Group web page: http://www.bio.unipd.it/iicg/ Prof. Luigi Leanza Associate Professor in Biochemistry. Education: 2009: PhD in Biosciences, University of Padova 2005: Master Degree in Molecular Biology, University of Padua 2003: First Degree in Molecular Biology, University of Padua Research experiences: 2019-today: Associate Professor, Dept. of Biology, University of Padua, Italy. 2016-2019: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, University of Padua, Italy. 2013-16: Senior Post Doc, Dept. of Biology, University of Padua. 2009-12: Junior Research Fellow, Dept. of Biology, University of Padua. 2006-09: PhD student, Dept. of Biology, University of Padua. Research experiences abroad: 2014: EMBO Short Term Fellowship, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 2013: Visiting Scientist, University of Kiel, Germany. 2004: Stage as Erasmus student, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Grants: 2021: STARS Unipd. 2019: MFAG Italian Association for Cancer Research. 2017-2018: PRID2016, University of Padua. 2017: FFABR, Italian Ministry of Education. 2013-2015: Young Scientist Program, University of Padua 2012. Awards: 2019: Maria Paola Belloni award for research in oncology. 2016: Grant for European Bioenergetic conference (EBEC), Riva del Garda, Italy. 2014: EMBO short term fellowship. 2013: Best presentation at Annual meeting of Italian Group of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes (GIBB). 2011: Travel grant for European Cell Death Organization (ECDO) conference. Patent: 2015: Co-author of an application for the patent titled “Psoralen derivatives as selective tumor-killing agents”, n. PD2015A000006, deposited the 15.01.2015. Publications: Co-author of 48 papers published in peer-reviewed journals with impact factor. Total citations: 1659. H index: 22. Selected publications: Severin F, et al. (2022) J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 41:64. Rossin F, et al. (2021) Cell Death Dis, 12:249. Costa R, et al. (2021) Pharm. Res, 164:105385. Costa R. et al. (2019) Cell Rep, 28:1949-1960.e6. Leanza L, et al. (2017) Cancer Cell, 31: 516-31. Leanza L, et al. (2013) Leukemia, 27: 1782-85. Leanza L, et al. (2012) EMBO Mol. Med., 4: 577-93. Leanza L, et al. (2008) J. Biol. Chem., 283: 16437-45. Conferences and national or international meetings: I attended to 42 national and international congresses. In 2 of them I have been invited speaker and in 16 of them I have been selected for an oral presentation. Guest editor for special issues (2019: Genes; 2021: Cancers; 2022: Frontiers in Oncology). Ad hoc reviewer for several international journals.

Curriculum PDF File

The main topic of our research activity is focused on the study of mitochondrial metabolism and diet on the modulation of intracellular signaling in cancer cells. In particular we are interested in the tuning of Wnt signaling (Costa et al, 2019 Cell Reports; Costa et al, 2021 Phamacological Research). In addition, we are studying the possible modulation of intracellular signaling in tumors mediated by regulation of length and number of inter-organelle contact sites (Rossin et al, 2021, Cell Death and Dis). We have several collaborations with other research groups both in Padova and in Europe and USA. Our group is supported by grants obtained by Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC - MFAG 2019) and the University of Padova (STARS program 2021).

Students will be involved in projects concerning the role of metabolism/diet and interorganelles contact sites in the regulation od intracellular signaling of cancer cells. The tools available are related to cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and to in vivo experiments in zebrafish and mice.

Last update: 01/07/2025