UNITS

Stefan Schoeftner is Associate Professor in Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, where he also leads the laboratory of Genome Stability. Schoeftner studied Biology at the University of Vienna (Austria), where he also obtained his PhD. He worked at the Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO) in Madrid, and in Italy at LNCIB, in Trieste, and at the Italian National Cancer Research Institute, Regina Elena in Rome. Schoeftner is an expert in the field of cancer genome stability and structure, as well as in the development of novel, cell based tools for cancer research. He authored more than 24 scientific publications and holds a patent on the use of telomeric transcripts as diagnostic and therapeutic agent (PCT/EP2008/010661).  Schoeftner is the p-care project coordinator.

Odessa Schillaci is a postdoctoral researcher of the Genomic Stability Group coordinated by Stefan Schoeftner at the University of Trieste. She obtained her international PhD in Immuno-Pharmacology from the University of Palermo. She had her research training at the Department of Biopathology and Medical Biotechnologies of the University of Palermo, Italy; the Laboratory of Medicine, of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, USA; at the Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies of the University of Palermo, Italy; and at LNCIB in Trieste.

Schillaci is an experienced researcher in the field of cancer cell biology. During her PhD she studied the molecular mechanisms underlying intercellular communication in cancer. In the Schoeftner’s lab she acquired knowledge and expertise in the manipulation of lung tumor-organoids for the development of novel strategies for precision anticancer medicine. To date she has authored 7 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Giannino Del Sal is full professor of applied biology at University of Trieste, Department Life sciences; visiting Scientist at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB); and Principal Investigator IFOM (FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology). He studied biology at the University of Trieste and had his research training at ICGEB in Trieste, at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg and, as visiting scientist, in the Laboratory of Cell Biology of the US biotech company Mitotix Inc. in Cambridge, MA. He headed the Molecular Oncology Unit at Laboratorio Nazionale CIB (LNCIB Trieste).  Del Sal is an expert in cell signaling and cancer cell biology. His fields of interest are the oncogenic pathways in cancer development and metastasis, and the development of translational approaches for cancer therapy. He has authored over 140 publications among peer-review research articles and reviews. In recognition of his scientific achievements, in 2006 he has been nominated EMBO member.

Elena Campaner works as post-doctoral researcher at the University of Trieste, in the Molecular Oncology group headed by Giannino Del Sal. She obtained her research training at the University of Trieste and Laboratorio Nazionale CIB (LNCIB) in Trieste, under the supervision of Del Sal, and at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam under the supervision of Riccardo Fodde. She obtained her PhD in Molecular Biomedicine at the University of Trieste in 2017.

Campaner is an experienced researcher in the field of cancer cell biology. She identified a novel inhibitor of PIN1, a prolyl-isomerase involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. She acquired knowledge and expertise in the manipulation and analysis of mouse and human primary cell and in the development of innovative ex-vivo techniques.

Fabrizio Zanconati is Associate Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste where since 2013 he has directed the SC of Pathological Anatomy and Histology; since 2019 he has been Head of the Regional HPV Laboratory of Friuli Venezia Giulia for the screening of cervical cancer. For over 10 years he has been responsible for the Trieste University Hospital for the screening of breast cancer with a high degree of specialization in breast cancer diagnostics. Since 2012 he has been coordinator of the Degree Course in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques at the University of Trieste.
Zanconati is a specialist in Pathological Anatomy and is an expert in the diagnostics of tumors with particular regard to those of the respiratory, female genital, breast and digestive systems. He deals with needle aspiration cytology diagnostics and predictive molecular diagnostics. He has authored over 80 scientific publications in indexed journals.

Cristina Bottin is a histology technician of the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste.
From 1996 to 2006 she worked as lab technician in the Flow Cytofluorometry Laboratory of the CSPA (Centro Servizi Polivalenti di Ateneo).
Between 2006 and 2010 she worked at the San Polo Hospital of Monfalcone, where her laboratory activity focused on asbestos-related pathologies.
Since 2010 she has been working at Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences in Trieste, closely collaborating with Fabrizio Zanconati, Director of Surgical Patology Unit.
She is a histology expert. Her competencies mainly regard processing, paraffin embedding and slide production for histochemical and immunohistochemical staining protocols, and slide scanning for creating digital images.

