Alessandro Casnati

PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY
1987 Degrees at Parma University cum Laude
1990 Research period in Prof. D.N. Reinhoudt laboratories at Twente University (NL)
1992 PhD in Chemical Science
1992 Post-doc at Parma University, EU Project "CALIXPART"
1994 University researcher
1998 Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry
2015 Full Professor of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Parma
2015-2021 Head of the School of Chemistry
2017-2019 Vice-director of the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
2020-2022 Scientific Coordinator of Comp-Hub (Departments of Excellence Project of Miur)
2023-2027 Scientific Coordinator of Comp-R (Departments of Excellence Project of Mur)
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RESEARCH ACTIVITY
o Polyglycosylated multivalent ligands as inhibitors of plant, bacterial and human galectins and for site-specific drug-delivery
o Multivalent ligands for the recognition of proteins and macrobiomolecules
o Macrocyclic surfactants for cell transfection and gene-therapy
o Supramolecular catalysts for hydrolysis of phosphoric diesters and oligonucleotides
o Novel synthesis and regio- and stereoselective functionalisations of macrocycles
o Macrocyclic receptors for alkali, alkaline-earth and lanthanide ion as sensor and in supramolecular devices
o Receptors for organic and inorganic anions of biological interest
o Ligands for the selective extraction of radionuclides (caesium, strontium and actinides) and their recovery from highly acidic and radioactive waste
o New generation additives for fuels and lubricant oil for the petrol-chemical industry
o Macrocycles and materials against Antimicrobial Resistance
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PRIZES and AWARDS
• 1997: Giacomo Ciamician Medal of the Organic Chemistry Division (OCD) of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) to talented early-stage researchers
• 2012: Research award for Organic Chemistry in its structure determination and molecular interaction aspects, from OCD of the SCI
• 2019: “A. Mangini” Gold Medal from OCD of the SCI for the innovative results in theorical and mechanistic Organic Chemistry.
SCIENTIFIC/ORGANISING ACTIVITY
• Italian representative of the Ministry of Instruction, University and Research (MIUR) in the Management Committee of the COST CM1102 programme “MultiGlycoNano”
• Italian representative of the MIUR in the Management Committee of the COST CM1005 “Supramolecular Chemistry in Water”
• Member of the Executive Board of the Organic Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society (2020-2022 and 2023-2025).
• Member of the panel for the preparation of the organic chemistry tests of the Italian selection for “International Chemistry Olympiad”
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PARTICIPATION to DOCTORATE SCHOOLS
• 2001 – 2005 Tutor for the Doctorate School in Chemical Sciences
• 2006 – 2012 Member of the Doctorate School in Science and Techn. of Innovative Materials
• 2013 – present Member of the Doctorate School in Science and Technologies of Materials
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MEMBER OF COMMITTEES (National and International; Journals, Conferences and School)
o 2009-present Member of the International Advisory Board of the International Conference on Calixarenes
o 2009-present Member of the Scientific Committee of the National Conference of Supramolecular Chemistry
o 2013-present Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal “Supramolecular Chemistry”
o 2018-2022 Member of the Scientific Committee of ISOS, International Summer School of Organic Synthesis
o 2023-present Member of the International Advisory Board of the Joint International Conference on Calixarenes and Cucurbituryls
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MAIN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL FUNDINGS OBTAINED FROM COMPETITIVE CALLS
o 2024-2025 PNRR-Open Call: MUNUS “MUltifunctional synthetic platforms for the precision delivery of NUcleic AcidS
o 2024-2025 PNRR-Open Call: HERMES “Highly Efficient and selective RNA delivery systems for the treatment of MEtabolic and cardiovascular diseaseS”
o 2023-2025 PRIN2022 National coordinator of project n. 2022285HC5: Self-assembly of bacteria-targeting materials across the mesoscale (SAMBA)
o 2019-2022 PRIN2017 National coordinator of the project n. 2017E44A9P: BacHounds: Supramolecular nanostructures for bacteria detection
o 2017-2021 EU-H2020. Principal Investigator in GENIORS (Grant No. 755171) GEN IV Integrated Oxide fuels Recycling Strategies
o 2013-2016 EU-FP7 Principal Investigator in SACSESS Fission Safety of ACtinide Separation processes
o 2013-2016 PRIN2010- JMAZML MultiNanoIta, Italian Network for the development of multivalent nanosystems
o 2010-2012 PRIN2008 n. 200858SA98 Mono- and multivalent ligands for human galectins: new molecular systems and nanoparticles functionalised for the selective diagnosis and therapy of cancer
o 2008-2012 EU-FP7 Principal Investigator in ACSEPT Actinide reCyling by SEParation & Transmutation
o WG leader COST D34 (WG5) " Molecular Targeting and Drug Design in Neurological and Bacterial Diseases "
o WG leader COST CM1102 (WG1) “Multivalent Glycosystems for Nanoscience-MultiGlycoNano”
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RESEARCH CONTRACTS WITH INDUSTRIES
o 2013-2015 Three-year: Synthesis of additives for lubricant oils and fuels
o 2016-2018 Three-year: Detergents for lubricant oils
o 2021 Three-month: Ra(II) removal from oil well waters
o 2021 Three-months: Additives for lubricant oils
o 2022 Three-year: Synthesis of novel detergents, dispersants, antioxidants and friction modifiers
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PUBLICATIONS and PATENTS FIGURES
Authors of more than 240 publications among which more than 210 papers and 10 reviews on international journals, 11 patents (among which 9 international), 25 book chapters.
From Scopus: H-index: 63 Citations: 12 880