Nunzio Vicario

Ricercatore t.d. (art. 24 c.3-b L. 240/10) di Fisiologia [BIOS-06/A]
Sezione di appartenenza: Fisiologia

Nunzio Vicario svolge le sue attività di ricerca e didattica presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologiche dell’Università degli Studi di Catania. Ricopre diversi insegnamenti di Fisiologia, è supervisore di numerosi tirocinanti e studenti interni per l’elaborazione di tesi/tesi sperimentali di laurea. Supervisiona diversi dottorandi e studenti di Master per l’elaborazione dei relativi progetti di ricerca.

Nel 2023 ha ricevuto l’Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale alle funzioni di Professore Ordinario S.C. 05/D1 – S.S.D. BIO/09 “Fisiologia”.

Nel 2022 e nel 2024 è stato eletto come membro della Giunta del Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologiche dell’Università degli Studi di Catania.

È autore di numerose pubblicazioni scientifiche collocate su riviste a rilevanza internazionale svolte in collaborazione con gruppi di ricerca italiani e stranieri. I suoi studi, presentati a congressi nazionali e internazionali, si focalizzano sul ruolo della comunicazione intercellulare nell’omeostasi del sistema nervoso centrale e nei processi neuroinfiammatori, compensatori e degenerativi.

Fin dall’inizio della sua carriera frequenta i laboratori di Fisiologia dell’Università degli Studi di Catania e si interessa allo studio della comunicazione intercellulare, delle membrane biologiche e al ruolo delle gap junctions nei processi di sofferenza cellulare in condizioni di ipossia, di dolore neuropatico e nei processi cellulari di proliferazione e migrazione. Ha conseguito il Ph.D. Internazionale in Neuroscienze nel 2017 presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologiche dell’Università di Catania e presso il Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge (UK, 2016-2017). È stato visiting Professor presso la Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) nel 2020 e nel 2021. I suoi interessi nell’ambito della neuropatofisiologia maturano attraverso progetti di ricerca che riguardano le risposte in vitro e in vivo alle modifiche dei canali ionici e al ruolo di piccole molecole (metaboliti e molecole segnale) che interagiscono con recettori di membrana nello studio delle funzioni cellulari. Particolare rilievo per la sua carriera hanno avuto gli studi su modelli murini di neuroinfiammazione, neurodegenerazione e dolore neuropatico e il coinvolgimento delle cellule gliali e immunitarie nei processi di compensazione endogena e modulazione delle popolazioni cellulari residenti del sistema nervoso. Recentemente gli studi sulla neuroinfiammazione si sono estesi anche al microambiente di tumori gliali, come il glioblastoma, e agli effetti sulle cellule residenti del sistema nervoso centrale.

Nunzio Vicario, PhD | PERSONAL INFORMATION

Languages: Italian and English
Email: nunzio.vicario@unict.it | nunziovicario@unict.it | vicarionunzio@gmail.com

skype me at vicarionnz

ACADEMIC POSITION

2023
Habilitation for Full Professorship in Physiology (05/D1 - FISIOLOGIA - SSD BIO/09).

2023 – Current position
Researcher in Physiology (Art.24 C.3-B L.240/10) with teaching activities and to support students.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2021
Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

2020
Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

2020
Habilitation for Associate Professorship in Physiology (05/D1 - FISIOLOGIA - SSD BIO/09).

2020 – 2021
Deputy Director – University Master in Molecular and Translational Imaging: from preclinical to clinical research.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.

2019 – 2023
Researcher in Physiology (Art.24 C.3-A L.240/10) with teaching activities and to support students.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2018 – 2019
Post-doctoral Fellow.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2014
Research assistant
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Chemical Sciences.
INBB – Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute – http://www.inbb.it/en/

EDUCATION

2014 – 2017
International PhD program in Neuroscience.
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/
Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.

2016 – 2017
International PhD program in Neuroscience – Visiting PhD.
University of Cambridge (UK) – Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience.
http://www-neurosciences.medschl.cam.ac.uk/
Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute

2014
License to practice Pharmacy.
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/

2008 – 2014
MSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (CTF, Five Years Academic Degree).
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/
Dept. of Drug Sciences.

MENTORING

2015 – Currently
Supervisor/Co-supervisor of more than 40 Thesis of Bachelor's Degree or Master’s Degree students.

2019 – Currently

  • Academic Supervisor of the Internship (175 hours) of 2 students of the Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnologies.
  • Academic Supervisor of the Internship (300 hours) of 2 students of the Master’s Degree in Medical, Cellular and Molecular Biology.
  • Academic Supervisor of the Internship (60 hours) of more than 100 students of the Master’s Degree in Motor Sciences.

