Falcigno Lucia

Biography

Lucia Falcigno (LF), born in Benevento on January 26, 1967, graduated full time in Chemistry at the University of Naples "Federico II" in 1991. In 1995 he obtained the title of Doctor of Research in Chemistry with a thesis titled "Conformational NMR study in solution of medium-sized linear molecules: application to peptide fragments of some hormone precursors" (tutor: Livio Paolillo). In the same year he won the competition for University Researcher in General and Inorganic Chemistry (Disciplinary Scientific Sector: Chim03) at the Faculty of Science MM. FF. NN. of the University of Naples "Federico II". From 1998 to 2005 he is a full-time confirmed researcher at the same Faculty. In 2005 he became Associate Professor of General Chemistry and Inorganic (Scientific Subject Sector: Chim03) at the Faculty of Science MM. FF. NN. of the University of Naples "Federico II". In 2013 he changed his concern from the Department of Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy of the Federico II University of Naples. From January 1996 to July 1996 he has a Post-Doc Scientific Collaboration Agreement with the Marion Merrell Dow Research Institute (Strasbourg-France) Department of Biophysics-Laboratory NMR under the supervision of Dr. Vladimir Saudek. He is a member of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) - Biological Division and the Italian Group of Magnetic Resonance Discussion (GIDRM). He draws as a researcher at the following Research Centers: CNR Biostructures and Bioimaging Institute (IBB); Interdepartmental Research Center for Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB) of the University of Naples "Federico II". The didactic activity of Dr. Lucia Falcigno took place from the academic year (aa) between 1995-1996 until the 1999-2000 academic year (60%) and in Biological Sciences (40%) of the Faculty of Science MM.FF .NN of the University of Naples "Federico II". Since the academic year 2000-2001 he has been teaching at the University of Naples "Federico II" at the Faculty of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science MM.FF.NN. Dall'a.a. 2005-06 all the year 2013-14 the main educational activity was carried out on the Triennale Degree in Biological Sciences with the title of the Chair of General Chemistry and Inorganic and Laboratory (10 CFU). At the same time he held additional teaching activities by taking the course "Chemistry Inorganica Superiore" (6 CFU) for the Master's Degree in Chemistry. From 2014 to 2012 he holds the General Chemistry Chair (10 CFUs) for the Bachelor's Degree in Quality Control at the Department of Pharmacy at the "Federico II" University of Naples. His research activity focuses on structural analysis in peptide and protein solutions, with particular attention to the study of their interaction properties. The study is aimed at the structural interpretation of the mechanisms of action, binding properties and molecular recognition of biomolecules, also in order to design molecules with targeted and enhanced properties such as new drugs, inhibitors, etc. In this regard, LF's research interests also extend to the structural study of polymeric synthesis biomaterials and the analysis of natural substances (fatty acids, tocopherols, lipids, etc.) present in foods. Currently, one of the main search strings of LF Structural analysis is conducted in a solution using mainly Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques with the support of computational methods such as homology modeling , docking simulation and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations . In recent works the latter have been applied with the use of Dynamic Essential (ED) methods. Lucia Falcigno is the author of more than 60 publications in magazines with peer review system and numerous posters and oral communications at national and international congresses.

Research Interest

The research field of Lucia Falcigno (LF) is that of structural biology. LF's research activity focuses on structural analysis in peptide and protein solutions, with particular attention to the study of their interaction properties. The study is aimed at the structural interpretation of the mechanisms of action, binding properties and molecular recognition of biomolecules, also in order to design molecules with targeted and enhanced properties such as new drugs, inhibitors, etc. In this regard, his research interests also extend to the structural study of polymeric synthesis biomaterials and the analysis of natural substances (fatty acids, tocopherols, lipids, etc.) present in foods . Currently, one of the main research topics concerns the study of the structural properties and interaction of the family of TGF-beta growth factors with their receptors. Structural analysis is conducted in a solution using mainly Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques, with the aid of computational methods, biomolecular structural prediction techniques, docking simulations and molecular dynamics. He is the author of numerous publications in magazines with peer review and poster and oral communications at national and international congresses.