Donatella Delle Cave | oncologia | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Young Scientists Awards

Dr. Donatella Delle Cave | oncologia | Women Researcher Award

Donatella Delle Cave (b. 25/11/1989, Naples, Italy) is an accomplished researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “A. Buzzati Traverso” (IGB-ABT), National Research Council of Italy (CNR). Currently working on the “Digital Driven Diagnostics, prognostics and therapeutics for sustainable healthcare” project, she is also a Post-Doctoral Fellow focusing on mitochondrial metabolism in pancreatic cancer. Donatella holds a Master’s and PhD in Biochemical and Biotechnological Sciences and has completed post-doctoral fellowships at prestigious institutions. She is a visiting scientist at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and has significant expertise in cancer research, especially pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells.

Profile

Orcid

Scholar

🎓 Education

Donatella Delle Cave holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomolecular and Industrial Biotechnology (2008-2011) and a Master’s degree in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology (2011-2014) from Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II,” where she graduated with honors. She earned her PhD in Biochemical and Biotechnological Sciences from the same institution (2014-2017). Her doctoral research focused on S-adenosylmethionine’s role in inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation. Donatella further honed her skills through an Erasmus program at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain, studying lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). She is also admitted to the profession of biologist in Italy (2016). Her academic foundation includes various specialized techniques such as HPLC and AKTA Purifier for protein characterization.

💼 Experience 

Donatella Delle Cave’s professional experience spans prestigious academic and research institutions. From 2024, she has been a Level III Researcher at CNR, working on the Digital Driven Diagnostics project. Between 2021-2024, she held post-doctoral fellowships at CNR and the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, focusing on pancreatic cancer stem cells, mitochondrial metabolism, and the role of L1CAM in cancer. In 2021, she visited the Cancer Stem Cells Lab at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, conducting research on mitochondrial metabolism in pancreatic cancer. Her earlier experience includes a post-doctoral fellowship at CNR, collaborating on cancer stem cells tumor microenvironment crosstalk in pancreatic cancer, and tutoring at Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli.” Donatella’s career also includes research visits to Spain and Italy, focusing on cancer biology and biochemistry.

🏆 Awards and Honors 

Donatella Delle Cave has received several prestigious awards throughout her career. Notable recognitions include the “Lisa de Conciliis” Prize for research on bioengineering and 3D cell models in cellular pathology. She won a free registration for the ISCAM 2024 congress and received the SIB Bursary for participation in the 48th FEBS Congress. In 2022, she won the Best Poster Award at the Sezione SIB Campania meeting and the Aegean Conference Travel Award for the 8th International Conference on Tumor Microenvironment. She has also received the ISCAM Travel Award and the Erasmus Traineeship Programme Award for research at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain. These accolades highlight her outstanding contributions to cancer research, particularly in the areas of tumor metabolism and cancer stem cell biology.

🔬 Research Focus

Donatella Delle Cave’s research focuses on cancer biology, specifically pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells. She investigates mitochondrial metabolism and the role of the L1CAM protein in pancreatic cancer stem cells. Her work aims to uncover mechanisms of tumorigenicity and fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a highly aggressive cancer. She has also explored cancer-derived collagen’s influence on metastasis and the tumor microenvironment’s role in cancer progression. Donatella’s expertise in biochemical and biotechnological sciences is complemented by her interest in metabolic dynamics in cancer and the development of sustainable therapeutic approaches. Her research aims to improve diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for cancer, with a focus on precision medicine and innovative treatments for challenging cancers like pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Donatella Delle Cave is a highly accomplished researcher whose groundbreaking work in cancer research and her continuous academic progression make her an excellent candidate for the Women Researcher Award. Her remarkable achievements and recognition in the scientific community showcase her leadership potential and scientific contributions. By further expanding her collaborative efforts and mentoring roles, Donatella is poised to make even more significant strides in her field and beyond.

Publication

  1. TGF-β1 secreted by pancreatic stellate cells promotes stemness and tumourigenicity in pancreatic cancer cells through L1CAM downregulation
    Year: 2020
    Authors: DD Cave, M Di Guida, V Costa, M Sevillano, L Ferrante, C Heeschen, …
    Citations: 69

 

  1. SERS quantification of galunisertib delivery in colorectal cancer cells by plasmonic‐assisted diatomite nanoparticles
    Year: 2021
    Authors: S Managò, C Tramontano, D Delle Cave, G Chianese, G Zito, …
    Citations: 53

 

  1. A synergic approach to enhance long-term culture and manipulation of MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer spheroids
    Year: 2020
    Authors: M Cavo, D Delle Cave, E D’Amone, G Gigli, E Lonardo, LL Del Mercato
    Citations: 53

 

  1. S‐Adenosylmethionine‐mediated apoptosis is potentiated by autophagy inhibition induced by chloroquine in human breast cancer cells
    Year: 2018
    Authors: DD Cave, V Desiderio, L Mosca, CP Ilisso, L Mele, M Caraglia, …
    Citations: 42

