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- alessia.ligresti@cnr.it
- 081-8675093
Alessia Ligresti
Experience & Activities
I am a Biochemical Pharmacologist passionate about chemical biology and translational research. As the Research Director at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), I lead a team developing novel cannabinoid-based therapies for onco-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. My research focuses on designing multimodal molecules that selectively target the endocannabinoid system and understanding mitochondrial dysfunction’s role in various pathologies, particularly concerning cannabinoid receptors. I also serve as International Secretary for the International Cannabinoid Research Society and as a scientific consultant for pharmaceutical and technology companies, guiding drug development and innovation. My previous roles include being on the Supervisory Board of the H2020-MSCA-COFUND “INCIPIT” project and directing the Health Section for Obiettivo LCC. Additionally, I contribute as a member of the Panel of Evaluators for MIMIT and EU-EICPATHFINDER calls. With a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Naples “Federico II” (2005), I completed postdoctoral training at ICB-CNR before securing a tenured track position in 2008. My career has led to promotions to Senior Researcher in 2010 and Research Director in 2023. I have received significant accolades, including habilitation as a Full Professor in Medicinal Chemistry and recognition as a CNR Highly Cited Woman Researcher in 2020 (field of chemistry). In 2024, I was named one of the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier (field of chemistry). As a co-inventor of two patents and author of over 130 scientific articles (H-index: 47), my expertise spans Biochemical Pharmacology, Chemical Biology, Cannabinoid Research, and Mitochondrial Biology. My motto, “The only limit is the one you set yourself,” reflects my insatiable curiosity and drive for new challenges.
Cannabinoids
Cancer Biology
Mitochondrial Bioenergetics
Drug-Discovery
Medicinal Chemistry
Project management
OKR Setting
1) Di Micco S, Ciaglia T, Salviati E, Michela P, Kostrzewa M, Musella S, Schiano Moriello A, Di Sarno V, Smaldone G, Di Matteo F, Capolupo I, Infantino R, Bifulco G, Pepe G, Sommella EM, Kumar P, Basilicata MG, Allarà M, Sánchez-Fernández N, Aso E, Gomez-Monterrey IM, Campiglia P, Ostacolo C, Maione S, Ligresti A*, Bertamino A*. Novel pyrrole based CB2 agonists: New insights on CB2 receptor role in regulating neurotransmitters’ tone. Eur J Med Chem. 2024 Apr 5;269:116298. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.
2) Cerasuolo M, Maccarinelli F, Coltrini D, Mahmoud AM, Marolda V, Ghedini GC, Rezzola S, Giacomini A, Triggiani L, Kostrzewa M, Verde R, Paris D, Melck D, Presta M, Ligresti A* and Ronca R. Modeling Acquired Resistance to the Second-Generation Androgen Receptor Antagonist Enzalutamide in the TRAMP Model of Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2020 Apr 1;80(7):1564-1577. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-3637.
3) Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Bryk M, Mahmoud AM, Brizzi A, Lamponi S, Giorgi G, Ferlenghi F, Vacondio F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mor M, Starowicz K, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A* and Corelli F. Design, Synthesis, and Physicochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Antiosteoarthritic Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem (2020) 63(13):7369-7391. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00595.
4) Mahmoud AM, Kostrzewa M, Marolda V, Cerasuolo M, Maccarinelli F, Coltrini D, Rezzola S, Giacomini A, Mollica MP, Motta A, Paris D, Zorzano A, Di Marzo V, Ronca R*, Ligresti A*. Cannabidiol alters mitochondrial bioenergetics via VDAC1 and triggers cell death in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Pharmacol Res. 2023 Mar;189:106683. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106683.
5) Gianquinto E, Sodano F, Rolando B, Kostrzewa M, Allarà M, Mahmoud AM, Kumar P, Spyrakis F, Ligresti A*, Chegaev K*. N-[1,3-Dialkyl(aryl)-2-oxoimidazolidin-4-ylidene]-aryl(alkyl)sulphonamides as Novel Selective Human Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor (hCB2R) Ligands; Insights into the Mechanism of Receptor Activation/Deactivation. Molecules. 2022 Nov 23;27(23):8152. doi: 10.3390/molecules27238152.
MAIN RESEARCH SITE, POZZUOLI (NA)
alessia.ligresti@cnr.it
PEC: aligresti@pec.it
(+39) 081-8675093
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1787-3900
Researcher ID: https://publons.com/researcher/1282296/alessia-ligresti/
