Vittorio Calabrese
Prof. Vittorio Calabrese, MD, is FULL PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CATANIA, DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES.
Degree in Medicine on April 9th, 1984, with magna cum laude, University of Catania. Thesis: Modifications of brain lipid metabolism during aging.
Specialization in Neurology, on July, 8th 1988, with magna cum laude, University of Catania. Thesis: Oxidative stress in central nervous system.
By 1996 to date Prof. Calabrese is a Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at the School of Medicine and Surgery and in numerous training courses and updating courses organized by various bodies and institutions.
Prof. Calabrese is actual Director of School of Specialization in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Univeristy of Messina and University of Palermo.
He is member of the Editorial Board of several journals including: Journal of Neuroscience Research; Neurochem Research; Antioxidant Redox Signaling; Journal Neurochemistry; Free Radical Biology Medicine; Current Neurovascular Disorders.
A list of selected projects he has headed includes: PRIN 1998-2000 National Program for Italian Research, PRIN 2000-2002 National Program for Italian Research, PRIN 2005-2007 National Program for Italian Research, FIRB 2008-2013 Italian Human ProteomeNet, PRIN 2010-2011.
His research focuses on the role of free radicals and antioxidants in human disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders.
His interest in identifying the most important antioxidants in the human diet and in developing novel antioxidants has critical bearing on treating human diseases and understanding how diet might cause or prevent them.
Areas of his research interests in cludes understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell injury and death in human disease (especially neurodegenerative disorders and dysmetabolic diseases) and in response to toxins. Antioxidants in nutrition, health and disease. Natural and synthetic antioxidants as therapeutic agents. Mechanism of ageing and age-related disease as studied using in vitro as well as in vivo animal models and in humans.
Prof. Calabrese is Author of >200 high impact peer reviewed journal articles, Top Italian scientist: rank: 70, h: 63.
Current Projects:
- The use of biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids, DNA and proteins in the human body to identify important antioxidants, and their optimal intakes.
- Molecular nutrition – the mechanisms by which diet affects the risk of disease development.
- Neuro¬degenerative diseases, reoxygenation injury, atherosclerosis and “metal overload” diseases.
- The design and testing of drugs that prevent oxidative damage and their use as potential therapeutic agents. Development of screening tests for antioxidant activity.
- The chemical nature of the antioxidants present in vivo.
- Ageing in humans and in longest living rodents the NMR model of longevity.