelligence and in silico virtual screening. Title of the project: Identification of small molecule modulators of Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) conformation. Award Atomwise (San Francisco, California, US) GRANT_NUMBER: Project ID: A19
Contributions to Science:
For years, I have been involved in the research of microRNAs as biomarkers for biological processes (e.g., erythroid differentiation, PMID: 31148196, PMID: 29186860, PMID: 22332658, PMID: 19712585) and the development of pathology (PMID: 27623176), both in the field of hereditary diseases (thalassemia and cystic fibrosis, PMID: 25849663, PMID: 24433094) and inflammatory chronic diseases (celiac disease, PMID: 35740429). Some studies were aimed at developing therapeutic strategies against microRNAs (PMID: 22126292, PMID: 24166311, PMID: 22012891, PMID: 22699795, PMID: 21864506. PMID: 24166312, PMID: 22639449).
More recently, my interest has been focused on non-coding RNA molecules as markers of cancer, stemness, and response/resistance to therapies (PMID: 24595467, PMID: 26708164, PMID: 26986724, PMID: 34503164, PMID: 26449498, PMID: 22992757, PMID: 32188472). Also, I have identified deregulated circular RNAs in response to anti-tumor treatment in breast cancer (PMID: 37106694, PMID: 37218992), as well as deregulated T-UCRs in relation to the cell cycle (PMID: 34946928).
In addition, I have extensive experience in the field of transcriptional regulation of transglutaminase type 2 (PMID: 29764956) and its inhibition. I discovered the presence of a non-coding RNA transcribed from the TGM2 gene with a transcriptional regulatory function both of the canonical TGM2 transcript (PMID: 29313085; PMID: 34449674, PMID: 31440819). This non-coding RNA modulates transcription by binding factors, for example GATA3, an event that also interferes with the expression of altered variants of TGM2 leading to synthesis of isoenzymes, closely correlated with aggressive and drug resistant breast cancers (PMID: 34975314). We have therefore focused our attention on this type of tumor, trying to better understand the role of the enzyme by the use of inhibitors. This has allowed us to understand the localization changes (PMID: 34831282), following the block of its activity, the interactions with voltage-dependent k+ channels (PMID: 36612174), never described before, and contractile system of the cytoskeleton and vimentin, also highlighting the possibility of reducing the motility of cancer cells and attributing to the transglutaminase 2 a possible role as target of anticancer therapies (PMID: 34831282). The interest in the development of inhibitors of this enzyme is very high, but since this is a multifunctional enzyme performing both intra- and extracellular roles, together with American and Canadian teams we have defined how it is the intracellular activity that supports tumorigenicity, underlining the relevance of both permeable and impermeable inhibitors available to modulate specific functions (PMID: 37628729). Currently, we have analyzed the effects of enzyme inhibitors on the metabolome of breast cancer cells, as this is now considered a hallmark of cancer (PMID: 37597264), allowing us to understand metabolic pathway changes in response to treatment.
Field of research and relevant publications:
The focus of my work throughout the years has been the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in different rare disorders (thalassemia and cystic fibrosis), as well as in cancer, in order to identify biomarkers and new therapeutic targets, in the field of personalized medicine.
Until 2017 I have collaborated with national and international groups in the development of research projects in which these structures were involved, both for the recovery of biological samples used for the development of therapeutic drugs and protocols for the care of the beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, and the setting up a biobank. In addition, my field of interest regards molecules regulating transcriptional and post-transcriptional control mechanisms, such as non-coding RNAs that were explored as biomarkers and as potential targets for molecular therapy.
More recently my interest concerned the transglutaminase 2, a crucial marker not only of aggressive and drug-resistance tumors, but also of other pathologies, such as celiac disease. I have deeply studied both the gene, its transcriptional variants and the mechanisms of their generation in cancer, as well as the biological and pathological functions of the protein. In particular, I am investigating the effects of inhibitors of this enzyme and the modulated pathway and networks of gene involved.
