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PARTNER N° |
19 |
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NAME OF INSTITUTION |
Università degli Studi di Siena, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia |
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TEAM |
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University of Siena (UNISI) was founded in 1240 and has a great history of being engaged in research and innovation. In these eight centuries, UNISI has produced knowledge in every field and is one of the top Italian Universities in innovative research, teaching and service. Within the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy (DBCF), undergraduate and graduate degrees are coordinated in the fields of Chemical Sciences, in Pharmacy and in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies. DBCF has an active PhD Program in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and one in Molecular Biotechnologies. Masters degrees and a Specialization Course in Hospital Pharmacy are also offered. The research group involved in the ZIKAlliance consortium is leaded by Prof. Maurizio Botta. This team has been developing novel strategies for the design, synthesis and drug-likeness assessment of novel potential drugs for almost 30 years and has been a pioneer within the Italian University context in the use of computational chemistry as a tool to guide chemical synthesis and optimize the drug discovery process. Acknowledging the importance of interdisciplinary in the design of effective compounds, the group includes three divisions (molecular modelling, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry) that work in team for the development of several different compounds with anticancer, anti-fungal, antibiotic and anti-asthma activity. Importantly, the group has a long and important experience in the design, synthesis and development of novel antivirals. Prof. Botta and his group are constantly setting up cutting-edge drug design strategies for the development of compounds against Worldwide threats like DENV, Ebola, WNV and now ZIKV. Profiting of the great experience in antiviral drug design and of the in-house broad-spectrum antiviral compounds at disposition, the group will optimize these compounds libraries and develop a new class of inhibitors that could be used for the treatment of ZIKV.
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KEY CONTACT PERSON(S) |
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Key scientific contact person 1 (Team leader) |
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Name |
Prof. Maurizio Botta |
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Photo |
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Position in the Institution |
Full Professor in Medicinal Chemistry |
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Email address |
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Phone number |
+39 0677 234306 |
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Mobile phone number |
+39 328 0091722 |
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Postal address |
Università di Siena, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena (SI) Italy
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Role in the Consortium |
WP: 3 – Virology and Antivirals |
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Task: 3.4 - Antivirals |
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Sub-task: 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 |
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Role: Prof. Maurizio Botta is full professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the DBCF of UNISI. The International, EU and National funds and the industrial grants that support Prof. Botta’s scientific research, allow him to work on several medicinal chemistry topics, aiming the design, synthesis and in vitro ADME evaluation of anticancer, antiviral and antibiotic compounds. Given his important experience in successful management of drug design projects, he will be the leader of the UNISI team. In this role he will coordinate the research group and its scientific work that will include the design, synthesis and ADMET determination of potential anti-ZIKV agents. As well as taking important strategic decisions, he will take care of the collaborative relationships with the other consortium partners and participate to ZIKAlliance meetings and video/tele-conferences. His broad view of the project and of the work performed not only by the UNISI team, but also by the ZIKAlliance consortium as a whole will be fundamental for the general aim of WP 3 subtask 3.4 of developing effective novel antivirals active against ZIKV.
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