Affiliation and official address: Dept. Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of General Pathology, University of Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

Date and place of birth: Rome (Italy), April 15^th, 1962                        Nationality: Italian

Education and training

1986: Medical degree (University of Padova, Italy)

1986: National Board (“Abilitazione alla professione di medico-chirurgo”)

1987-88: 2-year research stage at the H. Merritt Center for the Study of Neuromuscular disorders (laboratory of Dr. Eric A. Schon), Columbia University, New York, USA

1989: 1-month research stage in the Dept. Biochemistry (laboratory of Theo Dingermann), Univ. Erlangen. New York

1991: Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology (University of Padova, Italy)

Career/Employment

1991-1992: Research Associate (Dept. Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova)

1992-1998: Assistant Professor (Dept. Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova)

1998-2002: Associate Professor (Dept. Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Ferrara)

2002-: Full Professor (Dept. Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Ferrara)

Research Achievements

Dr. Rizzuto has introduced an innovative methodology for measuring Ca²⁺ concentrations in defined cell compartments, based on the molecular engineering and specific targeting of recombinant luminescent (aequorin, luciferase) and fluorescent (GFP) proteins.. This new approach allowed to obtain novel, unexpected insight in the field of calcium signalling. These new data include the participation of mitochondria (and their role in decoding calcium signals in effects as diverse as stimulation of metabolism and induction of cell death), the role of Golgi apparatus as agonist-sensitive Ca²⁺ store, the major Ca²⁺ rises occurring under the plasma membrane upon cell stimulation, to cite a few. Based on these achievements, he has obtained a broad international recognition (with >70 invitations to meetings and several plenary lectures) and was awarded the “Biotech Award 2000” for major contributions in the field of biotechnology and the “Chiara D’Onofrio Award 2001” for contributions in the field of molecular and cellular biology.

Honours, Awards and Membership of Professional Societies

2001: Biotec Award

2002: Chiara D’Onofrio Prize for major contributions in the field of molecular and cellular biology

Prof. Rizzuto is member of the Italian Cell Biology (ABCD), for which he served as member of the Executive Board, and Pathology (SIP) Societies.

Editorial Activity

Prof. Rizzuto routinely acts as reviewer for international scientific journals (Nature, Science, J. Cell Biol., EMBO J., Trends Cell Biol., etc.) and granting agencies (Wellcome Trust, BBSRC, AIRC, etc.).

Dr. Rizzuto gave 65 lectures at national and international meetings (including 8 plenary lectures) and 35 seminars in Universities and Research Institutes. He was the Chairman of the XII Symposium on Calcium Binding Proteins and Calcium Function in Health and Disease, held in Cavalese (TN, Italy) from January 29^th to February 3^rd, 2002.

Last five Publications:

Bianchi, K., Rimessi, A., Prandini, A., Szabadkai, G., Rizzuto, R.

Calcium and mitochondria: mechanisms and functions of a troubled relationship.

Biochim Biophys Acta. (2004) 1742, 119-31.

Chami, M., Prandini, A., Campanella, M., Pinton, P., Szabadkai, G., Reed, J.C. and Rizzuto R.

Bcl-2 and Bax exert opposing effects on Ca2+ signalling, which do not depend on their putative pore-forming region.

J. Biol. Chem. (2004) 279, 54581-54589.

Porcelli, A.M., Ghelli, A., Zanna, C., Pinton, P, Rizzuto, R., Rugolo, M.

pH difference across the outer mitochondrial membrane measured with a green fluorescent protein mutant.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. (2005) 326, 799-804.

Bano, D., Young, K.W., Guerin, C.J., Lefeuvre, R., Rothwell, N.J., Naldini, L., Rizzuto, R., Carafoli, E., Nicotera, P. 

Cleavage of the plasma membrane Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger in excitotoxicity.

Cell (2005) 120, 275-285.

Cipriani, G., Rapizzi, E., Vannacci, A., Rizzuto, R., Moroni, F., Chiarugi, A.

Nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase I Rapidly triggers mitochondrial dysfunction.

 J. Biol. Chem. (2005), in press.