GIANPIERO GARAU, PhD. Brief Curriculum vitae.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND: After studies in Protein Chemistry at the Science Park of Århus (DK), Dr Garau obtained the PhD in Chemical Sciences (2003, Structural Chemistry); previously, Degree in Pharm Chemistry and Technology at the University of Trieste (Italy).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Postdoc (2003-2006) at the Jean-Pierre Ebel Structural Biology Institute (IBS) of the Scientific Campus of Grenoble (France), which includes the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the Institut Laue-Langevin for neutron science (ILL), and the European Molecular Biology Lab (EMBL). Postdoc (2007) at the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park of Milan (Italy). Assistant Specialist (2008-2009) at the Dept of Pharmacology, University of California - Irvine (USA). Team leader (2010-2015) of the group of Structural Biophysics at the Dept of Drug Discovery and Development of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa (Italy). Since 2016, he is leader of the BIOSTRUCTUREs LAB at the Center IIT@NEST of the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa.
Dr Garau is author and co-author of more than fifty publications in high-quality journals, including JACS, PNAS, Nature Neuroscience and Structure (Cell), a book chapter (X-ray Structures and Mechanisms of Metallo-Beta-Lactamases), and received several research highlights with international collaborators. His work has been presented in many international congresses as oral communications and abstracts. Main Bragging Rights include 6 years of activity (2016-2021) as Expert Evaluator of Marie Curie European Research Actions, 2 Marie Curie EU fellow grants, and 1 Marie Curie EU grant and 1 Canon Research Foundation EU grant as project supervisor.
BIOSTRUCTUREs Lab
The research in my lab is at the interface of chemistry and biology to investigate the molecular basis of diseases and discover novel therapeutic/technological approaches (e.g., ligands, biodrugs, nanodiscs, targeted nanovectors, lipid-nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery, engineered viral cages and antibodies). Primary RESEARCH TOOLS include approaches of structural biophysics, biotechnology and computation. Among these, we apply mainly protein design & engineering, directed protein evolution, lipid-based encapsulation, bioassays, x-ray diffraction & electron crystallography, single particle cryo-electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, HPLC/FPLC, capillary electrophoresis, surface plasmon resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, microcalorimetry, supported by advanced in silico methods (HPC Franklin).
Research lines:
- nanoBIOTECHNOLOGY, with applications that range from design and generation of bioactive 3D (nano-)biomaterials (e.g., nanodiscs, targeted nanovectors, lipid-nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery, engineered viral cages and antibodies) to biodrugs and cascade biocatalysts in sustainable technology. This process is strongly driven by specific technological needs.
- PROTEIN BIOTECHNOLOGY, from design of engineered proteins to the structure of membrane protein targets for ligand discovery and biomolecular medicine.
- BOOSTING FOOD WELL-BEING, the application of this technology allows food industry to: (i) create analytical-predictive tools for the decision-making process of food production on the well-being basis; (ii) select among similar products, those that provide greater desire, pleasure and well-being.
Members: SARA CHIARUGI ELISA MARTINO FRANCESCO MARGHERITI LORENZO MOSTI
News (Jan 2022)
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ACCEPTING DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
Recent Results
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Neutralization of the anthrax toxin by antibody-mediated stapling of its membrane penetrating loop
2021 https://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/paper?S2059798321007816 (Journal IF = 7.7)
The research was supported by the Agreement on Industrial, Scientific and Technological Research and Development Cooperation between the Israeli Ministry of Science, Technology and Space (MOST) and the Ministero Italiano degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (MAECI) (Project: SB2D-CNI-BGU); and by the ISRAEL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (grant No. 364/20).
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Development of potent dual PDK1/AurA kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy
2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113895 (Journal IF = 6.5)
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Mapping, Structure and Modulation of PPI
2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.718405 (Journal IF = 5.2)
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