CURRICULUM VITAE
Valentina Giorgio
Dept. of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences
University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48 - 40126 Bologna (Italy)
Phone: 0039-512091245
e-mail: valentina.giorgio4@unibo.it
web: https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/valentina.giorgio4
PUBLICATION SCORE
Author of 42 peer-reviewed articles available in Pubmed, 45 in Clarivate WoS
Citations: Scopus 2964, WoS 2739
H index: Scopus 26, WoS 26
STUDIES
High School Diploma Liceo Classico Minghetti, Bologna, Italy - July 1996
Master Degree in Biotechnology (110/110), University of Bologna, Italy- 14 June 2002
PhD in Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Udine, Italy- 5 June 2006
POSITIONS
- 2003 - 2006, PhD fellow (XVIII cycle) in Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Udine
- February 2005 to June 2005, PhD intership fellow in the lab. of Prof. Marc Boutry, Université Catholique de Louvain, Unitè de Biochimie Physiologique, Belgium
- 2005 - 2006 Post-Doc fellow at the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Udine
- 2006 - 2007 Post-Doc fellow at the Department of Technology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Udine
- 2007 - 2015 Post-Doc fellow at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Italy
- April 2015 - December 2023 CNR Researcher, Neuroscience Institute of Padua, Italy, CNR
- 2020 - 2023 Assistant Professor in Biochemistry, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy
-Since 2024 Associate Professor in Biochemistry, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy
FIELDS OF STUDIES
Mitochondrial pathophysiology in relation to cancer and neurodegeneration.
Prof. Giorgio began her studies focusing on structure and function of the ATP synthase enzymes. During the early part of her career she defined: (i) Cyclophilin D as an ATP synthase interactor at the mitochondrial level, this interaction has been proved to be crucial for the modulation of the ATP synthase catalysis in native condition; (ii) the native multi-subunit complex of ATP synthase at level of the plasma membrane, observation which can be potentially useful in the investigation of the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases; (iii) the involvement of ATP synthase in the formation of the permeability transition pore (PTP), a high conductance channel that is increasingly recognized as a key player in cell death, which is involved in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, Prof. Giorgio’s studies have been focused on the role of IF1, the inhibitor protein of ATP synthase, in promoting cancer survival with the final identification of a new site of interaction of IF1 which exerts an anti-apoptotic function in the tumors overexpressing IF1. Recent activities as PI have been focused on the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in mitochondrial diseases and on the identification of compounds able to improve the energetic performance in patients.
PRIZES, AWARDS, HONOURS
- Travel Grant, European Bioenergetic Society to attend the 16th European Bioenergetics Conference- EBEC, Warsaw, 17 July 2010
- Best Poster Award on Neurodegeneration, 8th European Meeting on Mitochondrial Pathology-Euromit 8 (Poster 322, idAbstract 357 p. 390), Zaragoza, Spain, 19 June 2011
- Researcher– CNR Honour, call MI 100/6 CNR 364.92- since 4 October 2011
- Associate Professor in Biochemistry BIO/10 - call D.D. 1532/2016 ASN in the sector 05/E1
- Best Presentation Award, Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane, tutor of Dr. Chiara Galber, PhD student, Modena, Italy, 21 June 2018
- Honour by the President of the Italian Republic for the attribution of the AIRC grant MFAG17-20316 – Invitation to Quirinale, 29 October 2018
-Full Professor recognition in Biochemistry BIO/10 - call D.D. 553/2021 ASN in the sector 05/E1
TOP ARTICLES
- Must Read Publication Award (Factor 6.0) by F1000 Biology, December 2009
- Paper of the Year Award in JBC- Bioenergetics, January 2014
MEETINGS AS ORGANIZER AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
- Organizing Committee, annual meeting of Italian Group of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane, Padova, Italy, 2013
- Organizing Committee, 19th EBEC European Bioenergetics Conference - Riva del Garda, Italy, 2016
- Scientific Committee for the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) in the ECHO grant-program, 2018
- Chair, annual meeting of Italian Group of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane, Riva del Garda, Italy, 2023
- Chair, annual meeting of Italian Group of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane, Vieste, Italy, 2024
- Member of the board of the Italian Group of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane, since 2024
- Chair, international meeting of European Group of Bioenergetics EBEC, Innsbruck, Austria, 2024
EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES
-Author of a chapter book in New Horizons in Biotechnology, 2007
