ANNARITA FIORILLO

Academic Background
• 2025 – present: Associate Professor (BIO/07), Sapienza University of Rome
• 2022 – 2025: Tenure-track Assistant Professor (RTDB, BIO/10), Sapienza University of Rome
• 2017 – 2022: Assistant Professor (RTDA, BIO/10), Sapienza University of Rome
• 2010 – 2016: Postdoctoral Researcher, Sapienza University of Rome (Telethon and Sapienza-funded projects)
• 2007 – 2010: PhD in Biochemistry and Neurosciences, University of L’Aquila
• 2007: MSc in Chemistry (cum laude), Sapienza University of Rome
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Research Interests
• Structure-function studies of macromolecules for drug discovery and biotechnology.
• Main targets:
o Redox metabolism, polyamine pathways, and UPS system in Leishmania parasites
o Sigma1 receptor and other protein targets in neurological disorders
o Sorcin: a calcium-dependent cellular regulator
• Techniques: X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, spectroscopy.
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Selected Grants and Projects
• 2024: PI – Structure-based drug discovery against Trypanosoma targets (Sapienza internal funding)
• 2024: PI – Targeting LmUbC4 E2 enzyme via PROTACs (XChem project, iNEXT-DL, Diamond Light Source, UK)
• 2023: Co-PI – Targeting hydrogen sulfide tolerance in pathogens (Sapienza internal funding)
• 2022: PI – Broad-spectrum anti-trypanosomal drug discovery (Sapienza funding)
• 2017 – ongoing: Co-PI – Drug target scouting in neglected and rare diseases (CNCCS public-private consortium)
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Awards and Recognitions
• 2015: Best Research Project – XVIII Telethon Scientific Meeting, Riva del Garda
• 2010: Poster Award – 10th Sigma-Aldrich Young Chemists Symposium
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Teaching and Supervision
• Lecturer for:
o Biochemistry and Biochemical Biotechnology (BSc in Biotechnology)
o Chemistry and Introductory Biochemistry (MD program, courses A/B/C)
o Biochemistry (BSc in Nursing, San Camillo)
• Supervisor of MSc and BSc theses in Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Faculty member, PhD Program in Biochemistry (Sapienza)
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Technical Expertise
• Protein expression, purification, and structural characterization
• High-throughput crystallization, synchrotron data collection
• Cryo-EM sample preparation and structural analysis
• Molecular biology, biochemical and biophysical assays
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Affiliations:
• Member of the Italian Crystallographic Association (AIC/IUCr)
Publications:
ORCID: 0000-0002-8966-8554