Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
Education:
2008 Degree in Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Italy.
2013: Ph.D. in Animal Biology of the School “Life Sciences”, University of Calabria, Italy.
2016: Residency in Clinical Pathology, University of Calabria, Italy.
Research Experience:
Present: Group Leader, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania (Italy) supported by AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro) Start-Up Grant 2018. Research Project : Targeting the connection between deregulated insulin/igf axis and rage signalling in breast cancer patients.
2018: Research Associate, Translational Medicine Unit, School of Environment and Life Science, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
2015-2018: Research Associate, Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester supported by an AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro) and EU co-funded iCARE biennal fellowship. Research Project : “Role of GPER in VEGF-induced tumor neoangiogenesis”.
2015:Temporary Research Fellow in Molecular Oncology, Dept. of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Italy. Research Projecct : ‘Novel molecular mechanisms involved in anti-cancer therapeutic resistance and strategy of intervention’.
2013-2014: Biennal Fellowship “Isabella Adonio Curcio”, funded by AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro), Dept. of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Italy. Research Project : “Functional role played by GPER in hypoxia induced tumor neoangiogenesis”.
2012: Temporary Research Fellow in Molecular Oncology, Dept. of Pharmaco-Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Italy. Research Project : ‘Novel molecular mechanisms involved in anti-cancer therapeutic resistance and strategy of intervention’.
2010-2012: Temporary Research Fellow in General Physiology, Dept. of Pharmaco-Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Italy. Research Project : ‘Molecular mechanisms involved in estrogen action in rat cardiomyocytes’.
2010-2011: Teaching assistant for ‘General Pathology I-II’ and ‘Cellular Oncology and Pathology’, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Italy.
2009: Teaching Assistant for the program : ‘Percorso di Potenziamento delle competenze di base POR Calabria FSE 2007-2013’, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Italy.
Academic Year 2021/2022
- DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SURGERY AND MEDICAL-SURGICAL SPECIALTIES
Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery - 3rd Year
MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO E DIAGNOSTICA INTEGRATA - canale 2 - DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SURGERY AND MEDICAL-SURGICAL SPECIALTIES
Master's Degree in School of Dentistry - 3rd Year
SCIENZE MEDICHE I
Academic Year 2020/2021
- DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SURGERY AND MEDICAL-SURGICAL SPECIALTIES
Master's Degree in School of Dentistry - 3rd Year
SCIENZE MEDICHE I
-Molecular and biological mechanisms involved in obesity and diabetes-related cancer progression.
-Molecular mechanisms involved in hormone (estrogens) and growth factors (EGF, IGF)-dependent cancer progression.
-Mechanisms involved in the interactions between capncer cells and the tumor microenvironment, in particular tumor angiogenesis and adaptation to hypoxic microenvironment.
-Mechanisms involved in the metabolic regulation of cancer cells and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) through metabolomics and proteomics.
-Molecular mechanisms involved in the cardioprotective effects mediated by estrogens through GPER and ER.
Scientific Responsibilities
Principal Investigator for the project Start-Up Reintegration Grant 2018 supported by AIRC, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania (Lab of Endocrinology, c/o A.R.N.A.S. Garibaldi, Nesima).
Editorial Activity:
Reviewer for the scientific journals "Plos One”, “Frontiers in Physiology”.
Editorial Board Member of the journal “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”.
ASN :
Professor, 06/A2- General and Clinical Pathology (2018-2024).
Professor, 05/F1- Applied Biology (2018-2024).
Keywords:
Breast cancer, IGFs, Insulin, RAGE, diabetes, obesity, tumor microenvironment, tumor metabolism, estrogen, GPER, tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammation, Cancer Stem Cells, Cancer Associated Fibroblasts.
