Angels Courts

Biography

Ordinary Professor of Biochemistry, Vita-Salute University of San Raffaele, Milan. Director of the Experimental Oncology Division, San Raffaele Institute, Milan. Head of Unit for Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting (Head Unit), San Raffaele Institute, Milan. EDUCATION AND PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT 1978: Degree in Biological Sciences (Biochemical Orientation), University of Milan (Summa cum laude). 1977-1978: Biennial Internship for the Bachelor's Thesis, Laboratory of Biochemistry - University of Milan. 1980-1982: Researcher, Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Bioextractives, Lepetit Research Center, Milan, Italy. 1983-1987: Senior Scientist, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, Merrel Dow Research Institute, Lepetit Research Center, 1983: Visiting Scientist, Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda , Milan, Italy. 1988-1989: Head of Unit of Biochemistry of Proteins (Head Unit), Boheringer Mannheim Italy Research Center, Monza, Italy. 1989-1994: Head of Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Immunology (Head of Unit), Tecnogen Research Lab (at CNR), Milan, Italy 1994-2006: Head of Immunobiotechnology Unit (Head Unit), Department of Biological and Technological Research (DIBIT) - San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy. 2006-present: Head of Unit for Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting (Head Unit), Molecular Oncology Division, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy. 2014-Present: Director of the Experimental Oncology Division, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy DEGREE ACTIVITIES 1993-2001: "Contract Professor" of Genetic Engineering, School of Specialization in Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, University of Milan, Italy 2009-Present: Member Faculty and Lecturer at International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Section of Biology and Biotherapy of Cancer, University of San Raffaele, Milan -2014-present: Member of the Commission of the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology and Biotherapy of Cancer, San Raffaele University of Life and Health, Milan 2002-2015: "Contract Professor" for Biochemistry (BIO / 10), at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery - Degree Course in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, San Raffaele Health University, Milan (Teaching language: English) 2010-2015: "Contract Professor" of Protein Biochemistry (BIO / 10) (in the integrated course of "Chemistry and Biochemistry"), International MD Program, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery - Bachelor Degree in Medicine, Health San Raffaele, Milan. Teaching language: English 1995-present: Correspondent of various doctoral theses for students of Medicine, Biology and Biotechnology 2014: National Scientific Ability for the Professorship of First Colleges in the Competitive Sector 05 / E1 - General Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry (Call 2012). 2014: National Scientific Ability for the Function of First Colleges University Professor in the Competitive Sector 05 / F1 - Applied Biology (Call 2012). 2015-present: Ordinary Professor of Biochemistry (BIO / 10), Vita-Salute University San Raffaele Milano SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES / ASSOCIATIONS Scientific Committee AIRC Bags (from 2015). National Order of Italian Biologists (since 1986); American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2005); NIBIT (Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy) (since 2007); IIT Network of Molecular Neuroscience (since 2006); American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (2008 - 58329); European Society for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (ESCII) (2009); ISCCB International Advisory Board (since 2009) REVIEW FOR SCIENTIFIC REPRESENTATIONS Nature Biotechnology, Nature Materials, J Clin Invest, PNAS, Blood, Cancer Res, Trends Mol Med, Clin Cancer Res, Mol Cancer Therapy, Trends Cardiovasc Med, Curr Med Chem, J Am Soc Nephrol, J Medicinal Chem, Cardiovasc Res, Leukoc Biol, J Control Rel, Mol Pharmacol, Hum Gene Ther, Endocrinol, Cancer Gene Ther, Eur J Cancer, PLOS One, Brit J Cancer, Regul Peptides, Cell Mol Life Sci, J Immunol Meth, Clin Sci, Tumor Biol, Int Arch Allergy Immunol, Biopolymers, Pept Sci, Sci STKE, Rec Patents Anti-Cancer Drug Discov, Oncology, Adv Pharmacol, Biochem Pharmacol, Biofactors, Hypertension, Arch Immunol Ther Exp, Mol Cell Biochem, Frontiers in Oncol, ACS Combinatorial Science, Biomarkers in Medicine and others. REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AGENCIES AND FOR PROMOTION COMMITTEES Researcher for various Grants Agencies and for Promotion Committees: Wellcome Trust, England; FWF, Fonds zur Forderung der Wissenschftlichen, Austria; CRUK; Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy); Cancer Research UK, London (United Kingdom); Dutch Cancer Fundation, (Netherlands); Ministry of University and Scientific Research (Italy); MIUR, PRIN sector, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT, Italy); Universiteit Gent, (Belgium); University of San Diego, California (USA); VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), California (USA); University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (USA); University of California, Davis, Division of Hematology and Oncology (USA); University of Connecticut, Health Center Department of Cell Biology (USA); University of New Mexico (USA) ORGANIZATION AND CHAIRMAN OF SYMPOSIUMS AND CONFERENCES Chair, Session 2: Chromogranin-derived Peptides and Cardiovascular Functions, Chromaffin Cells and Chromogranins Meeting, Strasbourg, Dancalia, November 14 -15, 2008. Chair, Session2: Angiogenesis. VII Meeting NIBIT Pontignano, Siena, October 1-3, 2009. Chair, Session I: Molecular Oncology, HSR Scientific Retreat 2010, Stresa, Italy, February 11-13, 2010 Scientific Organizer and Chairman of the 6th Meeting "Vasostatin-1: advances and perspectives ", Milan, May 28-29, 2010. Organizer and Chairman of the Session" Granin-derived peptides in diseases ", 16th International Symposium on Chromaffin Cell Biology, July 11-15, 2011, Beijing, China. Chairman and General Discussion Animator: FINANCING OBTAINED FOR PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR "Principal investigator" of various research projects funded by: Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC); Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) (UK); CRI, Cancer Reaction Institute (USA); Ministry of University and Scientific Research (MURST); Ministry of Health (Italy); Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy); Metadistretti-Lombardy Region; IIT, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT); FIRB, Investment Fund for Basic Research; PNR, National Research Program; ACC, Alliance Against Cancer; Compagnia San Paolo; Pharmaceutical Companies.

Research Interest

ACTIVITY AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH During his scientific career, Angelo Corti conducted research aimed at clarifying the role of some cytokines (such as TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma), chromogranin A and other stromal proteins containing NGR, RGD and isoDGR vascular tumor biology and resistance to therapies. The long-term goals include the development of new therapeutic strategies based on the manipulation of tumor vessels with engineered cytokines and anti-angiogenic agents, in order to increase the penetration of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor tissues, increase cell infiltration of the immune system and overcome the resistance mechanisms. Three therapeutic strategies developed by A Corti and his group, based on vascular targeting with NGR-TNF (a modified TNF with genetic engineering techniques) are being tested in various clinical trials on cancer patients. Various peptides and engineered proteins (including NGR-TNF) and various assays developed by A. Corti have been patented (29 patent applications) and have become the object of translational research by pharmaceutical companies.