Personale docente

Riccardo Percudani – Curriculum Vitae

Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
University of Parma
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8452-1062

EDUCATION

1999 – PhD in Molecular Biology and Pathology
Thesis: Identification of non-coding RNAs in genomic sequences

1994 – MSc in Biology (summa cum laude)
Thesis: A novel algorithm for the identification of tRNA genes in DNA sequences

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

December 2018 – present – Full Professor of Biochemistry
University of Parma
Research focus: gene function identification through bioinformatics and biochemistry; protein evolution; genetic diseases; genetic code; purine metabolism.

May 2013 – September 2013 – Visiting Scientist
Institut Pasteur, Paris (host: Dr. Hilde De Reuse). Host–pathogen interaction.

September 2012 – Visiting Professor
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University (host: Prof. Sangkee Rhee). Structure and function in purine metabolism.

June 2011 – August 2011 – Visiting Scientist
Laboratoire de Génomique Analytique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris (host: Prof. Frédéric Devaux). Bioinformatic analysis of metabolic pathways.

July 2009 – Visiting Scientist
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University (host: Prof. Sangkee Rhee). Structure and function in purine metabolism.

September 2006 – December 2018 – Associate Professor of Biochemistry
University of Parma.

September 2001 – August 2006 – Assistant Professor (Researcher)
University of Parma.

BIBLIOMETRIC INDICES

Scopus (validated profile):
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6603060595
Citations: 3,393 – h-index: 27

Google Scholar (validated profile):
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pc5yTuQAAAAJ
Citations: 4,847 – h-index: 31 – i10-index: 52

TEACHING

• Biochemistry (BIO/10, 9 ECTS), BSc in Biology (2018–present)

• Bioinformatics (8 ECTS), MSc in Molecular Biology (2010–present)

• Laboratory of Computer Science and Bioinformatics (6 ECTS), BSc in Biology (2011–present)

• Computational Biochemistry (5 ECTS), BSc in Biology (2006–2009)

• Bioinformatics Laboratory (3 ECTS), BSc in Biology (2006–2011)

• Fundamentals of Biology (6 ECTS), BSc in Physics and Computer Science (2006–2011)

PHD PROGRAM COMMITTEES

• Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Parma (2014–present)

• Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Parma (2013)

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Parma (2003–2009; 2011–2012)

EDITORIAL BOARD

Since 2017 – Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), Genetics and Genomics panel

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Chair, Area 05 Committee (Biology), University of Parma

• University Delegate to the ELIXIR-IT General Assembly

• Departmental Delegate to the University Committee for Scientific Computing

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

First inventor:
Methods for the rapid and efficient conversion of uric acid into allantoin and related enzymes

USA: US8309078 B2 (2012)
Europe: EP1948793 B1 (2012)

RESEARCH FUNDING

2025 – Fondazione Cariplo–Telethon, GJC25F018 – Principal Investigator
Budget: €240,000
Illuminating dark gene targets through coevolution

2022 – Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (FFC #14/2022) – Principal Investigator
Budget: €80,000

2018 – Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (FFC #9/2018) – Co-Principal Investigator
Total budget: €40,000 – Unit share: €18,000
Therapeutic potential of a long-acting lung-specific DNase (DNase2b) for cystic fibrosis treatment

2017 – PRIN, 2017483NH8_003 – Unit Leader
Total budget: €549,200 – Unit share: €84,000
Protein Bioinformatics for Human Health

2013 – Telethon, GGP1349 – Coordinator
Total budget: €340,000 – Unit share: €140,000
Development of an uricolytic treatment for HPRT deficiency in animal models

2010–2011 – PRIN, 2010P3S8BR_004 – Unit Leader
Total budget: €580,000 – Unit share: €70,000
Unravelling structural and functional determinants behind Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis and persistence

SCIENTIFIC RECOGNITIONS

• PNAS Commentary (2025): Galperin MY. Using bioinformatics for identifying and plugging metabolic pathway holes

• PNAS Commentary (2023): Moi D., Dessimoz C. Phylogenetic profiling in eukaryotes comes of age

• Science Editor’s Choice (2010): Recovering Carbon and Nitrogen, Science

• Nature Chemical Biology – News & Views (2006): Urate to allantoin, specifically (S)-allantoin

• Faculty of 1000 Recommendation, DOI: 10.3410/f.11495.468975