ROMANO ALESSANDRA

Professore Associato

Orari di ricevimento

Martedì e venerdì dalle 15:00 alle 16:00

Curriculum

Education and Training

May 2018 Selected Fellow at III International School on Emergy Accounting, Ca’ Foscari University, Venezia, Italy July 2017: European Hematoloy Exam passed, certified by EHA (European Hematology Association)
July 2016: Specialization in Hematology, 70/70 cum laude
January 2011 Ph.D., XXIII International PhD course of SSC- University of Catania in Stem Cells and molecular medicine, 70/70 cum laude, thesis title: High resolution molecular karyotyping and proteomic analysis in hematological malignancies, endorsing professors: Lance Liotta and Francesco Di Raimondo.
5th-19th July 2008 International School of Functional Genomics, director S. Cavallaro 4th-11st July 2008 Translational medicine course, director L. Liotta, grade A
January 2008 Board certification
January 2008 SSC-Scuola Superiore di Catania degree, 70/70 marks and laudem. Thesis title: “Salvage therapy with vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cytarabine regimen (VIHA) in Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.”
August 2006 - October 2007: Training in Haematologic Unit of Istituto Clinico Humanitas, endorsing professor: A. Santoro, working about salvage chemotherapy in lymphoma and transplantation.
July 2007 Medicine degree. 110/110 marks and laudem. Thesis title: “Salvage therapy with intravenous bortezomib, melphalan and dexamethasone in previously treated myeloma patients.”

Work experience

From May 2023 Associate Professor of Hematology at University of Catania CHIRMED, Department of Medical sciences and surgical specialties, Hematology Section
May 2020-April 2023 Research Assistant at University of Catania, CHIRMED, Department of Medical sciences and surgical specialties, Hematology Section
March-May 2020 Clinical Assistant at AOU Policlinico, Hematology Section, Catania, Italy for COVID19 emergency January-March 2019 Post-doc fellow at Ca’ Foscari University, Department of nanoscience
January-December 2018: Research Assistant at University of Catania, CHIRMED, Department of Medical sciences and surgical specialties, Hematology Section
June 2017-June 2020: Research Assistant (“Cultore della Materia”) in Blood Diseases (MED/15) at University of Catania September 2016-December 2017 Post-doc fellow at Ospedale San Raffaele, Age Related Diseases Unit, Milano, Italy
April-July 2016: visiting scientist at Ospedale San Raffaele, Age Related Diseases Unit, Milano, Italy endorsed by dr. S. Cenci October 2013-May 2014: Post Doc Fellow at Johns Hopkins University- School of Medicine, Department of Oncology, endorsing prof. Ivan Borrello
January 2013-December 2016 sub-investigator in the national grant PON 2010-2012 Hippocrates to detect Arginase using innovative nanotechnology (P.I. F. Di Raimondo)
From 11/01/2010 to 01/31/2011 Senior researcher at George Mason University, Manassas, VA, in charge of ISS, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy for detection of biomarkers in high-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes
From 08/02/2009 to 10/31/2010 Research Assistant at George Mason University, Manassas, VA, working on translational research: Ex vivo assay for targeted therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Active grants

April 2024 Principal Investigator (1,000,000 euro for 2 years) with a project entitled “DEciphering Multiple Myeloma using Multiomic Approaches and Immunotherapy MOdeling: DEMMMO”- PNRR-MCNT1-2023-12377893
November 2023 Principal Investigator (250,000 euro for 2 years) with a project entitled “PRO-MM-1: a phase 1 trial to explore novel prophylaxis strategy of upper respiratory infections in multiple myeloma using probiotics”- PRIN 2022 P202282S5M
October 2023 co-Principal Investigator (250,000 euro for 2 years) with a project entitled “Visualizing the Interactions Shaping the Immune-microenvironment in hUman Multiple Myeloma (VISIUMM)”- PRIN 2022 LS4 2022ZKKWLW 002
November 2022, Local principal investigator (250,380 euro for 2 years) with a project entitled Integrative multi-omics analysis to predict monoclonal gammopathies clinical evolution- PNNR-MAD-12376660
October 2022 Research grant SIE, Società Italiana di Ematologia (150,000 euro for 2 years) with a project entitled MYTH: Modelling multiple Myeloma dYnamics for Tailored tHerapy
April 2022, project and task leader for the UNICT spoke 1 in the PNNR-MUR-Missione 4 Componente 2 (Samothrace- HEALTH-UNICT), (2,350,000 euro for 2 years)

