PhD in CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

email: daniela.barila@uniroma2.it
phone: 06 7259 4326
building: SOGENE
room: 326

Education and training

2000-2001 Postdoctoral fellow (laboratory of Prof. R. Testi) University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, IT.

1995-1999 Postdoctoral fellow (laboratory of Prof. G. Superti-Furga), Cell Regulation Department, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (E.M.B.L.), Heidelberg, DE.

1994- Specialization Biotechnology, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, IT.

1993- Visiting fellow (laboratory of Prof. T. Morimoto), New York University, NY, USA

1991 Master Degree in Biological Sciences, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, IT.

1989-1994: Master Degree student and Specialization student at INRAN (laboratory of Dr. G. Perozzi under the supervision of Prof. I. Bozzoni)

Employment

2023-to date Full Professor (Genetics BIO/18), University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, IT

2018-to date Associate Professor (Genetics BIO/18), University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, IT

2006- to date Head of Cell Signaling Unit, IRCCS- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, IT.

2008-2018 Assistant Professor (BIO/18), University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, IT

2001-2007 Assistant Telethon Scientist, Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University “Tor Vergata”.

Teaching

- Gene expression and regulation 6 CFU, Master Degree Biotechnology, Dept of Biology, University “Tor Vergata”.

- Molecular Genetics of Neoplastic Transformation 6 CFU, Master Degree Cellular and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Dept of Biology, University “Tor Vergata”.

- Experimental approaches to study neoplastic transformation, 3CFU, Master Degree Biotechnology, Dept of Biology, University “Tor Vergata”.

-  Experimental models in cellular and molecular biology, PhD Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Dept of Biology, University “Tor Vergata”.

Research interests

In the last years we are focusing our efforts on the signaling cascades triggered by receptor tyrosine kinases (such as EGFR, MET and HER2), non receptor tyrosine kinases (such as ABL and SRC) and kinases involved in the DNA damage response (such as ATM) in glioblastoma and breast cancer cellular models to understand how oncogenes rewire cellular signaling to sustain cancer initiation and development.  We uncovered and characterized several novel molecular interplays:

- Identification of a novel interplay between SRC kinase and Caspase-8 that allows cancer cells to hijack Caspase-8 activity impairing its canonical apoptotic function and switching on its ability to promote angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment.

- HER2- interplay that allows ATM kinase activity to sustain HSP90 activity and interaction with HER2 promoting its tumorigenicity.

- Identification of a novel role of Caspase-8 in the modulation of DNA damage repair and in chemotherapy resistance

- Identification of a novel role of Src kinase as modulator of NRF2 transcription factor activity and resistance to ferroptosis.