 

  1. S-Adenosylmethionine regulates apoptosis and autophagy in MCF-7 breast cancer cells through the modulation of specific microRNAs
    Year: 2018
    Authors: CP Ilisso, D Delle Cave, L Mosca, M Pagano, A Coppola, L Mele, …
    Citations: 39

 

  1. Salivary microRNAs as new molecular markers in cleft lip and palate: A new frontier in molecular medicine
    Year: 2018
    Authors: V Grassia, A Lombardi, H Kawasaki, C Ferri, L Perillo, L Mosca, …
    Citations: 39

 

  1. S‐Adenosylmethionine affects ERK1/2 and Stat3 pathways and induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells
    Year: 2016
    Authors: CP Ilisso, L Sapio, D Delle Cave, M Illiano, A Spina, G Cacciapuoti, …
    Citations: 38

 

  1. The revolutionary roads to study cell–cell interactions in 3d in vitro pancreatic cancer models
    Year: 2021
    Authors: D Delle Cave, R Rizzo, B Sainz Jr, G Gigli, LL Del Mercato, E Lonardo
    Citations: 37

 

  1. LAMC2 marks a tumor-initiating cell population with an aggressive signature in pancreatic cancer
    Year: 2022
    Authors: DD Cave, S Buonaiuto, B Sainz Jr, M Fantuz, M Mangini, A Carrer, …
    Citations: 30

Paola Illesca | Ciencias Médicas |Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Paola Illesca |Engenharia Alimentar| Women Researcher Award

Dr at Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina

Paola Guadalupe Illesca is a dedicated and accomplished researcher and educator with extensive experience in the field of biological sciences. She has been serving as a faculty member at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas in Santa Fe, Argentina, since May 2007. In her role as a docente/investigador (teacher/researcher) in the Department of Biological Sciences, Paola has significantly contributed to both academic and scientific communities. Paola earned her PhD from the same institution on December 17, 2015, specializing in biological sciences. Her doctoral research and subsequent academic endeavors have focused on critical aspects of metabolic health, specifically examining the effects of dietary components on metabolic regulation. One of her notable research projects, funded by Universidad Nacional del Litoral, investigates the dietary effects of Salvia hispanica L. (chia seeds) on mechanisms underlying adipose tissue dysregulation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. This project, which started in March 2017 and is ongoing, aims to explore potential nutritional interventions for managing insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.

Profile

  1. Scopus

 

  1. Orcid

 

📚Atividades

Emprego

Instituição: Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Localização: Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
Período: 1 de maio de 2007 até o presente
Cargo: Docente/Investigadora (Departamento de Ciências Biológicas)

🎓Educação e Qualificações

Instituição: Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Localização: Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
Data: 17 de dezembro de 2015
Grau: PhD (Departamento de Ciências Biológicas)

📋Revisão por Pares

Revisora para: Clinical Nutrition
Número de Revisões: 3

Publications Top Notes 📝

 

  1. Salvia hispanica L. and its therapeutic role in a model of insulin resistance
    Publicado em: Diabetes, 2020
    Tipo: Capítulo de livro
    DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-815776-3.00032-2
    ISBN: 9780128157763

 

  1. The metabolic dysfunction of white adipose tissue induced in mice by a high-fat diet is abrogated by co-administration of docosahexaenoic acid and hydroxytyrosol
    Publicado em: Food & Function, 2020
    Tipo: Artigo de revista
    DOI: 10.1039/D0FO01790F
    Contribuidores: Paola Illesca, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Alejandra Espinosa, Francisca Echeverría, Sandra Soto-Alarcón, Macarena Ortiz, Cristian Campos, Romina Vargas, Luis A. Videla

 

  1. Protective Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Plus Hydroxytyrosol Supplementation Against White Adipose Tissue Abnormalities in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
    Publicado em: Molecules, 27 de setembro de 2020
    Tipo: Artigo de revista
    DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194433
    Contribuidores: Paola Illesca, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Alejandra Espinosa, Francisca Echeverría, Sandra Soto-Alarcon, Cristian Campos, Alicia Rodriguez, Romina Vargas, Thea Magrone, Luis A. Videla

 

  1. Suppression of high-fat diet-induced obesity-associated liver mitochondrial dysfunction by docosahexaenoic acid and hydroxytyrosol co-administration
    Publicado em: Digestive and Liver Disease, agosto de 2020
    Tipo: Artigo de revista
    DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2020.04.019
    ISSN: 1590-8658

 

  1. High-fat diet induces mouse liver steatosis with a concomitant decline in energy metabolism: attenuation by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or hydroxytyrosol (HT) supplementation and the additive effects upon EPA and HT co-administration
    Publicado em: Food & Function, 2019
    Tipo: Artigo de revista
    DOI: 10.1039/c9fo01373c
    ISSN: 2042-6496, 2042-650X