2020 – Currently

  • Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 3 Thesis of the II level University Master in Molecular and Translational Imaging
  • Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 2 PhD Students in Neurosciences
  • Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 2 PhD Students in Biotechnologies

CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Vicario N. Oral presentation "Unveiling the potential of PARP1 and Connexin 43 modulation in neuropathic pain models". Congress "C4Neuro" – Palermo (Italy). October 24, 2024.
  • Member of the organizing committee of the "17th Annual Meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology" – Catania (Italy). May 22-24, 2024.
  • Scientific Secretariat e oral presentation at the workshop “Photoacousting imaging and biophysical images in mice”. Congress “Novel translational approaches in hematological malignancies: from bench to bedside” – Catania (Italy). November 5-6, 2021.
  • Vicario N. Selected talk “Lactate modulates microglia M2 polarization via IGFBP6 expression and remodels tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma” at the EMBO - Lactate: unconventional roles of a nutrient along tumor landscape. Online. June 22, 2021.
  • Vicario N. Invited talk at the Physiological Society and at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana – Ljubljana, Slovenia. August 25, 2020. 
  • Vicario N et al. “Neuroglial axis and immune cells role in a mouse model of motoneuronal ablation”. Biennial Congress of the Italian Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation - Bologna (Italy), September 19-21, 2019.
  • Vicario N et al. “MOR/DOR targeting mediates neuropathic pain amelioration in chronic constriction injured rats.” 69th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2018). Firenze (Italy), September 19-21, 2018.
  • Vicario N. Invited talk at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. University of Maryland - School of Medicine - Baltimore, MD (USA). June 7, 2018.
  • Vicario N et al. “Transplantation of directly induced Neural Stem Cell (iNSCs) promotes remyelination in a mouse model of experimental focal demyelination”. 68th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2017). Pavia, September 6-8, 2017.
  • Vicario N et al. “Transplantation of directly induced Neural Stem Cell (iNSCs) in a mouse model of experimental focal demyelination”. XIII European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease. Edinburgh, United Kingdom, July 8-11, 2017.
  • Vicario N et al. “Repeated activation of delta opioid receptors (DOR) counteracts nerve injury-induced TNF-α up-regulation in the sciatic nerve of rats with neuropathic pain: a possible correlation with DOR-mediated anti-allodinic effect”. 67th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2016). Catania, Italy, September 21-23, 2016.
  • Vicario N et al. “Connexin involvement in the protective effect of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells conditioned medium in SH-SY5Y Cell Line during hypoxia/re-oxygenation stress”. 66th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2015). Genoa, Italy, September 16-18, 2015.
  • COST Thematic Workshop: Integrated approaches for Biomolecular detection: nanostructures, biosensors and lab-on-chip devices. Workshop secretariat. Catania April 28-30, 2014.

EDITORIAL ROLE

  • Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neuroscience
  • Associate Editor for Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
  • Guest Editor For Frontiers In Bioscience-Landmark 
  • Guest Editor For IJMS 
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Antioxidants
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Behavioral Sciences
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biomedicines
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biomolecules
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of British Journal of Pharmacology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cancers
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cells
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Experimental Cell Reseach
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Immunology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Neurology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Heliyon
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Inflammation
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of IJMS
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Life
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Mitochondrion
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Molecular Neurobiology
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Molecules
  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Oncoimmunology

MEMBERSHIPS

2020 – Currently
Member of the research center for molecular, preclinical and translational imaging (Centro di Ricerca per l’Imaging Molecolare, Preclinico e Traslazionale)

2019 – Currently
Member of the Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation.

2018 – Currently
Member of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF, Italy).

VISUALIZZA LE PUBBLICAZIONI
N.B. l'elevato numero di pubblicazioni può incidere sul tempo di caricamento della pagina
VISUALIZZA GLI INSEGNAMENTI DALL'A.A. 2022/2023 AD OGGI

Anno accademico 2021/2022


Anno accademico 2020/2021


Anno accademico 2019/2020
  • DIPARTIMENTO DI CHIRURGIA GENERALE E SPECIALITÀ MEDICO-CHIRURGICHE
    Corso di laurea in Ostetricia - 1° anno
    FISIOLOGIA

  • DIPARTIMENTO DI MEDICINA CLINICA E SPERIMENTALE
    Corso di laurea in Tecnica della riabilitazione psichiatrica - 1° anno
    FISIOLOGIA E ANATOMIA

  • DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE MEDICHE, CHIRURGICHE E TECNOLOGIE AVANZATE G.F. INGRASSIA
    Corso di laurea in Tecniche di laboratorio biomedico - 1° anno
    SCIENZE MORFO FUNZIONALI

I suoi principali interessi di ricerca ricadono nell’ambito dei sistemi di trasporto e comunicazione nelle membrane biologiche, con particolare attenzione alla comunicazione intercellulare. Le sue attività di ricerca si concentrano sui meccanismi endogeni ed esogeni di compensazione e sulla modulazione delle popolazioni cellulari del sistema nervoso centrale in modelli di infiammazione e degenerazione.