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Noemi Villella is a PhD Student in Medicinal Chemistry (SSD: CHIM/08) at the Department of Science and Drug Technology, University of Torino (Italy).
 
Research interests and expertise: Noemi’s research is dedicated to the design and advanced organic synthesis of small heterocyclic-based molecules, targeting oncological diseases, Malaria and neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the experience gained by Noemi in recent years has led her to delve into the field of protein purification and the execution of biochemical tests for in vitro profiling of molecules of interest.
 
Background and education. Noemi obtained a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy at the University of Torino, Department of Drug Science and Technology, in May 2014, with a Thesis focused on compliance with oral anticancer therapy by patients with renal cell carcinoma. Later on, in June 2020, Noemi obtained her second Master’s Degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (University of Torino, Department of Drug Science and Technology) with a Thesis focused on the design, synthesis and co-crystallization of new inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase based on the hydroxypyrazole scaffold. From September 2020 to October 2022, she worked as postgraduate fellow at the MeDSynth research group (University of Torino, Department of Drug Science and Technology), focusing on different projects concerning the design, synthesis and characterization of small molecules based on the hydroxyazole core. In November 2022 she started a Ph.D. program in Pharmaceutical and Biomolecular Science, at the Department of Drug Science and Technology (University of Torino), still ongoing.
 
Visiting research activities. During her Master’s Degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Noemi spent 5 months (May 2019 – September 2019) at the CARe Research Centre, University of Gothenburg (Sweden) focusing her work on the overexpression and purification of PfDHODH, aiming to obtain a complex of the purified enzyme with its inhibitor (supervisor Prof. Rosmarie Friemann). During her Ph.D., Noemi was involved in a 6-months international exchange (February 2024 – July 2024) at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry, University of Barcelona (Spain), focusing on the design, synthesis and physiochemical profiling of novel inhibitors of the soluble epoxide hydrolase for the treatment of neuropathic pain (supervisor Prof. Santiago Vázquez).

Publications (July 2024, Scopus).
Oral presentation: 1
Flash communications: 2
Posters: 8

Teaching activities. Noemi covered the role of assistant to the teaching activities of different DSTF courses.
In particular:
·       2023-2024 "Preparation of products of vegetal origin" (80 h) - Bachelor’s degree program of Herbal Products – UniTo
·       2020-2021 “The path that leads to the discovery of a drug” (20 h) – Orientation course aimed at High School’s students – DSTF - UniTO
 
Department roles.
·       Jan 2023 – to date Member of DSTF Public Engagement communication sub-commission (social media campaign of the Department).
·       Mar 2023-Mar 2024 Ph.D. students’ representative at DSTF.