Roberto Corradini is Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability of the University of Parma, where he teaches Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry in the Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry of Biomolecules in the Master’s Degree in Chemistry.
Education. 1982: Classical High School Diploma (Liceo Ariosto, Reggio Emilia). 1987: Degree cum laude from the University of Parma. 1988–1991: PhD studies at the University of Parma (degree awarded in 1992).
Career. 1993–1994: Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Parma. 1995–2000: Researcher at the Faculty of Science, University of Parma. 2000–2018: Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Parma.
Organizational roles. January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2025: Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability of the University of Parma. January 1, 2020 – 2025: Member of the Academic Senate of the University of Parma. 2018–2019: Scientific Coordinator of the “Departments of Excellence” project, Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences (COMP_HUB Laboratory). 2017–2019: Delegate for Research Quality of the SCVSA Department. 2015–2017: Delegate for Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Parma. 2007–present: Member of the Board of the PhD Program in Chemical Sciences, University of Parma. 2017–2019: Coordinator of the PhD Program in Chemical Sciences. 2013–2017: Deputy Coordinator of the PhD Program in Chemical Sciences. 2010–2014: Coordinator of the Scientific Degree Project (PLS) – Chemistry Area, Parma. 2005–2017: Member of Area Committee 103 for Research Evaluation, University of Parma. 2010–2012: Responsible for services for students with disabilities and disadvantaged groups at the Faculty of Science.
Other appointments. Since 2024: Member of the National ASN Committee for sector 03/C1 – Organic Chemistry. Since 2024: Director of the North-West Section and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB). 2017–2022: Member of the Board of the Interdivisional Biotechnology Group of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI).
Conference organization. Member of the Scientific Committee of one National Conference; Member of the Organizing Committee of three International Conferences and one National Conference.
Awards and recognitions. Award for research in “Organic Chemistry in its aspects of structural determination and molecular interactions” from the Organic Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society. Invited speaker at 11 international conferences (Italy, Japan, USA, Spain) and 3 national conferences. 2010–2015: Member of the Editorial Board of Chirality (Wiley-VCH). 2012–2016: Editorial Board member and Acquisition Editor of Artificial DNA, PNA & XNA (Landes Bioscience, later Taylor & Francis).
Supervision activity. Supervisor of more than 50 Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in Chemistry, Food Science and Technology, and Biotechnology, two of which received national awards. Supervisor of 9 PhD theses in Chemical Sciences.
Scientific interests. RC has 30 years of experience in organic synthesis and spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of organic compounds and the study of supramolecular interactions and biomolecular recognition. Over the years, he has developed artificial systems capable of molecular and chiral recognition of biologically active molecules such as amino acids and their derivatives, and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). His most recent research interests focus on the synthesis and structural properties of peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and their use as novel therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools.
Bibliometric data. H-index (ISI-WOS): 45; H-index (Scopus): 46 (updated May 13, 2026). ISI publications (Core Collection): 208, including 178 journal articles. Book chapters: 19. Citations: 6,112 (WOS, 5,218 excluding self-citations); 6,578 (Scopus). International patents: 1 (extended to USA, Japan, Canada, and EU). National patents: 1. ORCID: 0000-0002-8026-0923.
Research project leadership. 2024–2025: PI of the POPNART project (cascade calls, project no. CN00000041-PNRR within the M4C2 program “National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology” (CN3), Spoke 6 “RNA Drug Development”). 2022: Hosting institution for AIRC Fellowship for Italy (Dr. Stefano Volpi). 2021: Partner in FISR-COVID project (COVID-miRNAPNA). 2017–2021: Unit leader and WP leader in MSCA-RISE project Oligo Nanomed. 2015–2018: Head of the Parma Unit (linked third party) and WP leader in H2020 project ULTRAPLACAD. 2020–2021: PI of P-Teran project funded by Regione Emilia-Romagna. 2018–2020: Local PI of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation project (CF-miRNA-THER). 2016–2017: Local PI of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation project (MIRORNA-CF). 2012–2015: Local PI of Spinner project (Regione Emilia-Romagna) PNA-NOVA. 2012–2014: Local PI of TOPTHAL project (FILAS-CR-2011-1054, Regione Lazio, in collaboration with IRBM). 2011–2014: National Coordinator of PRIN09 project on molecular recognition of micro-RNA by modified PNA.
Membership. Member of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) (Divisions of Organic Chemistry and Chemistry of Biological Systems, and the Interdivisional Biotechnology Group), American Chemical Society (Division of Organic Chemistry), National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB, Italy), and National Institute for Materials Science and Technology (INSTM).
Refereeing activity. Reviewer for more than 30 journals including Nature Communications, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Chemistry – A European Journal, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Small, and Scientific Reports. Project evaluator for institutions such as Petroleum Research Fund (USA), Czech Science Foundation, Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research, Austrian Science Fund, United Arab Emirates University, ANVUR (Italy), Italian Consortium of Biotechnology (CIB), and the European Commission (REA).
International research collaborations (last 5 years). Luisa De Cola (University of Strasbourg, now Univeristy of Milan), Wolfgang Knoll (Austrian Institute of Technology and Danube Private University, Austria), Michael J. Sailor (University of California San Diego, USA), Juriaan Huskens (University of Twente, Netherlands), Annemieke Madder (Ghent University, Belgium).
