Scientific Research, both basic and applied, is conducted within several biomedical topics. Special attention is given to the characterization of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic parenchyma under normal and pathological conditions.

Studies primarily focus on:
 
• Evaluation of morpho-functional alterations of the intestinal wall in murine models of experimental colitis and in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) through the characterization of TGF-β-dependent molecular pathways, involved in the onset and progression of inflammatory and fibrotic processes.

• Investigation of natural (olive cream) and synthetic (GED-0507-34 Levo) molecules, able to modulate TGF-β signaling as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of intestinal inflammation and fibrosis.

• Assessment of changes in the intestinal wall in experimental models of metabolic disorders caused by altered nutritional intake (e.g., high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets).

• Evaluation of hepatic parenchyma alteration (steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis), in experimental models of NAFL/NASH (non-alcoholic fatty liver/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), induced by the administration of hyperglucidic and lipidic diets.

• Explore the effects of administering a synthetic agonist of G-protein coupled receptor 120 agonist, on the progression of the main features of NAFL/NASH.

Other Research fields:

• Histomorphological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent evaluations of several pathways involved in the pathogenesis of brain and prostatic tumors in experimental murine models and humans and identification of potential pharmacological targets.

• Histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescent evaluations aimed to identify molecules involved in the onset and progression of inflammatory and fibrotic processes involving the pelvic floor and nasal mucosa.