1. Metabolic characterisation of transglutaminase 2 inhibitor effects in breast cancer cell lines.
Gallo M, Ferrari E, Terrazzan A, Brugnoli F, Spisni A, Taccioli C, Aguiari G, Trentini A, Volinia S, Keillor JW, Bergamini CM, Bianchi N, Pertinhez TA.FEBS J. 2023 Aug 19. doi: 10.1111/febs.16931. Online ahead of print.
2. Inverse Impact of Cancer Drugs on Circular and Linear RNAs in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.
Terrazzan A, Crudele F, Corrà F, Ancona P, Palatini J, Bianchi N, Volinia S.Noncoding RNA. 2023 May 19;9(3):32. doi: 10.3390/ncrna9030032.
3. Cell-Impermeable Inhibitors Confirm That Intracellular Human Transglutaminase 2 Is Responsible for the Transglutaminase-Associated Cancer Phenotype. Gates EWJ, Calvert ND, Cundy NJ, Brugnoli F, Navals P, Kirby A, Bianchi N, Adhikary G, Shuhendler AJ, Eckert RL, Keillor JW.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 8;24(16):12546. doi: 10.3390/ijms241612546.
4. Circulating microRNAs Suggest Networks Associated with Biological Functions in Aggressive Refractory Type 2 Celiac Disease. Bianchi N, Doneda L, Elli L, Taccioli C, Vaira V, Scricciolo A, Lombardo V, Terrazzan A, Colapietro P, Terranova L, Bergamini C, Vecchi M, Scaramella L, Nandi N, Roncoroni L.Biomedicines. 2022 Jun 14;10(6):1408. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10061408.
5. Dysregulation of Transglutaminase type 2 through GATA3 defines aggressiveness and Doxorubicin sensitivity in breast cancer. Aguiari G, Crudele F, Taccioli C, Minotti L, Corrà F, Keillor JW, Grassilli S, Cervellati C, Volinia S, Bergamini CM, Bianchi N.Int J Biol Sci. 2022 Jan 1;18(1):1-14. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.64167. eCollection 2022.
6. A Multidisciplinary Approach Establishes a Link between Transglutaminase 2 and the Kv10.1 Voltage-Dependent K+ Channel in Breast Cancer. Canella R, Brugnoli F, Gallo M, Keillor JW, Terrazzan A, Ferrari E, Grassilli S, Gates EWJ, Volinia S, Bertagnolo V, Bianchi N, Bergamini CM.Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 28;15(1):178. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010178.
7. Machine Learning Algorithms Highlight tRNA Information Content and Chargaff's Second Parity Rule Score as Important Features in Discriminating Probiotics from Non-Probiotics. Bergamini CM, Bianchi N, Giaccone V, Catellani P, Alberghini L, Stella A, Biffani S, Yaddehige SK, Bobbo T, Taccioli C.Biology (Basel). 2022 Jul 7;11(7):1024. doi: 10.3390/biology11071024.
8. The Motility and Mesenchymal Features of Breast Cancer Cells Correlate with the Levels and Intracellular Localization of Transglutaminase Type 2. Bianchi N, Brugnoli F, Grassilli S, Bourgeois K, Keillor JW, Bergamini CM, Aguiari G, Volinia S, Bertagnolo V.Cells. 2021 Nov 6;10(11):3059. doi: 10.3390/cells10113059.
9. Inhibition of the lncRNA Coded within Transglutaminase 2 Gene Impacts Several Relevant Networks in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. Bergamini CM, Vischioni C, Aguiari G, Grandi C, Terrazzan A, Volinia S, Bianchi N, Taccioli C.Noncoding RNA. 2021 Aug 18;7(3):49. doi: 10.3390/ncrna7030049.PMID: 34449674
10. A validated cellular biobank for β-thalassemia. Cosenza LC, Breda L, Breveglieri G, Zuccato C, Finotti A, Lampronti I, Borgatti M, Chiavilli F, Gamberini MR, Satta S, Manunza L, De Martis FR, Moi P, Rivella S, Gambari R, Bianchi N.J Transl Med. 2016 Sep 2;14(1):255. doi: 10.1186/s12967-016-1016-4.
