Scientific Director

Gianni Sava, biologist.
E-mails: g.sava@callerio.org - gsava@fc.units.it

Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Trieste. Active in the field of cancer chemotherapy since 1975 (first paper published "GIRALDI T, NISI C, SAVA G. Investigation on the oxidative N-demethylation of aryltriazenes in vitro.Biochemical Pharmacology", 24: 1793-1797, 1975").
Major subjects of expertise include:
a) pharmacological profile of sodium sulphide,
b) antitumour properties of diazo-derivatives of aminoacids, dimethyl-triazenes and metal complexes of group VIII transition metals,
c) immunepharmacology of lysozymes.
Wide experience on the pharmacological characterisation of drugs active on solid tumour metastases. Author or co-author of 235 scientific papers published on specialised journals, serial books or targeted books (updated June 2008) .

Last paper published:"Pellizzaro C, Speranza A, Zorzet S, Crucil I, Sava G, Scarlata I, Cantoni S, Fedeli M, Coradini D. Inhibition of human pancreatic cell line MIA PaCa2 proliferation by HA-But, a hyaluronic butyric ester: a preliminary report. Pancreas. 2008 6:15-23"

staff

Moreno Cocchietto, biologist.
E-mails: mcocchietto@fc.units.it - m.cocchietto@callerio.org

Biologist Researcher in force at Callerio Foundation since February, 1990.
Fields of interest:
AQUACULTURE – Hi-Tech Oral Vaccines
ORNAMENTAL FISH – Oral Products for Immune System Boosting
ONCOLOGY – Novel Antitumour and Antimetastases Compounds
DIABETES – Oral Chemopreventive Treatments of Diabetic Nephrophaty
FOOD INDUSTRY – Special Food for Diabetics
Founder member of Biopod, a Spin-Off candidate and Ignition grant winner in the context of Innovation Factory, Technological Transfer Service, AREA Science Park, Trieste
Author and co-author of 39 scientific papers and 1 patent.

Last paper published "SCOLARO C, CHAPLIN AB, HARTINGER CG, BERGAMO A, COCCHIETTO M, KEPPLER BK, SAVA G and DYSON PJ Tuning the hydrophobicity of ruthenium(II)-arene (RAPTA) drugs to modify uptake, biomolecular interactions and efficacy. Dalton Transactions 5065-5070, 2007" Dalton Transactions 5065-5070, 2007.

staff

Alberta Bergamo, chemist and technological pharmacist.
E-mail: a.bergamo@callerio.org - abergamo@fc.units.it

AREA OF INTEREST: Pharmacology, cancer chemotherapy

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
In vivo pharmacological analysis of metal-based compounds active on metastases of solid tumours.
In vitro testing of cytotoxicity, of cell cycle effects and of cell migration/invasion mechanisms of test compounds on tumour cells.
In vitro and in vivo analysis of immunological response after pharmacological treatment.
Technical expertise in flow cytometry analysis.
The scientific production updated to 2008 is constituted of 55 full-length papers in international peer-reviewed journals and two patents.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2004-2005: Contract professor for the course of “Advanced Pharmacology” in the faculty of Farmacy, University of Trieste.
2005-2007: Contract professor for the course of “Basis of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics” in the faculty of Biology, University of Trieste.
Tutoring activity in the preparation of 17 degree thesis and of 2 PhD thesis.

Last paper published ""Bratsos I, Jedner S, Bergamo A, Sava G, Gianferrara T, Zangrando E, Alessio E Half-sandwich Ru(II)[9]aneS(3) complexes structurally similar to antitumor-active organometallic piano-stool compounds: preparation, structural characterization and in vitro cytotoxic activity" J Inorg Biochem, 102: 1120-1133, 2008. ISBN/ISSN: 0162-0134."

staff

Michele Zabucchi, staff technician.
E-mail: m.zabucchi@callerio.org - michele@fc.units.it

Expert in histology and light transmission microscopy.

Post-doc contract

Laura Zorzin, Degree in Chemical and Technological Pharmacy. PhD in Pharmacology, Chemotherapy and Microbiology.

E-mail: l.zorzin@fc.units.it; lallazin@yahoo.it

Post-doc contract drawn up in the contest of the Project “Vettori orali di vaccini per la pescicoltura del FVG”, financially supported by Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Expert in development and validation of biopolimeric oral drug delivery systems containing lysozyme, for applications in the following fields: vaccination, diabetes, aging, food&health.
Member of Biopod, a pre-competitive initiative in the frame of the SpinArea-Innovation Factory programme, Technological Transfer Service, AREA Science Park, Trieste
Author of 4 publications on international papers and inventor of 2 patents.
Last paper published: "Zorzin L., Cocchietto L., Voinovich D., Marcuzzi A., Filipovic-Grcic J., Mulloni C., Crembiale G., Casarsa C. and Sava G. Lysozyme-containing chitosan-coated alginate microspheres for oral immunisation . Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 16 (6): 413-20 (2006)" .

on research fellowship

AlessiaMasi, Degree in Biology. PhD student. School of Biomolecular Medicine.

Thesis work on: Modulation of integrin pathways in the control of invasion and metastasis and ruthenium complexes.

on research fellowship

Daniel Era, Degree in Chemical and Technological Pharmacy.
E-mail: era.daniel@gmail.com

Thesis work on: Glutathione and cancer: relationship in the invasive process in breast cancer cells:
Study of the molecular interactions of ruthenium organometallics with tumor integrins; study done in part at the university hospital of Frankfurt (Germany) and supported by the action COST D39.

Maria Donata Gori

This lady has left us forever. A sadly ironic demise due to the dreadful thing we are fighting professionally: she died of cancer.
We enjoyed for so many years her company, her co-operation, her ever-helpful attitude, her incredibly human efficiency; then during her disease we shared her hopes and her illusions until the very last moments.
We refuse to remove her name from this page for she still is part of the team: her being here - and in our dearest memories - will remind us daily that the monster we are wrestling against strikes blindly and brutally, and that no effort is to be spared to defeat it.
Donata, we won't forget you