1991: Degree cum laude in Biological Sciences, University of Genova
1996: PhD Degree in Human Genetics, University of Torino
1998: Specialization Degree in Applied Genetics, University of Pavia
1991-1995 PhD student at the laboratory of Molecular Genetics of the Gaslini Institute, Genova, Italy.
1996-1999 Post doctoral fellow at the laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, INSERM U364, Nice, France.
1999-2005 Post doctoral fellow at the Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.
From 2005 Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
From 2018 Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.

1. Changes in mitochondrial energy metabolism during neoplastic transformation, with a particular focus on tumors caused by the genetic syndrome neurofibromatosis type I.

2. Analysis of the role played by the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 in the tumorigenic process.

3. Mitochondrial kinases in survival and metabolic rewiring of tumor cells.

4. Study of the regulatory mechanisms and of the apoptotic role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) in neoplastic models.

Laquatra C, Sanchez-Martin C, Dinarello A, Cannino G, Minervini G, Moroni E, Schiavone M, Tosatto S, Argenton F, Colombo G, Bernardi P, Masgras I, Rasola A (2021) HIF1alpha-dependent induction of the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 regulates bioenergetic adaptations to hypoxia. Cell Death Dis 12:434

Serapian SA, Sanchez-Martín C, Moroni E, Rasola A, Colombo G (2021) Targeting the Mitochondrial Chaperone TRAP1: Strategies and Therapeutic Perspectives. Trends Pharmacol Sci 12:S0165

Ciscato F, Filadi R, Masgras I, Pizzi M, Marin O, Damiano N, Pizzo P, Gori A, Frezzato F, Chiara F, Trentin L, Bernardi P, Rasola A (2020) Hexokinase 2 displacement from mitochondria-associated membranes prompts Ca2+-dependent death of cancer cells. EMBO Rep May 8:e49117

Sanchez-Martin C, Moroni E, Ferraro M, Laquatra C, Cannino G, Masgras I, Negro A, Quadrelli P, Rasola A, Colombo G (2020) Rational Design of Allosteric and Selective Inhibitors of the Molecular Chaperone TRAP1. Cell Rep 31:107531

Masgras I, Ciscato F, Brunati AM, Tibaldi E, Indraccolo S, Curtarello M, Chiara F, Cannino G, Papaleo E, Lambrughi M, Guzzo G, Gambalunga A, Pizzi M, Guzzardo V, Rugge M, Vuljan SE, Calabrese F, Bernardi P, Rasola A (2017) Absence of neurofibromin induces an oncogenic metabolic switch via mitochondrial ERK-mediated phosphorylation of the chaperone TRAP1. Cell Reports 18:659-672

Rasola A, Picard D, Neckers L (2014) Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation TRAP(1)ped in tumor cells; Trends Cell Biol 24:455-463

Pantic B, Trevisan E, Citta A, Rigobello MP, Marin O, Bernardi P, Salvatori S, Rasola A (2013) Myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) prevents ROS-induced cell death by assembling a hexokinase II-Src complex on the mitochondrial surface Cell Death Dis 4:e858

Sciacovelli M, Guzzo G, Morello V, Frezza C, Zheng L, Nannini N, Calabrese F, Laudiero G, Esposito F, Landriscina M, Defilippi P, Bernardi P, Rasola A (2013) The mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 promotes neoplastic growth by inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase. Cell Metab 17:988-999

Rasola A, Sciacovelli M, Chiara F, Pantic B, Brusilow WS, Bernardi P (2010) Activation of mitochondrial ERK protects cancer cells from death through inhibition of the permeability transition. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:726-731

AIRC (Italian Association for Cancer Research)

University of Padova

Children’s Tumor Foundation

Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Acceleration Program