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Francesco Di Virgilio, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Pathology, University of Ferrara, Italy

(deceased 2024)

Dr. Francesco Di Virgilio received his Medical Degree at the University of Padova in 1979. After 15 months in the Army as a Medical Officer, he moved to the University College London (UCL) to work in the laboratory of Dr. Bastien Gomperts. In 1984 he returned to Padova to take a position as “Ricercatore” (Assistant Professor). In 1986 he moved to Columbia University (New York) to work in the laboratory of Dr. Samuel Silverstein, At the end of 1987, he returned to Padova to take the position of Associate Professor, and finally, he moved to the University of Ferrara where he became Professor of General Pathology, in 1994, and then in 2006 Professor of Clinical Pathology. His main research interests are inflammation and cancer, with particular emphasis on the role played by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and purinergic receptors.

Related Research:

Extracellular ATP is a Key Factor in Promoting Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroinflammation Paola Pizzo Anna Lisa Giuliani Francesco Di Virgilio 2024-01-11 Extracellular ATP Is a Key Factor in Promoting Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroinflammation Paola Pizzo Francesco Di Virgilio 2022-02-15

Funded Research

These projects were made possible from Cure Alzheimer's Fund support.

Project Description Researchers Funding
Extracellular ATP is a Key Factor in Promoting Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroinflammation 2023, 2024

$299,994.50
Extracellular ATP Is a Key Factor in Promoting Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroinflammation 2021, 2022

$345,000

Selected Publications

These published papers resulted from Cure Alzheimer’s Fund support.

Di Virgilio, F., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Tarantini, M., & Giuliani, A. L. Overview of the role of purinergic signaling and insights into its role in cancer therapy, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, August 22, 2024, Read More

Falzoni, S., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Chiozzi, P., Tarantini, M., Adinolfi, E., Boldrini, P., Giuliani, A. L., Morciano, G., Tang, Y., Gorecki, D. C., & Di Virgilio, F. The P2X7 Receptor is a Master Regulator of Microparticle and Mitochondria Exchange in Mouse Microglia, Function, April 17, 2024, Read More

Vultaggio-Poma, V., & Di Virgilio, F. P2 Receptors: Novel Disease Markers and Metabolic Checkpoints in Immune Cells, Biomolecules, July 14, 2022, Read More

Di Virgilio, F., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Falzoni, S., & Giuliani, A. L. Extracellular ATP: A powerful inflammatory mediator in the central nervous system, Neuropharmacology, November 15, 2022, Read More

Di Virgilio, F., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Falzoni, S., & Giuliani, A. L. Extracellular ATP: A powerful inflammatory mediator in the central nervous system, Neuropharmacology, February 15, 2023, Read More

Vultaggio-Poma, V., Scussel Bergamin, L., Falzoni, S., Tarantini, M., Giuliani, A. L., Sandonà, D., Polverino De Laureto, P., & Di Virgilio, F. Fetal bovine serum contains biologically available ATP, Purinergic Signaling, April 19, 2023, Read More

Penolazzi, L., Notarangelo, M. P., Lambertini, E., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Tarantini, M., Di Virgilio, F., & Piva, R. Unorthodox localization of P2X7 receptor in subcellular compartments of skeletal system cells, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, May 4, 2023, Read More

Di Virgilio, F., Vultaggio-Poma, V., Falzoni, S., & Giuliani, A. L. The Coming of Age of the P2X7 Receptor in Diagnostic Medicine, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, May 30, 2023, Read More

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