Clinical research in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
The Unit conducts sponsored phase II–IV clinical trials on investigational drugs for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa, and sponsored phase II–IV clinical trials on innovative topical therapies and gene therapy protocols for different forms of epidermolysis bullosa, as well as non-profit observational studies in EB, HS and cSCC.
Study of MC1R–GPER heteromers in melanoma pathogenesis.
Investigation of the molecular pathway of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and its interaction with the G protein–coupled estrogen receptor (GPER).
Aim: to understand the molecular basis of melanoma pathogenesis and to identify potential diagnostic markers and molecular targets for melanoma treatment.
Smart injectable Hydrogels carrying multi-functional nano-systEms to tackle chRonic wound biOfilm through an antibiotic-free approach (HERO).
Antibiotic resistance is steadily increasing posing a significant challenge to the effective treatment of infectious diseases. There is an urgent need to develop innovative therapeutic strategies that enable multi-target, antibiotic-free interventions capable of counteracting the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
Aim: HERO aims to engineer a smart, injectable, multifunctional hydrogel able to dislodge biofilms, prevent their recurrence, reduce the overall microbial burden, and create a favorable environment for the healing of chronic skin wounds.
Study of molecular alterations involved in the development and progression of cSCC in EB.
A multimodal approach will be employed to detect SCC-specific molecular changes in patients with EB, with particular emphasis on early alterations that may have diagnostic value and relevance for the development of targeted therapies. Aim: To improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of EB-associated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which represents the leading cause of mortality in affected patients and often requires highly invasive surgical procedures. By characterizing the molecular alterations that occur during tumor development and progression, this study seeks to identify early diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.