-Review Editor in Mitochondrial Research, Frontiers in Physiology, since 2016
-Review Editor in Mitochondrial Research, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, since 2016
-Author of a chapter book in Calcium Signaling: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Nature -
Springer- Humana Press, 2018/2019
-Guest Editor for the Special Issue Mitochondria at the Crossroads of Survival and Demise, Oxidative Medicine and
Cellular Longevity, 2019
-Review Editor in Mitochondrial Research, Frontiers in Genetics, since 2020
FUNDING
Principal Investigator
- PRIN - 201789LFKB, 3-year Grant, 2017, The APP-mitochondria axis in iPSCs derived-neurones from Fragile X
related-disorders, Coordinator C. Bagni, University of Torvergata, Roma – Local PI V. Giorgio, University of Bologna
(120.000 euro)
- AIRC Individual - MFAG17-20316, 5-year Grant, 2018, The F-ATP synthase inhibitor IF1 binds to a novel site and
promotes tumorigenesis: displacement as anticancer strategy - Coordinator V. Giorgio, University of Bologna (400.000 euro)
- BIR – Budget Integrated for Research, 1-year Grant, 2021, founded by University of Bologna - Coordinator V. Giorgio, University of Bologna (11894 euro)
- BIR – Budget Integrated for Research, 1-year Grant, 2022, founded by University of Bologna - Coordinator V. Giorgio, University of Bologna (11894 euro)
- PRIN - 2022XTSLAP, 2-year Grant, 2025, Mitochondria as a novel therapeutic target in Fragile X-related disorders, Coordinator and PI V. Giorgio, University of Bologna (200000 euro)
Others
- Project Carisbo 2022-2023, Coordinator C. Zanna, Università di Bologna, Component of Research Unit of Bologna
- Leduq Foundation Transatlantic Network of Excellence 2017-2022 (16CVD04) Targeting mitochondria to treat heart disease - Coordinator E. Murphy, NIH. Bethesda - Component of Local Unit of Padova, PI Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- AIRC, 2016-2019 (IG- 17067) The dual function of F-ATP synthase in tumor cell metabolism and survival –
Component of Research Unit of Padova, Coordinator Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- Telethon Program Project 2014-2017 (GGP14187) MitCare-2 - Coordinator L. Scorrano, University di Padova. –
Component of Local Unit of Padova, PI Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- Telethon Program Project 2010- 2015 (GPP10005) Therapeutic strategies to combat mitochondrial disorders -
Coordinator M. Zeviani, University di Padova. – Component of Local Unit of Padova, PI Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- PRIN, 3-year Grant 2013-2016, Meccanismi mitocondriali della cancerogenesi - Component of Research Unit of Padova, Coordinator Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- Progetto Strategico di Ateneo 2009-2011 Models of mitochondrial diseases - Component of Research Unit of Padova, Coordinator Prof. P. Bernardi, University di Padova
- Cariparo 2008-2010 Models of mitochondrial diseases - Component of Research Unit of Padova, Coordinator Prof. P. Bernardi, University of Padova
- Grant Oregon Health & Science University 2004-2008 (GVOLLO179) Molecular Dissection of the Permeability
Transition Pore - Coordinator M. Forte, NIH. Portland - Component of Local Unit of Padova, PI Prof. P. Bernardi,
University of Padova
INVITED LECTURES/SEMINARS
2024 22nd European Bioenergetics Conference EBEC, Innsbruck, Austria
2023 International meeting on mitochondrial pathology -EUROMIT, Bologna, Italy
2022 62° Congress of the Italian Biochemical Society, Firenze, Italy
2021 Cancer and Metabolism, France, online
2021 61° Congress of the Italian Biochemical Society, online
2019 International Meeting of Cell Death and Disease, Centro di Eccellenza Italo-Tedesco, Villa Vigoni – Como, Italy
2017 12th International Congress on Innovations in Coronary Artery Disease (ICCAD) – Venice, Italy
2017 Congress “Mitochondria: Form and Function”, The Physiological Society- London, UK
2017 Gordon Research Conference “From Molecular Structures and Mechanisms to Cellular Bioenergetics in Health
and Disease”- Proctor Academy, Andover NH, USA
2016 19th European Bioenergetics Conference EBEC, Riva del Garda, Italy
2015 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Udine, Italy
2015 Annual Retreat, Neuroscience Institute CNR, Pisa, Italy
2013 Annual Retreat, Neuroscience Institute CNR, Cagliari, Italy
2013 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Padova, Italy
2012 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Arcavacata (Cosenza), Italy
2011 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Rome, Italy
2010 9th Annual Retreat, Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Marostica (Vicenza), Italy
2010 BOLOGNA MITOCHONDRIAL DAY 2010, “Mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in Health and Disease”, Bologna, Italy
2010 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Bertinoro (Forlì), Italy
2009 Annual meeting of the Italian Society of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane GIBB, Udine, Italy