Maurizio Pinamonti is a Medical Doctor specialized in Pathology at the University Hospital of Trieste, closely collaborating with Professor Zanconati and Professor Di Bonito in the field of medical diagnostics and scientific research.
Pinamonti is a surgical pathologist and cytopathologist experienced in manipulating simple and complex surgical specimens and small biopsies, and in histopathological diagnostics. He is competent in fine needle aspiration cytology and cytological diagnostics as well.

Marina Bortul is Associate Professor of General Surgery at the Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste. Since 2015 she has been Clinical Manager of the SSD Breast Unit of the University Hospital of Trieste (ASUITS). The Unit has been certified by the  European Society for Breast Cancer Specialist  (EUSOMA).

Bortul coordinates the activity of an interdisciplinary group dedicated to the pathologies of the breast and to the management of patients along the entire course of care, with particular reference to the surgical treatment of breast cancer, with the most innovative procedures. She is also ASUITS referent specialist for the mammography screening program; regional referent for ANISC (Italian Association of Breast Surgeons) and regional referent for Senonetwork, the network of the Italian Senology Centers.

Maurizio Cortale is Director of the Chest Surgery Department of Cattinara Hospital in Trieste. He obtained his degree at the University of Trieste Medical School in 1985. In the same year he passed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and a few years later the specialization in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. Cortale’s career includes several experiences in surgical departments abroad, at the Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue in Paris, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Wien, the Cedars Sinai Thoracic Surgery in Los Angeles, and the Thoracic Surgery Pulmonary Hospital in Shanghai, to name a few.

He has leaded the Chest Surgery Department of Cattinara Hospital in Trieste since 2008.

Cortale is an expert in the field of surgical lung cancer treatment. The department he leads treats about 300 cases yearly, most of them cancer patients. His scientific publications are especially in the field of mesothelioma.

Giuseppe Ricci is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Trieste, and Head of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and Anesthesiology of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health Burlo Garofolo, in Trieste. He graduated from the University of Florence and completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the same University. In 1989 he moved to Trieste and started working at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo. In 1993 joined the University of Trieste as an Assistant Professor. Ricci has been the Director of the Postgraduate School of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2014. He is coordinator of the gynecological cancer multidisciplinary team of IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, and ASUGI  (Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina). His main research fields of interest include the proteomic characterization of endometrial cancer, the development of nanotechnology-based approaches in ovarian cancer and of systems to predict platinum resistance and prognosis in this type of cancer. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed papers in reputed international journals.

Rita Ceccherini is a I level medical director in Medical oncology at the oncology center “Centro Sociale Oncologico” in Trieste. Ceccherini is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics and in medical oncology. She worked at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University of Florence from 1986 to 1991. Then, she moved to Trieste to oncology center “Centro Sociale Oncologico”, where she has been I level medical director in Medical Oncology since 1996.

Ceccherini is an expert in the field of breast and gynecological cancers and has experience in GCP Clinical Trials. She is member of AIOM (Italian Society for Medical Oncology), ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) and ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology). She has authored 101 scientific papers.

Saveria Lory Crocè is associate professor in gastroenterology at the  Department of medical surgical and health sciences of the University of Trieste.  She heads the Liver Clinic at ASUGI (Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina) and the Gastroenterology Residency Program of the University Hospital in Trieste. She is also member of the scientific committee of the Italian Liver Foundation. Crocè studied Medicine at the University of Trieste and obtained her specialization in gastroenterology at the University of Ferrara. 

Crocè is an expert in the field of liver cancer, liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (epidemiology, clinic and translational research in particular on miRNA and staminal cells).  Other fields of expertise are non-invasive study of fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. She authored several scientific publications.