Personale docente

Prof. G. Pelosi graduated with honors in 1987 from the University of Parma and from the same university he obtained the title of PhD under the supervision of prof. M. Nardelli. His academic career began in 1991 with his appointment as researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Parma. In 1998 he became Associate Professor and then in 2023 Full Professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences of the same University.

Teaching activity
With his appointment as associate professor, in 1998, he was assigned the course of "Laboratory of Chemistry", a course for the degree programme in Biological Sciences which he held until 2002. From 1997 he was assigned the teaching of "Bioinorganic Chemistry" as a substitute for the Degree Course in Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry. Since 1999 he has also been assigned the teaching of "General and Inorganic Chemistry" for the Degree Course in Biotechnology, which becomes his main teaching assignment. Since 2004 he has been assigned the teaching of "Bioinorganic Chemistry" for the master's degree in Chemistry and the course of "Bioinorganic Chemistry and Biocrystallography" for the master's degree in Molecular Biology.
He is currently a full professor and teaches "General and Inorganic Chemistry" to students of the Bachelors’ degree programme in Biotechnology and "Bioinorganic Chemistry" (in English) to students of the Master's Degree in Chemistry.
Research activity
His scientific activity begins with systematic studies of the coordination chemistry of bismuth with rigid polydentate ligands. His research then turned to the inorganic chemistry of materials with optical and magnetic properties. In this area he works on the chemistry of bismuth and antimony-pi-arene donor-acceptor systems and on the structural characterization of charge-transfer compounds between bismuth and antimony halides with paracyclophanes and dibenzosuberanes.
During his doctorate his interest in crystallography brings him into contact with the world of bioinorganic chemistry and he enters the world of protein crystallography. In this period he can acquire experience in synchrotron data collection and resolution of single crystal protein structures. This experience then leads him to a one-year postdoc at the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Oxford (United Kingdom) where he deals with the structural characterization of the iron-dependent enzyme isopenicillin-N synthase. From this moment on, his interest has remained in the field of bioinorganic chemistry.
In 1998 he became Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of the University of Parma and, having achieved a greater degree of autonomy, he began to develop his interest in the field of bioinorganic chemistry and in particular for the biological activity of coordination compounds. The progress of his research, particularly in this field, is confirmed by the large number of publications (162) published in international journals of considerable impact both chemical and medico-biological.
In this context he develops collaborations with colleagues from the Biological Area of his Department, in particular with the group of profs Buschini, Lodi (Genetics), Ricci (Plant Physiology) and prof Visioli (Applied Biology), and with colleagues from the Department of Medicine and Surgery (prof. Mutti, dr. Pinelli, dr. Alinovi, dr. Albertini), with the Department of Food and Drugs (prof. Casiraghi, prof. Zanardi and prof. Curti), and more recently with the Department of Veterinary Sciences ( Prof. Bacci and Prof. Kramer).
It also collaborates with Italian research groups such as those of prof Dell'Amico, and prof Marzano and Gandin (University of Padua), of prof Osella and prof Ravera (University of Eastern Piedmont) and numerous collaborations with foreign research groups, in particular with prof C. Policar (École Normale Superieure, Paris, France), prof Maria Carmen Rodriguez Argüelles (University of Vigo, Spain), prof Peter J. Sadler (University of Warwick, UK), prof S.M.Cohen (University of California, USA), Prof Zoran Matovic (University of Kagujevac, Serbia), Prof Juraj Cernak (University of Kosice, Slovakia).
His current interest is focused on understanding the mechanisms by which metal thiosemicarbazonates act on cells. Most of the thiosemicarbazones studied up to now have shown a propensity to inhibit cell proliferation in tumor lines by acting through various mechanisms. Most act by inducing apoptosis, but some of them also induce paraptotic and necrotic effects. The phenomenon through which they operate is not yet clear but it is certainly a combination of effects as highlighted by an integrated chemogenomic profiling work conducted in collaboration with the geneticists of the Department. More recently, Prof. Pelosi's interest has also extended to the antifungal properties of the same family of compounds. Thanks to the financial support of the Cariplo Foundation which financed a three-year project for this purpose (Aflatox project), the possible use of thiosemicarbazones obtained from aldehydes and natural ketones contained in spices and which are already known for their inhibitory properties was explored of mold development, as binders for metal ions, also known for their antifungal properties, such as copper. Over the course of the three-year funding period, more than one hundred derivatives were prepared, characterized, and tested, with the aim of identifying those that have the best inhibitory properties on the production of aflatoxins by aflatoxogenic Aspergilli. The identification of one or more substances of natural origin with which to treat the cereals which prevents the formation of carcinogenic aflatoxins without killing the fungus would make it possible to solve both a health problem (aflatoxins are carcinogenic) and an economic one (every year over 50% of the corn production in the Po Valley must be dumped due to aflatoxin contamination) without interfering with the environmental ecosystem.
In recent years, his interest has also extended to the search for molecules aimed at removing the antibiotic resistance shown by an ever-increasing number of bacterial species and which constitutes one of the major health threats of our time. In particular, molecules are sought to be used as inhibitors of metalloenzymes (e.g. metallolactamases) that antibiotic-resistant bacteria have developed to neutralize the effect of traditional antibiotics.

