P2X receptors (P2XRs) are ATP-gated ion channels involved in intercellular communication with an established role in neurodegeneration, infection, inflammation, cancer growth, and progression. In vitro and in vivo evidence, generated mainly by leading Europe-based laboratories, shows that P2XRs might be an ideal pharmacological target in these diseases and many others. Over the years, highly selective agonists and antagonists have been synthesized, and therapeutic antibodies targeting the P2XRs have been raised.

In modern society, chronic insufficient sleep (defined as gaining less sleep than required) has become epidemic among adolescents worldwide and is as a serious health risk. Insufficient sleep is associated with higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that are the primary drivers of disability worldwide. In this research, I will study in mice how losing hours of sleep across adolescence affects, in the long-term, neuronal connections (or synapses) in brain regions important for the control of mood and emotions.

The AgrI-fiSh project proposes the adoption of an innovative farming system, which directly links agriculture with aquaculture productions through circular economy principles, to respond to the environmental and socio-economic challenges face to climate change in the Mediterranean region.

Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive and immunosuppressed brain tumor with few therapeutic options. The development of novel therapies requires a better understanding of the bi-directional communication between the tumor and the surrounding brain parenchyma. On one hand, soluble factors released by GB cells alter the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission, and disrupt neural circuits; on the other, recent findings suggest that neuronal stimuli modulate brain microenvironment with effects on tumor growth.

In modern society, chronic insufficient sleep (defined as gaining less sleep than required) has become epidemic among adolescents worldwide and is as a serious health risk. Insufficient sleep is associated with higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that are the primary drivers of disability worldwide.

Evidence exists that neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development and progession of many chronic neurologic diseases, Alzheimer's (AD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's (PD). Although microglial cells are generally considered as the main resident immune cells of the brain, it is important to underline that astrocytes are immunocompetent as well, and they act as important regulators of CNS inflammation.

The main objective of this project is to provide a deeper knowledge about aspects still scarcely investigated about cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment of food products to fill the gaps identified in the literature, promoting the application of this emerging novel technology. Five different categories of food products (minimally process fruit and vegetables -MPFV, semidried fruit -SDF, dry fruit -DF, fish products -FP and molluscs -M) were chosen on the basis of their different characteristics and issues related to safety and stability.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and immunosuppressed brain tumor with few therapeutic options. The development of novel therapies requires a better understanding of the bi-directional communication between the tumor and the surrounding brain parenchyma.

The present proposal stems from the observation that a number of molecules involved in NAD metabolism (enzymes, precursors and NAD itself; that we herein refer to as the NADome) are parodoxically also found extracellularly. Importantly, the proposers have developed a monoclonal antibody targeting one of these extracellular enzymes, nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT), and have found it to significantly reduce the symptoms/damage in two separate murine models of inflammatory bowel disease.