Personale docente

NAME: DALL’ASTA Valeria
NATIONALITY: Italian
DATE OF BIRTH: March 3, 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH: Parma, Italy
MARITAL STATUS: Married – 1 child (1981)

EDUCATION
1974 Degree in Biological Sciences 110/110 e lode, University of Parma
1979 Master in Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry 70/70 e lode, University of Parma

APPOINTMENTS
1974-1980 Fellow, Institute of General Pathology, University of Parma
1980-1987 Assistant Professor, Institute of General Pathology, University of Parma
1987-2002 Associate Professor of General Pathology, Medical Faculty of University of Parma
2002- Full Professor of General Pathology at the Medical Faculty of University of Parma.
From 2011 Coordinator of Dottorato di Ricerca in Biologia e Patologia Molecolare, University of Parma
From 2011 President of Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche, Veterinarie e Farmaceutiche”, University of Parma.
From January to July 2012 she has been the Director of Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, University of Parma

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1987- Course of General Pathology at the Medical School, University of Parma
2002- Course of General Pathology at the Dental School, University of Parma
2007- Course of Molecular Bases of Defence Responses at the Biotechnology School, University of Parma
2007- Course of Molecular Bases of Diseases, Biotechnology School, University of Parma
1993-1996 Course of Laboratory of General Pathology, Faculty of Biological Sciences
1996-1998 Course of General Physiopathology, Faculty of Biological Sciences

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
She is co-author of more than 70 scientific publications on international, peer reviewed journals.

Her main scientific interests are:
1. Characterization and regulation of amino acid transport across the plasma membrane of mesenchymal cells
2. Cellular response to nutritional stress: adaptive regulation of system A transport activity
3. Cell volume regulation: involvement of amino acids as compatible osmolytes in response to osmotic stress
4. Expression of arginine transporters during differentiation of human monocyte/macrophages
5. Expression of arginine transporters during differentiation of human RBC-precursors
6. Arginine transporters in the pathogenesis of alveolar proteinosis associated to Lysinuric Protein intolerance (LPI)
7. Endothelial activation: arginine transport and nitric oxide production in human endothelial cells in response to inflammatory stimuli
8. Endothelial dysfunction: role of arginine transport in the regulation of NOS/arginase balance

RECENT GRANTS
2011 P.I of a Research Grant " Role of arginine and its metabolites in the functions of macrophages isolated from patients affected by Lysinuric Protein Intolerance (LPI)" by Children Living with Inherithed Metabolic Diseases (CLIMB), UK
2010 P.I of a Research Grant "Study of the pathogenesis of the pulmonary complications in LPI" by Children Living with Inherithed Metabolic Diseases (CLIMB), UK
2007-2009 Research Unit P.I in the National Project “Endothelian function and inflammatory stress: role of mTOR”. National Coordinator: Gianluca Polvani
2005-2007 Research Unit P.I in the National Project “In vitro models of endothelial damage of ischemia-reperfusion: roles of arginine and nitric oxide”. National Coordinator: Angelo Sala
1998-2000 Research Unit P.I in the National Project “Metabolic and molecular bases of inherited diseases”. National Coordinator: Generoso Andria

Funds from the University of Parma:
2006-2007 Proinflammatory cytokines in ischemic-hypoxic stress in endothelial cells: role of arginine
2005-2006 Pathogenetic mechanisms of the extrarenal alterations of Lysinuric Protein Intolerance (LPI)
2002-2004 Control of cell volume in human endothelium
2000-2001 Development of devices for multiparametric CLSM determinations on intact cells