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
July 2017: European Hematoloy Exam passed, certified by EHA (European Hematology Association)
09/07/2016: Specialization in Hematology, 70/70 cum laude
03/02/2012 Grant Writing Certification (Expert Level), score 100%
01/26/2011 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
01/31/2008 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.
07/25/2007 Medicine degree. 110/110 marks and laudem. Thesis title: “Salvage therapy with intravenous bortezomib, melphalan and dexamethasone in previously treated myeloma patients.”
From October 2005 Training in Haematologic Clinical Division of Hospital Ferrarotto of Catania, supervisor: prof. Francesco Di Raimondo.
January- July 2005 Team leader in the 8th Student ESA parabolic flight campaign, to test cell survival in microgravity (first 25 selected in Europe and Canada)
June-December 2004 Training in Biochemical Lab of University of Catania, directed by Prof. D. Condorelli, working about Pol-A gene expression
From September 2001: effective student in SSC-Scuola Superiore di Catania.
June 2001 High School Graduation at Liceo Scientifico G. Galilei, Catania, 100/100 marks
WORK AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
From May 2020 Assistant Professor at University of Catania, CHIRMED, Department of Medical sciences and surgical specialties, Hematology Section
March-May 2020 Clinical Assistant at AOU Policlinico, Heamtology Section, Catania, Italy for COVID19 emergency
From November 2019: selected fellow for the SIE-ASH VICR (Visiting International Clinical Researcher Program) at Dana Farber Institute, host mentor Ann LaCasce
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
From June 2017-now: 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
June 2015-April 2017 co-investigator in research program (Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient-ITA-051) funded by Celgene Exploiting Ikaros and Aiolos in controlling MDSC expansion in Multiple Myeloma
From January 2014 sub-investigator in the national grant from Health Minister (ricerca finalizzata) in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University to detect MDSC in Multiple Myeloma (P.I. Francesco Di Raimondo and 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
GRANTS
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, PI)
June 2015-April 2017 Non-clinical Research Grant Recipient-ITA-051 funded by Celgene Exploiting Ikaros and Aiolos in controlling MDSC expansion in Multiple Myeloma
February 2014, RF-2010-2318830, granted by Health Minister (Ricerca Finalizzata 2011-2012)
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
October 2019, selected for the SIE-ASH VICR (Visiting International Clinical Researcher Program)
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 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

To date, I have published 78 articles in international refereed journals, gathering more than 950 citations, 15 Conference Proceedings, communicated 185 abstracts in around 30 national/international conferences/schools, presented more than 20 invited and contributed talks, communicated and shown more than 30 poster presentations in national and international meetings/workshops.
H index: 16, citations 1105 (Source: Scopus, May, 2020).