Past grants

March 2022, GIMEMA fondo per le idee edizione 2021(2 yrs-168,750 euro, co-PI) for a project entitled MID-My: An integrative multi-center study of oral Microbiome composition and Immunological Dysregulation in newly-diagnosed transplant-ineligible Multiple Myeloma patients to prevent infectious complications by probiotics
February 2022, Brian D. Novis Junior Research Award (1-yr, 50,000 dollars, Principal Investigator) for a project “Defining a novel function for the post-translational modification ufmylation in the adaptive response to arginine deprivation in multiple myeloma”
October 2020, Incyte Fellowship (1-yr, 30,000 euro, Principal Investigator) for a project entitled “Towards a multi-level systemic simulator to predict the recurrent trajectories in acute lymphoblastic leukemia”
September 2019, GILEAD Fellowship (1-yr, 25,000 euro, co-PI) for a project entitled “A systems-thinking driven approach to investigate the contribution of metabolic derangements due to aminoacid deprivation in driving genomic instability in mantle cell lymphoma” November 2016, 2017 Brian D. Novis Junior Research Award (1-yr, 50,000 dollars, Principal Investigator) for a project entitled “Exploiting IDO1-GCN2-p62 axis in MM microenvironment to trigger myeloid derived suppressors
cells in multiple myeloma”
June 2015-April 2017 (Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient, 2-yrs, 30,000 euro) Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient-ITA-051 funded by Celgene Exploiting Ikaros and Aiolos in controlling MDSC expansion in Multiple Myeloma
From December 2012 to September 2014 RG ITA-003- PO 3517441 funded by Celgene (Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient, 2-yrs, 30,000 euro): Evaluation of pro-survival pathways, included autophagy, in high-risk MDS bone marrow after treatment with 5-azacitidine to restore normal hematopoiesis
From August 2010 to October 2011 M-190 funded by Celgene (Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient, 20,000 euro, 2-yrs-sub-investigator): Molecular karyotype, including CNV and LOH evaluation, and multiplexed signal pathway profiling to individualize therapy in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
March 2024 EMN (European Myeloma Network) best abstract
March 2022 EMN (European Myeloma Network) Under 40 best abstract
November 2021, selected 2022 Clinical Research Training in Hematology Program (EHA-CRTH) fellow
October 2019, selected for the SIE-ASH VICR (Visiting International Clinical Researcher Program), at Dana Farber Institute, host mentor Ann LaCasce (postponed due to COVID-19 pandemics)
October 2019 Selected as participant of EHA Master Class 2019-2020 November 2018 Borsa di perfezionamento SIES
November 2018 ASH Abstract Achievement Award
April 2018 Best abstract- EMN (European Myeloma Network) conference on Multiple Myeloma December 2017 Research Fellowship Collegio Ghislieri- Annual Grant Recipient
December 2017 Young Investigator Programme 2018- Fondazione Veronesi- Annual Grant Recipient November 2017 ASH Abstract Achievement Award
September 2017 Travel grant for the SOHO annual meeting, Houston, US
December 2016 Young Investigator Programme 2015- Fondazione Veronesi- Annual Grant Recipient November 2016 Post-doc Programme Università Vita Salute San Raffaele, Annual Grant Recipient

October 2016 Borsa di perfezionamento SIES
June 2016 Travel grant for the SOHO annual meeting, Houston, US
May 2016 Borsa di studio residenziale- Fondazione MINTAS- Collegio Ghislieri - Pavia February 2016 Premio Le Eccellenze Catanesi, Kiwanis
November 2015 Under 40 Hematology Contest 4 edition-finalist
November 2015 Premio Ercole Brusamolino 2015 Recipient, FIL (Fondazione Italiana Linfomi) for the best paper on Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
October 2015 Travel Grant Recipient for EHA Hematology Tutorial on Anemia of Chronic Disease and Myelodysplastic Syndromes
June 2015 Travel Grant Recipient for EHA Annual Conference June 2015 Selected as participant of EHA Master Class 2015-2016 April 2015 Annual Grant Recipient Fondazione Chianello, Palermo
May 2015 Borsa di studio residenziale- Fondazione MINTAS- Collegio Ghislieri - Pavia
November 2014 Young Investigator Programme 2015- Fondazione Veronesi- Annual Grant Recipient November 2014 Under 40 Hematology Contest 3 edition-finalist
February 2014 AA&MDSIF Young Investigator Travel Support for AA&MDSIF 2014 Bone Marrow Failure Disease Scientific Symposium
December 2013 Celgene 2013 Future Leaders Award for Clinical Research in Hematology Recipient November 2013 Under 40 Hematology Contest 2 edition-finalist
April 2013 Borsa di studio residenziale- Fondazione MINTAS- Collegio Ghislieri - Pavia March 2013 Youngest Researcher 2013- Fondazione Veronesi
November 2012 Young Investigator Programme 2013- Fondazione Veronesi- Annual Grant Recipient November 2012 Under 40 Hematology Contest 1 edition-finalist
October 2012 Travel Grant Recipient for XII SIES Conference June 2012 Travel Grant Recipient for EHA Annual Conference
April 2012 Borsa di studio residenziale- Fondazione MINTAS- Collegio Ghislieri - Pavia
March 2012 AA&MDSIF Young Investigator Travel Support for AA&MDSIF 2012 Bone Marrow Failure Disease Scientific Symposium
June 2011 Travel Grant Recipient for EHA Annual Conference October 2010 Travel Grant Recipient for XI SIES Conference
January 2010 PhD Scholarship at University of Catania- Scuola Superiore di Catania May 2009 PREMIO DI LAUREA MASSIMINO
April 2004 Team leader in 8th Student ESA parabolic flight campaign (first 25 selected in Europe and Canada) February 2002 Medaglia al merito del lavoro for outstanding high school career.
October 2001 University Scholarship at Scuola Superiore di Catania
October 2001 Alfiere del Lavoro Award- President of Italian Republic Prize to first 25 students selected in Italy for outstanding high school career.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

AACR, American Association for Cancer Research, since 2016, membership # 294326 EHA, European Haematology Association, since 2010, membership # 008089
ASH, American Society of Hematology, since 2013, membership # 1038879 SIE, Società Italiana di Ematologia, since 2010
SIES, Società Italiana di Ematologia Sperimentale, since 2010 SOHO, Society of Oncology and Hematology, since 2016
A list of 195 peer-reviewed papers is available at https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36188495500
H index: 39, citations: 7,312