EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2003-2006 Post-doc position in Biochemistry – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2003 PhD degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology 2001 Research fellow at the IABBAM Institute – CNR (Naples, Italy) 1999-2002 PhD student in Cellular and Molecular Biology – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 1999 Biological Sciences graduated at University of Rome Tor Vergata (110/110 cum laude) 1998-1999 Student in the Biochemistry Laboratory – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES 2023- Full professor of Biochemistry – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2018-2023 Associate Professor of Biochemistry – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2014- Group Leader of Biochemistry of Nutrition Laboratory – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2014-2017 Group Leader of Biochemistry of Ageing Laboratory – IRCCS San Raffaele “La Pisana”, Rome, Italy 2009-2018 Researcher in Technical and Applied Dietetics Sciences – Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2007-2008 Research contract at the Biochemistry Institute of the University of Urbino “Carlo Bò” 2006-2007 Research contract at IRCCS San Raffaele “La Pisana”, Rome, Italy INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 2021- Member of Selection for Tutoring and/or Didactic-Integrative Activities Committee 2021- Member of the Coordination Committee of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences Macroarea, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2021- Vice Director of the Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2021 Member of Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Diploma Supplement Track Selection Committee, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2019-2021 Member of the Research Quality Assurance Committee, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPACT She is author of 93 research articles published in “peer-reviewed” international journals, 3 book chapters, 50 publications in international congress proceedings h index = 43 (Scopus) Citations = 12000 (Scopus) Total Impact Factors (Clarivate, JCR)= 654 Active Impact factor (Clarivate, JCR)= 326 CURRENT SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES 1. Adipose tissue in obesity and type 2 diabetes. She is focused on uncovering new determinants of adipose tissue aging and inflammation that contribute to metabolic dysfunctions in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Specifically, her attention is directed towards exploring redox signalling pathways that converge with mitochondrial metabolism, which could be influenced by dietary factors, nutrients, and dietary supplements. Currently, she is actively testing innovative dietary approaches, such as a high carbohydrate/low protein diet, intermittent fasting, and butyrate supplementation. These approaches aim to target mitochondrial activity, promote the conversion of white adipocytes to brown adipocytes, and increase energy expenditure during rest. 2. Adipose tissue in cancer-induced cachexia. Her research focuses on understanding the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and its secretome, mainly extracellular vesicles, in cancer-induced cachexia (CC). CC is a significant adverse prognostic factor and a direct cause of cancer-related deaths, characterized by the involuntary loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle mass. By utilizing cellular and mouse models of CC, she aims to identify the composition of extracellular vesicles released from BAT during CC, investigate the pathways involved in their release, and examine their effects on adipose tissue, skeletal muscle tissue, and tumour cells. Ultimately, her research aims to pave the way for improved diagnosis and the development of effective anti-CC therapies that could benefit a wide range of cancer patients. 3. Friedreich’s ataxia. She is engaged in characterizing metabolic alterations occurring in adipose tissue and the cerebellum using mouse models of Friedreich's ataxia. Her specific focus lies in studying changes in the tissue secretome, including cytokines and extracellular vesicles, which may impact energetic metabolism and immune response. By identifying new targets to prevent neuroinflammation and the onset of type 2 diabetes, she aims to alleviate the severity of the disease's prognosis. Her research holds the potential to uncover insights that may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies for Friedreich's ataxia, particularly in mitigating the associated metabolic disruptions and immune dysregulation. PAST SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES She performed research in the field of human nutrition and diseases associated with cellular dysmetabolism and oxidative stress. By using in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegeneration and metabolic diseases, she studied at molecular level the following issues: - Glutathione and superoxide dismutase in the control of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species metabolism; - Redox signal transduction pathways in cell death and differentiation (adipogenesis, myogenesis); - Modulation of lipid (synthesis and degradation of triglycerides) and mitochondrial metabolism; - Control of mitochondrial turnover (biogenesis/mitophagy); - Transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial DNA, antioxidants (SODs) and metabolic genes (ATGL, LIPA, PGC-1alfa, FOXO1); - Impact of nutrients and phytochemicals (polyphenols and organosulfur compounds) on redox homeostasis and cellular oxidative metabolism. OTHER ACTIVITIES - Associate Editor for Frontiers in Nutrition, Frontiers in Genetics, Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience - Guest Associate Editor for Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Pharmacology - Academic Editor for International Journal of Cell Biology - Section Editor for Reviews in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition - Review Editor for Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience - Reviewer for scientific international journals including Cell Metabolism, Cell Reports, Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Molecular Metabolism, Scientific Reports, Free Radical Research, Food Chemistry, iScience, Journal of Neuroinflammation, Neural Plasticity, Neurochemistry International, Oxidative Medicine and Longevity, Recent Advances in DNA and Gene Sequences, BBA-General Subject, Biochemistry & Biophysics Reports, Cell Death & Disease, Neuroscience, American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, British Journal of Cancer, Biology Direct, PNAS Nexus. - Grant Reviewer for Italian Ministry of University and Research, National Science Center - Poland, Swiss National Science Foundation, French National Cancer Institute (INCa) SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS - Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIBB) - Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU) - Italian Association of Cell Culture (AICC) - Task Force Member (Validation Team) of the Halifax Project “Getting to Know Cancer” - Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM) AWARDED GRANTS (Principal Investigator) 1. Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Discovery Award – Dept. of Defense (USA) “Mitochondria-derived extracellular vesicles in Friedreich’s ataxia” Years: 2023-2025 (Amount: 200.000 USD) 2. General Research Grant 2019 - Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (U.S.A.) “Studying the role of white adipose tissue dysfunction in the development of metabolic complications in Friedreich’s ataxia” Years: 2020-2022 (Amount: 249.000 USD) 3. Investigator Grant 2019 (IG23562) – Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) “Brown adipose tissue extracellular vesicles in tumour-adipose tissue communication and cancer cachexia” Years: 2020-2024 (Amount: 448.000 Euro) 4. General Research Grant 2016 - Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (U.S.A.) “Studying the role of brown fat in Friedreich’s ataxia” Years: 2017-2019 (Amount: 197.000 USD) 5. Seed Money Grant – National Ataxia Foundation (U.S.A.) “Study of the role of lipid dysmetabolism in the pathogenesis of Friedreich’s ataxia” Years: 2016-2017 (Amount: 15.000 USD) 6. Uncovering Excellence – University of Rome “Tor Vergata” “Low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet as strategy to prevent metabolic diseases” Years: 2015-2016 (Amount: 24.500 Euro) 7. PRIN 2012 (20125S38FA) – Ministry of Education, University and Research (Italy) “Alteration of cell differentiation and mitochondrial biogenesis in age-related disease. Dysregulation of NOX-Nrf2-Sirt1/PGC-1alpha pathway” Years: 2014-2017 (Amount: 157.143 Euro) 8. Young Researcher Project 2012 (GR-2011-02348047) – Ministry of Health (Italy) “Dissecting the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1a) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in Parkinson's disease” Years: 2014-2017 (Amount: 326.909 Euro)
Publications:
Scopus - Results: AU-ID("Aquilano, Katia" 6507604804)