Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Coordinator
Location
CUBO 2 - Viale Gaetano Pieraccini No. 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
General description of the Section
The Pharmacology and Toxicology Section brings together faculty members belonging to the Scientific Disciplinary Sector BIOS-11/A and carries out integrated basic, translational, and clinical research activities in the field of drug development, evaluation, and safety. The Section is closely linked to the Departmental Organizational Structures of the Careggi University Hospital, particularly the Applied Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology Units, and stands as a highly integrated setting in which experimental activities are combined and intertwined with clinical and regulatory work.
The scientific activity of the Section is characterized by a multidisciplinary and multilevel approach, ranging from the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms to clinical evaluation and post-marketing drug surveillance. This approach relies on the combined use of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, the analysis of human biological samples, and the use of large-scale healthcare data (real-world evidence), with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets, developing innovative pharmacological strategies, and defining the efficacy and safety profile of treatments throughout the entire drug development pathway.
Within this framework, cardiovascular pharmacology (Prof. Elisabetta Cerbai, Prof. Laura Sartiani, Prof. Raffaele Coppini) represents one of the Section’s main research areas and is focused on the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying congenital and acquired cardiomyopathies, as well as on the identification of new therapeutic targets. Research investigates excitation-contraction alterations in the atria, ventricles, and cardiac conduction system and is developed through an integrated approach that includes ex vivo studies on human and animal cardiac tissues, in vivo models in rodents and zebrafish, and in vitro systems based on cell cultures and cardiac organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells. The use of advanced techniques such as electrophysiology, optogenetics, fluorescence imaging, and molecular and genetic analyses makes it possible to achieve an integrated view of pathophysiological processes and to assess the effectiveness of new pharmacologically active molecules.
Another important area is anticancer pharmacology (Prof. Stefania Nobili), which focuses on the study of the molecular mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to anticancer drugs and on the development of personalized therapeutic approaches. Research activities include translational pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic studies aimed at identifying and validating molecular determinants responsible for treatment response or toxicity in the main solid and hematological malignancies. These studies are conducted using advanced cellular and molecular biology techniques, employing tumor cell lines, patient-derived models, and tumor explants, with the goal of developing more effective and targeted therapeutic strategies.
Particular relevance is also given to the research line dedicated to neuroinflammation and cellular senescence (Prof. Nicoletta Galeotti), which addresses the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuropathic pain. Research, carried out using in vitro models on neuronal and glial cells and in vivo models of central and peripheral neuropathies, makes it possible to analyze processes of neuroinflammation, accumulation of senescent cells, and disease progression. In this field, specific intracellular pathways, such as RNA-binding proteins, CB2 and TREM receptors, and epigenetic mechanisms, are investigated in order to identify new therapeutic targets and develop innovative strategies, including synthetic molecules, natural compounds, and precision medicine approaches.
Research activities in pain pharmacology (Prof. Carla Ghelardini, Prof. Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Dr. Laura Micheli, Dr. Elena Lucarini) are aimed at studying the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain, including its nociceptive, inflammatory, neuropathic, and nociplastic components, and at developing new therapeutic strategies. Research integrates advanced cellular models, organotypic cultures, and organoids, including innovative models derived from pluripotent stem cells, with animal models of pain-related disorders. Particular attention is devoted to the identification of new molecular targets, the modulation of complex regulatory systems such as the glymphatic system, and the study of interactions between the gut microbiota and the nervous system, also through innovative approaches such as fecal microbiota transplantation.
Activities in experimental and translational toxicology (Prof. Cristina Luceri, Dr. Elisabetta Bigagli) focus on the study of risk factors and molecular mechanisms underlying chronic degenerative diseases, such as cancer and metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as on the identification of biomarkers of susceptibility, prognosis, and therapeutic response. Research includes clinical studies on patients and exposed populations, advanced omics analyses (transcriptomics and miRNome), and preclinical assessments of the safety and toxicity of drugs and natural compounds according to international guidelines. These activities are carried out in close collaboration with numerous clinical units of Careggi University Hospital and Meyer Children’s Hospital and also include the monitoring of clinical studies and adverse drug reactions.
The research activities of the Bræye Lab (Dr. Gustavo Provensi, Dr. Laura Lucarini, Dr. Alessia Costa) are conducted in the fields of neuropsychopharmacology and ocular pharmacology, adopting an integrated approach aimed at understanding the pathophysiological and pharmacological mechanisms underlying major disorders of the central nervous system and the eye. In particular, research lines in neuropsychopharmacology are oriented toward the study of stress-related processes, eating disorders, memory and learning mechanisms, and neurodegenerative phenomena. At the same time, research in ocular pharmacology is focused on the analysis of the pathogenetic mechanisms of glaucoma and retinal degenerations, with specific interest in neuroprotection approaches and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Experimental activities make use of advanced and multidisciplinary methodologies, including chemogenetic, pharmacological, biochemical, and cellular techniques, as well as various behavioral models, with the aim of contributing to the identification of new therapeutic targets and the improvement of available pharmacological options.
An active research line within the Section focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders (Prof. Guido Mannaioni, Dr. Alessio Masi, and Dr. Elisabetta Gerace). This work is structured around two parallel and distinct lines of investigation into neurodevelopmental disorders: the first focused on the spontaneous genetic component and the second on toxic environmental insults. On the genetic side, activity focuses on the Shank3 gene, using cellular and knockout animal models to study how deficits in this scaffold protein alter the postsynaptic density and neuronal connectivity typical of the autism spectrum. At the same time, the group analyzes the neurotoxic impact of alcohol through prenatal exposure models, investigating the molecular mechanisms leading to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, such as altered cell migration and reduced dendritic complexity. The integration of these two directions, although independent, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the different etiologies that impair the correct maturation of the central nervous system, identifying specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets for each condition.
Finally, pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology (Prof. Alfredo Vannacci, Dr. Giada Crescioli, Dr. Costanza Cacini, Eng. Roberto Bonaiuti) represent a strategic area of the Section, aimed at evaluating the benefit-risk profile of drugs, vaccines, and integrative medicine products in real clinical practice. Activities are based on observational studies and the analysis of large healthcare databases and include pharmacovigilance and vaccine vigilance, studies on prescribing appropriateness and drug utilization, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and high-risk clinical settings. This area also includes the development of innovative healthcare IT solutions and the perinatal research activities of the PeaRL laboratory, dedicated to the study of drug safety during pregnancy and the impact of environmental factors and lifestyles on early development.
Overall, the Section stands as a center of excellence in pharmacological and toxicological research, capable of combining experimental, clinical, and epidemiological expertise and contributing to the development of new therapeutic strategies and the improvement of the safety of pharmacological treatments.
Last update
20.03.2026