IMPACT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Scientific productivity has a high international ranking as demonstrated by the numerous publications (162) and related citations. Its h-index is 41 (Web of Science, 10/05/2023) with 5168 citations, 42 (Scopus 10/05/2023) with 5401 citations, 46 in Google Scholar (10/05/2023) with 6425 citations.

Participation in funded projects
• 1998 PRIN (Projects of Relevant National Interest) prot. 9803021072_007 "Synthesis, structural characterization and biological activity of metal complexes with polyfunctional ligands"
• 2001 Funding of the Young Researchers and Individual Researchers Project of the University of Parma
• 2001 PRIN prot. 2001053898_007 "Preparation of non-cisplatin metal complexes similar and involved in structure and antiproliferative and/or apoptotic activity on leukemic cell lines"
• 2004 PRIN prot. 2004059078_004 "Development of potential metal-based drugs and study of the mechanisms of action on specific tumor lines" *
• PRIN 2007 prot. 20078EWK9B_003 "Design of copper(II) thiosemicarbazone and triazole complexes and evaluation of the mechanism underlying the apoptotic and non-apoptotic cytotoxic effect"
• 2010 Cariparma Foundation funding “Synthesis and identification of cellular targets of new molecules with anticancer action” (Prof. Pelosi was PI of the Chemistry Unit)
• 2014-2018 AFLATOX Project - Cariplo "A biotechnological approach for the development of new antifungal pesticides for the protection of the environment and human health" (Prof Pelosi was PI of the Chemical and Biological Unit)
• Winner of the 2017 FFABR grant
• 2019 FIL Incentive "A sustainable approach to limiting food contamination by aflatoxins" (PI)
In 2022 he presented, as PI, the 2020 PRIN protocol 2022L2WM3A project "Novel theranostic copper complexes for a multi-modal anticancer approach", which involves the Universities of Parma, Padua and Camerino.

Responsibilities, affiliations to scientific societies and other titles
• Director of the Parma Unit and Member of the Board of Directors of the Interuniversity Research Consortium in Metal Chemistry in Biological Systems from 2012 to 2022.
• Member of the Scientific Council of the Interuniversity Consortium for Research in Metal Chemistry in Biological Systems from 2012 to 2022
• Member of the Italian Chemical Society since 1994
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry since 2014
• Evaluation consultant for the Wissenschaftsfonds FWF (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung). The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is Austria's national funding body for basic research.

Publishing activity
2018 to date Editor of the Biochemistry section of the journal "International Journal of Molecular Sciences" (IF 5.923)
2021 to date is Editor of the magazine "Compounds"

Prof Pelosi has carried out review work for important chemical journals such as Dalton Trans, Inorganic Chemistry, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, etc.

International patents
2019 Pelosi G., Bisceglie F., Bacci C. “Edible Film and Related Uses” Publication Number WO/2019/130227

Third Mission

From 2005 to 2018 GP actively participated in the annual editions of the European Researchers' Night.
In the context of the International Year of Crystallography he collaborated in the conception and organization of the exhibition "CRISTALLI!" in 2014. The event had a wide local resonance registering more than 12,000 visitors in just under two months and, among them, 4,400 students from schools in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Mantua, Piacenza, Bergamo, Ravenna , La Spezia, Padua and Cremona.
As a member of the Steering Committee of the SCI Emilia Romagna Section, during his term of office (2015/2020), Prof. Pelosi coordinated the regional selections of the Chemistry Olympiad annually and in the same context organized the Chemistry Days aimed at PhD students in the region.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, as a reachout activity, Prof Pelosi organized and coordinated the "International Summer School on Food Sustainability", as part of a project funded by the Emilia Romagna Region, aimed at entrepreneurs and professionals, as well as students of higher levels, to raise awareness of their role in achieving the goals for sustainable development envisaged by the United Nations Agenda 2030. Among the speakers, Prof Pelosi was able to gather representatives of international institutions (such as FAO, OECD, EFSA, etc), from the business world (Barilla, Mutti, Ferrero, etc), and professors from authoritative European and American universities in the sector ( Wageningen, Ghent, Boston College, Pitzer College, etc.). The Summer School, which was held for three consecutive years, was attended by a total of over 90 students, two thirds of whom were foreigners (from Portugal, Brazil, Morocco, India, Slovenia, Germany, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Uruguay, Austria, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Canada, Madagascar, Poland, Serbia, Sudan) and about sixty entrepreneurs, administrative staff and professionals, both Italian and foreign (from the Netherlands, Serbia, USA, Greece, UK, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Estonia, Ghana, Argentina, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Egypt, Albania, Japan, Georgia and Austria).
Thanks to this experience, in 2022 Prof. Pelosi also organized the first Blended Intensive Program (Erasmus+2021-27) entitled "Food sustainability and Climate Change" involving four universities of the EUGreen European network: the University of Parma, the of Angers (France), the University of Extremadura (Spain) and the University of Life Sciences of Wroclaw (Poland). The event was attended by as many as 40 master's, doctoral and post-doctoral students of various backgrounds (environmental sciences, food sciences, management, law), thirty of whom were foreigners, coming from associated universities.

