Developed skills and lines of research
Debora Baroni is a Researcher at the Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), in Genoa, Italy. She obtained her degree in Biology in 2001 and her PhD in Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology in 2005 at the University of Genoa. Her research focuses on the structure and function of proteins involved in genetic diseases, with particular attention to cystic fibrosis. Specifically, regarding the CFTR protein, she uses biomolecular, cellular, and biophysical approaches to investigate the effects of point mutations on its structure and function, and to study the mechanisms of action of modulator drugs developed to correct its molecular defects.
Projects funded by FFC Ricerca as Principal Investigator
FFC#2/2025
An antisense oligonucleotide-based strategy for the rescue of CFTR stop and splicing mutations
FFC#3/2018
Dissecting the rescue mechanisms mediated by CFTR correctors
Publications from FFC Ricerca projects
- Ludovico A., Baroni D. CFTR Modulators Counteract F508del CFTR Functional Defects in a Pancreatic Epithelial Model of Cystic Fibrosis. Life2025, 15, 1315
- Baroni D. Special Issue Research Advances on Cystic Fibrosis and CFTR Protein. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6708.
- Baroni D. Unraveling the Mechanism of Action, Binding Sites, and Therapeutic Advances of CFTR Modulators: A Narrative Review. Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(2), 119
- Bongiorno R., Ludovico A. et al. Elexacaftor Mediates the Rescue of F508del CFTR Functional Expression Interacting with MSD2. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12838
- Baroni D., Scarano N. et al In Silico and In Vitro Evaluation of the Mechanism of Action of Three VX809-Based Hybrid Derivatives as Correctors of the F508del CFTR Protein. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(12)
- Ludovico A., Moran O., Baroni D. Modulator Combination Improves In Vitro the Microrheological Properties of the AirwaySurface Liquid of Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelia. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11396
- Brandas C., Ludovico A. et al NBD2 Is Required for the Rescue of Mutant F508del CFTR by a Thiazole-Based Molecule: A Class II Corrector for the Multi-Drug Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis. Biomolecules2021, 11(10), 1417.