Luisella Verotta

Biography

I. EDUCATION AND POSITION
-1974. Diploma Maturità Scientifica. Liceo Statale "G. Pascoli" (Gallarate), Italy.
-1980. Doctor in Chemistry (bio-organic). Universita' degli Studi di Milano. Title of thesis:"Studies on chemical constitution and pheromone activity of volatile substances from Dacus oleae (olive fly)".
-1983-1988. Post graduate national fellowships on the Chemistry of Biologically Active Natural Substances . Department of Organic and Industrial Chemistry, University of Milan.
-1988-2001. Permanent technical scientist. Department of Organic and Industrial Chemistry (Chair of Organic Chemistry II), University of  Milan, Italy.
- since 2002. Senior assistant professor in Organic Chemistry, University of  Milan,
- Since 2005. Adjunct professor of Environmental Chemistry, University of Milan,
- Since 2008. Adjunct professor of Natural Products Chemistry, University of Milan

OTHER
-1982. National Researching Award for the studies on pheromones.
1996-2001 Member of the executive board of the Italian Chemical Society
-2002. ACS Award for a “hot article” in Journal of  Natural Products: “Synthesis of Analogues of Hyperforin. 1. Modification of the enolized cyclohexandione moiety”
- 2002-2009. Contract professor of Phytochemistry, University of Pavia, Italy
- 2003-2006. Contract professor of Medicinal Plants, Universita’ del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Since 2003 member of the scientific advisory board of the Centre for Ethnobiomedicine (Centre of Excellence, Univ. Pavia).
- Since 2006. Member of the teaching staff and organizing board of the Master Course in Natural Products, University of Milan, Italy
-Since 2007. Member of the teaching staff organizing board of the Master Course in Ethnobiopharmacy, University of Pavia , Italy

RESEARCH GRANTS
-1998-2001: Research Responsible of a contract DuPont Agricultural Products-Università degli Studi di Milano for the biological evaluation of natural substances to be used in  agriculture.
-2001-2002: Research Responsible of a contract Tecnofarmaci-Universita’ degli Studi di Milano: Structural modifications of antidepressant acylphloroglucinols.
- 2002-2003: Research Responsible of a contract Tecnofarmaci-Universita’ degli Studi di Milano: Phytochemical characterization of acylphloroglucinols containing plants.
-2003-2004: Research Responsible of a contract Indena SpA-Universita’ degli Studi di Milano: Natural products from antiipertensive plants.
-2006-2007: Research Responsible of a contract Renaco Srl-Universita’ degli Studi di Milano: Bioactivity guided phytochemical study of  psychotropic plants.
-2007: Research Responsible of a contract Indena SpA-Universita’ degli Studi di Milano: SAR studies on hyperforin derivatives
-2008 responsible of a project and a post doc position  UNIAMO (Universita’ di Milano-Cariplo) for a South-East Asian researcher: Isolation and  Chemical Optimization of new Antiprotozoal Leads from Nature
-since 2009 responsible of research unit  as NIH subaward: Small molecule protein-glycan inhibitors as malaria transmission-blocking therapeutic. Grant Number: 1R01AI082587-01.  Principal Investigator: Rhoel David Ramos Dinglasan,  JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, Baltimore (MA), USA

Education

Doctor in Chemistry, University of Milan, 1980

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Her main research studies are in the realm of bioactive natural products, especially from plant sources, aimed at the obtaining of lead compounds for the development of new therapeutic agents. In particular, her research has focused on antitumor natural products, non-cytotoxic chemopreventive agents, and antimalarial compounds. Lines pursued in parallel investigations include the synthesis and semisynthesis of natural compounds of pharmaceutical relevance, the study of their medicinal chemistry, and mechanism of activity.

Personal Interests

Strong interest in Traditional Medicines. For this she has been visiting scientist in many Third World Countries, introducing native young researchers to the phytochemical study of medicinal plants. Strong in International Cooperation projects, since she is extramural phytochemical expert for COE, a Non Governmental Organization that fosters and supports projects in TWC for the sustainable use of natural resources, and active member of Ritam (Research Initiative on Traditional Antimalarial methods).

Books