Co-Investigators
Contacts: agnesechiara.pippione@unito.it
+39 011 6707104
Synopsis. Prof. Agnese Chiara Pippione has a background in medicinal chemistry and has training and experience in the discovery of new small molecules as potential drugs. Her research deals with the design, synthesis, characterization and biological applications of new molecules, in particular the study of acidic hydroxylated pentatomic heterocyclic systems and their bioisosteric properties associated with carboxylic and other acidic functions. This approach has been applied to modulate and optimize several lead molecules, in particular it has been used to discover new anticancer and antimalarial compounds.
Current position. Associate Professor in Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Science and Drug Technology, University of Torino (Italy)
Research interests: Cancer (prostate cancer, osteosarcoma, acute myeloid leukemia, drug resistance), malaria.
Education and positions. Prof. Agnese Chiara Pippione obtained her Master degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at University of Torino in 2009.
She obtained her PhD in Neurobiology in 2012 from University of Insubria (Italy) working within the research group coordinated by Prof. Mauro Fasano. She was involved in a project aimed at biomarker discovery on lymphocyte proteins whose levels correlated with clinical parameters of Parkinson disease.
In 2012 she started working as a Post Doc in MedSynth group.
Coordination of projects. Prof. Agnese Chiara Pippione is/has been Coordinator of the following funded projects:
1. “IDEA - Pyrimidine biosynthesis and androgen axis in prostate cancer: unraveling an emerging connection” funded by Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro ETS, Call for proposals MyFirstAircGrant2025. The fund is active from 1/2/2026 to 31/1/2029.
2. “PRIN-UNO - Prolyl isomerase PIN1 inhibitors: a drug design strategy against aggressive tumors” funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, program “Projects of relevant national interest (PRIN)”, call 2022 PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). The fund is active from 1/12/2023 to 28/02/2026.
3. "DUAL - Design of new dUal inhibitors against prostate cancer: joint Italian-Polish project" funded by the University of Turin inside the call "GRANT for INTERNATIONALIZATION - GFI 2022" to sponsor collaborative research projects with international partners. The fund was active from 28/07/2022 to 22/12/2023.
4. "RICE - DHODH enzyme inhibitors as new antifungals against the rice pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae" funded by the Cassa di Risparmio di Torino Foundation (CTR). The fund was active from 8/7/2020 to 1/8/2023.
Spin-off:
Since 2020, Dr Agnese Chiara Pippione is member of the start-up Drug Discovery and Clinic (DDC). DDC is a UniTo spin-off with the mission of developing new inhibitors of DHODH through the preclinical studies until the clinical trial for acute mieloid leukemia. DDC s.r.l. own the properties of two patents associated to the use of DHODH inhibitors as antitumoral and antiviral agents.
Teaching:
Prof Agnese Pippione is teacher in the course: “Synthesis of Drugs” (Degree Course in Drug Chemistry and Technology), and Laboratory instructor in the course “Analysis of Drugs I” (Degree Course in Drug Chemistry and Technology).
Prof Agnese Chiara Pippione tutored more than 30 between master and PhD students during their training period in the laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry of Medsynth. She is Relator of 4 Master Thesis and co-relator of 11 Master Thesis in Medicinal Chemistry (Degree Course in Drug Chemistry and Technology and Degree Course in Chemistry).
Visiting Professor @ Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Facultad de Farmacia.
Responsible for Erasmus agreements:
University of Ankara, Turkey
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
Department roles:
- Member of Orientation and Tutoring Commission @ DSTF.
Bibliometric indicators (Jan 2026, Scopus)
Publication in peer-reviewed journals: 31
Papers as first author: 12
Papers as last author:1
Citations: 982
H-index: 17
Oral presentation: 12
Invited oral presentation:3
Meeting communication: 61
Contacts: stefano.sainas@unito.it
+39 011 6707181
Synopsis. Prof. Stefano Sainas has a background in medicinal chemistry specializing in the discovery and development of new small molecules with potential therapeutic applications. His extensive research includes the design, synthesis, characterization and identification of biological applications as well as the pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluation of new compounds. One focus of his work is the investigation of acidic hydroxylated pentatomic heterocyclic systems and the exploration of their bioisosteric properties in relation to carboxylic and other acidic functions. This innovative approach has been pivotal in the modulation and optimization of several lead compounds and, in particular, has contributed to the discovery of new anticancer and antiviral agents. Prof. Sainas’ work not only advances the understanding of chemical biology but also paves the way for the development of more effective and safer therapeutic agents.
Current position. Associate Professor (03/D1 - Medicinal, Toxicological and Nutritional Chemistry and Applied Technologies. (Academic Recruitment Field 03/D -Medicinal and Food Chemistry and Applied Technologies, according to the national classification), Department of Science and Drug Technology, University of Torino (Italy)
Research interests: Cancer (acute myeloid leukaemia, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, drug resistance), antiviral, Bioisosteres of carboxylic acid, Fluorescent isostere, Ammino acid scaffold hopping.
Education and positions. Prof. Stefano Sainas obtained his Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at University of Turin in 2013. After 6 months, he started the PhD program in Pharmaceutical and Biomolecular Sciences at University of Turin (3 years). He was involved in a project to develop potent human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors. In 2017 he started working as a post-doc in the MedSynth group.
Spin-off: Since 2020, Prof. Stefano Sainas is member of the start-up Drug Discovery and Clinic s.r.l. (DDC). DDC is a UniTo spin-off with the mission of developing new inhibitors of DHODH through the preclinical studies until the clinical trial for acute myeloid leukemia. DDC s.r.l. own the properties of two patents associated to the use of DHODH inhibitors as antitumoral and antiviral agents.
Teaching:
· AA 2022/2023 to present: Teaching in the Course “Preparation of products of vegetal origin”, in the Bachelor’s Degree in Herbal Products Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin. (78 hours, 5 CFU).
· AA 2022/2023 to present: Teaching in the Course “Health and safety at work (12 hours)”, in the Bachelor’s Degree in Herbal Products Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin. (8 hours, 1 CFU).
· AA 2025/2026 to present: Laboratory Teaching in the Course “Drug analysis II”, in Degree Course in Drug Chemistry and Technology Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin. (78 hours, 5 CFU).
· Prof. Stefano Sainas tutored twenty (25) master students during their training period for preparation of Master Degree thesis in Medicinal Chemistry and is co-relator of nine (16) Master Degree thesis in Medicinal Chemistry (five-year Degree Course in Drug Chemistry and Technology) and Chemistry.
Visiting Professor at the Institute of Pharmacy of the Nirma University (Ahmedabad, India).
Department roles:
2022 – ongoing: Member of Public Engagement Commission of the DSTF, UniTO, Italy
2022 – ongoing: Delegate of the DSTF, University of Turin in the MINDtheGEPs, for a Gender equality in research
2024 - ongoing: Member of International Mobility Commission at DSTF, UniTO, Italy
Bibliometric indicators (Jan 2026, Scopus)
Publication in peer-reviewed journals: 32
Papers as first author: 11
Citations: 792
H-index: 16
Oral presentation: 13
Invited oral presentation:3
Meeting communication: 52