Symposium “From sequencing to discovery”

Published on 24 March 2026

Today two members of the Faculty, Dr Artem Smirnov and Prof Alessandra Gambacurta, have organised a symposium on the role of the Next Generation Sequencing in basic research. The symposium was supported by Novogene Europe. Six of our PhD students including Alessia Petrilli (41 cycle), Mariacristina Franzese Canonico (38 cycle), Elisa Cortellesi (40 cycle), Giulio Colasanto (40 cycle), Damiano Barnaba (40 cycle) and Matteo Veneziano (40 cycle) have presented flash talks and shared how they use NGS services in their projects.

Webinar on Precision Medicine

Published on 09 March 2026

On 9 march 2026, our Faculty members Prof Giuseppe Sica and Prof Eleonora Candi have organised a webinar on the advances in translational and precision medicine.

Lecture on structural biology

Published on 18 March 2026

On 18 March 2026, Prof. Luisa Di Paola from the Campus Bio-Medico (Rome) held a lecture on “From Structure to Function: Network-Based Approaches to Studying Allostery in Metabolism” for the 2nd year PhD students.

Modelling epithelial barrier

Published on 17 February 2026

Today Dr Francesco Boccellato from University of Oxford (UK) held the 8th of a series of Biochemistry Talks. He presented his work on mucosoids, an in vitro model of human mucosa and how we can use to study infections and irritations.

PhD viva XXXVIII cycle

Published on 29 January 2026

Today XXXVIII cycle students have succesfully passed their final PhD thesis defence. The examination committee included Prof Massimo Bottini, Prof Massimiliano Agostini and the President of the examination board Prof Eleonora Candi. Congratulations to our new PhDs!

Uncovering the role of condensin

Published on 13 October 2025

Today we had Dr Alessandro Borsellini, a postdoc from the Human Technophile who delivered the 7th Biochemistry Talk and presented his work on condensin II and cryo-EM approach.

MicroRNAs & Cancer | Published on 24 September 2025
On 24 September 2025, Prof Carlo Maria Croce from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Ohio State University delivered a lecture on the history of discovery and study of the microRNAs and their role in cancer.

Best poster award | Published on 13 June 2025
Mariacristina Franzese Canonico, a 3rd PhD student from Artem Smirnov/Eleonora Candi group, won the second Best Poster Award sponsored by the Molecular Oncology journal at the the international p53/p63/p73 isoforms workshop in cancer and ageing in Dundee, UK, organised by Dr Jean-Christophe Bourdon. Congratulations!

p53/p63/p73 isoforms workshop | Published on 13 June 2025
The Prof Eleonora Candi lab attended The international p53/p63/p73 isoforms workshop in cancer and ageing held on 10-13 June 2025 in Dundee, UK. The aim of the meeting was to stimulate the exchange of ideas and collaborations between the leading scientists and clinicians from around the globe and to discuss the most recent and exciting findings about p53 family isoforms. Two PhD students, Damiano Barnaba (40 cycle) and Mariacristina Franzese Canonico (38 cycle), from Artem Smirnov/Eleonora Candi lab presented their PhD projects at the poster session. Photo courtesy of Dr Stephen Finn.

Paper alert: Interferon response in bladder cancer | Published on 10 June 2025
Damiano Barnaba (40 cycle) and Mariacristina Franzese Canonico (38 cycle) from Artem Smirnov/Eleonora Candi group have identified a non-coding RNA LEADR, regulated by the transcription factor p63, among the top ncRNAs expressed in low grade urothelial tumours. They showed that LEADR dampens interferon signalling in low grade bladder cancer, therefore maintaining the tumour cells sensitive to immunotherapy. Read the paper here.

Understanding causes of cancer | Published on 15 May 2025
Today Prof Dan Middleton from Queen’s College of Belfast (UK), held the sixth of a series of Biochemical Talks, organised by our PhD school. He presented his recent work on the role of environment and lifestyle factors leading to cancer.

PhD 41 cycle CALL | Published on 07 May 2025
The 2025 PhD call – apply here. The call is now CLOSED.

PhD Honoris Causa to Prof Yufang Shi | Published on 05 May 2025
Prof Yufang Shi from Soochow University (China) has received a Doctorate Honoris Causa degree in presence of the Vice-chancellor of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Prof Nucci for his achievements in biology of inflammation.

Understanding breast cancer | Published on 05 March 2025
Today Prof Sima Lev from Weizmann Institute of Science (UK), held the fifth of a series of Biochemical Talks, organised by our PhD school. She presented her recent work on integration of multiple approaches to takle aggressive breast cancer.

PhD viva XXXVII cycle | Published on 23 January 2025
Today XXXVIII cycle students have succesfully passed there final PhD thesis defence. The examination committee included Prof Elena Dellambra from the IDI Institute (Rome), Prof Maria Victoria Niklison Chirou and the President of the examination borad Prof Massimiliano Agostini. Many congratulations to our new PhDs!

Biochemistry of lipids | Published on 22 January 2025
Today, Prof Maria Victoria Niklison Chirou from University of Bath (UK), held the fourth of a seires of Biochemical Talks, organisied by our PhD school. Prof Nikloson presented new data from her lab showing the role of the lipid droplets and lipid metabolism in medulloblastoma.