Emilio Hirsch has been a Full Professor of Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Turin since 2005. He graduated in Biological Sciences in 1988 with top honors. From 1990 to 1994, he completed a Ph.D. in “Human Biology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations” at the Department of Genetics, Biology, and Biochemistry of the University of Turin, earning his Ph.D. in 1994.
At the beginning of 1995, he spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich, Germany. He worked as a Researcher from 1995 to 2000 and as an Associate Professor from 2000 to 2004. He is the author of more than 160 publications in international books and journals. Currently, he leads a preclinical research group with the aim of identifying new therapies for cardiovascular, pulmonary diseases, and cancer. His research has revealed that cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases can be controlled by a single family of signaling enzymes known as phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Kgamma). He has also developed targeted studies on this enzyme to restore CFTR channel function in cystic fibrosis: five projects funded by FFC from 2009 to 2019. He is a co-founder of a start-up company.
Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Principal Investigator
FFC#3/2022
Rescuing rare CFTR mutants with a PI3Kγ mimetic peptide
FFC#8/2018
In depth-characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying PI3Kγ-mediated regulation of CFTR
FFC#23/2015
Targeting PI3Kγ scaffold function to activate airway CFTR, limit lung inflammation and promote bronchorelaxation in cystic fibrosis
FFC#25/2014
Targeting PI3Kγ scaffold function to activate airway CFTR, limit lung inflammation and promote bronchorelaxation in cystic fibrosis
Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Partner
FFC#20/2009
Genetic and pharmacological validation of PI3K as a drug-target for the treatment of airway inflammation in CF
Publications from FFC Research projects
Valentina Sala, Alessandra Murabito, Alessandra Ghigo. Inhaled Biologicals for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov, 13 (1), 19-26 2019
Acknowledgment
2005: Descartes Prize for Collaborative Research – European Union Framework Fifth – Finalist (2° Premio)