Center for Molecular Chemio-Prevention of Chronic Degenerative Diseases

The Center aims to search innovative strategies for chronic degenerative diseases (CDs) prevention, in particular molecular chemoprevention (MCP) and to disseminate the results in both biomedical and public domains. MCP is defined as the use of any natural or synthetic compound able to inhibit CDs pathogenesis and/or their progression using molecular strategies. CDs tend to have long induction before the disease is detected: the long-time interval before clinical symptoms represents a strategic window for prevention. The key concept for chemoprevention is that CDs’ pathogenesis is multistep (that is, it results from accumulated genetic and epigenetic alterations) and multipath. The identification of molecular mechanisms involved in the CDs pathogenesis provides strong tool for their prevention. The Research Lines are as it follows: Line 1-Biomarker Identification and Validation a) Identification of molecular targets during the pre-diagnostic and pre-clinical phase of CDs’ development (biomarker discovery). b) Biomarker validation for individuals at risk of CDs or disease progression (CDs’ predictive model) Line 2-Chemopreventive agent identification c) Identification of substances to target molecule or pathways to inhibit CDs initiation and/or progression (agent identification). d) Experimental validation of identified compounds (pre-clinical evaluation) e) Clinical trials to establish efficacy and safety of the identified substances (clinical evaluation) Line 1 and 2 Lines are independent and interacting. Sinergy: The Center will integrate the research effort through coordination of preclinical and the clinical setting using translational studies and clinical trials applying bioinformatic approach and mathematical modelling across research lines. The Center will include collaboration with, and not limited to, the Karaki Univ., Pakistan and the Silesia Univ., Poland, the NCI in Rome, the IRCCS Monzino, the Florence Univ, the Wiezmann Inst. of Science, Israel, the McMaster Univ., Canada, the Harvard Univ, USA. Significance CDs represent the leading cause of mortality in Europe, accounting for 77% of the total disease burden. The results will have significant impact on more individually focused prevention strategies, better management of patients and even more appropriate therapy.