Organizational and management activity

Internationalization
• Delegate of the Rector for the European University Networks (DR 361 of 16 February 2021)
In this role, Prof. Pelosi, with the support of the Internationalization Unit (Dr. A Bernazzoli), managed to create a consortium of 9 European universities, each from a different country, within the space of a year. The universities that have signed the agreement, in addition to the University of Parma, are: the University of Angers (France), the University of Évora (Portugal), the University of Extremadura (Spain), the University of Gävle (Sweden ), the Institute of Technology Carlow (Ireland), the Otto von Guericke Universitaet Magdeburg (Germany), the University of Oradea (Romania) and the Wroclaw University of Life Sciences (Poland). The consortium, in response to the call of the European Commission "European Universities Initiatives", on 22 March 2022 presented the project of a European university network called "EUGreen Alliance" and this is one of the four new European networks approved by the European Commission on 27 July 2022 and financed for the four-year period 2022-26.
• Member of the Steering Committee of the European university network EUGreen Alliance (since 2021)
The Steering Committee is the governing body of the EUGreen Alliance and is made up of two members for each university: the Rector's Delegate and the Administrative Director's Delegate.
• Member of the "Education" Working Group of the EUGreen Alliance (since 2022) In addition to being a member of the Steering Committee, Prof Pelosi participated together with the Vice-Rector for Education in the planning work for the integration of education into the EUGreen Alliance
• Member of the "European Universities" Working Group of the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors)
• Member of the University Working Group for Internationalization (DR 529 of 1.3.2018)
In this role, Prof. Pelosi participated in the periodic meetings and supported the Pro-Rector in the internationalization activity.
• Delegate of the University of Parma at the Salone dello Studio in Italia 2019 in Tokyo. The event was promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Embassy in Tokyo
• Delegate of the University of Parma at the Conference between Italian and Japanese Universities (Tokyo, November 2019) for exchange opportunities for teachers and students.
• President of the International Mobility Commission of the SCVSA Department from 2017 to 2021 (CMI minutes 20/03/2017)
Prof. Pelosi was the first President of the International Mobility Commission of the SCVSA Department and in this role he promoted the signing of new agreements with important European universities.
• Coordinator of the International Summer School on Food Sustainability (three editions 2020-21-22)
As part of the initiatives to disseminate the culture of sustainability, Prof. Pelosi was commissioned by the Rector to create an International Summer School for students and professionals that would also include opportunities for meetings and discussions between universities and the world of business and politics. The project was funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
• Coordinator of the Blended Intensive Program “Food Sustainability and Climate Change” (University of Parma, Extremadura, Angers and Wroclaw) (2022)
In the context of strengthening collaborations between universities of the EUGreen Alliance, Prof. Pelosi created the first Blended Intensive Program of the Network entitled "Food Sustainability and Climate Change" and which dealt with various aspects of food sustainability in the perspective of the occurrence of climate change.
• Member of the International Mobility Commission of the SCVSA Department from 2017 to date
• Erasmus coordinator for the degree courses in Chemistry from 2015 to date
Prof Pelosi is the Erasmus contact person for students of the three-year study courses in Chemistry and in Materials Science and Technology, master's courses in Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry and PhD courses in Chemical Sciences.

Language training
• Delegate of the Department Director in the Council of the University Language Center (DR 1807/2020)
• From 1998 to 2021 he was the contact person for the English language of the Study Programs in Chemistry
• Since 2021 he has been teaching transversal courses for PhD students of "basic scientific-technical Chinese"

Member of competition commissions
• Member of the Competition Commission for the post of university researcher at the University of Genoa SSD CHIM/03 - August 2008
• Member of the Competition Commission for a fixed-term university researcher position at the University of Pisa - June-July 2020

Italian Chemical Society
• Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Emilia Romagna section of the Italian Chemical Society (2015-2017)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Emilia Romagna section of the Italian Chemical Society (2015-2020)

Other assignments
• Member of the Scientific Committee of Area 103 from 1995 to 2011
• CCdS Biotechnology Secretary 2005-2008
• Member of the TECO Project Work Group (Skills Test) promoted by ANVUR (DR 2928_2015)