Chiara Bolego
 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova Contacts |
Short CV
EDUCATION and RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1998-2007 Research Associate, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan
1998 Research Fellow,Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, University of Münster, Germany
1997 PhD in Pharmacology of Natural Compounds, University of Milan
1994 Master Degree in Pharmacology, University of Milan
1992 Research Fellow, Walter Straub Institute of Pharmacology University of Munich, University of Munich
1991 Master Degree in Pharmacy, University of Padua
FELLOWSHIPS
1991-1992: Winner of a grant from the University of Padova for a fellowship at the Institute of Pharmacology in Munich, Germany
1992-1993: Winner of a fellowship from the University of Milan to attend the Graduate School in Pharmacology
1997: Winner of a grant from the Nutrition Foundation of Italy
1998: Fellowship at the Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, University of Münster, Germany
1998-1999: Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Milan
2001-2002: Winner of a fellowship from the Nutrition Foundation of Italy
1998: Best abstract prize, 70th Congress of the European Atherosclerosis Society
Travel grants from the Italian Pharmacological Society to attend the 38th and 39th National Congresses
2003-2006: Post-doctoral research fellowships from the Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan
2006-2007: Post-doctoral research fellowship funded by the EICOSANOX Consortium.
POSITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
2014-present Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua
2007- 2014 Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Padova
February-August 2010: Visiting Scientist, Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence, Seattle, WA, USA
2017: Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale for Full Professor sector 05/G1 PHARMACOLOGY, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOGNOSYEDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Reviewer for several international Journals. Member of PLOs ONE and Frontiers in Pharmacology Editorial board
TEACHING ACTIVITY
2013-now Undergraduate Course at Master Degree in Pharmacy (Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics), University of Padua
2007-now Undergraduate Course at Master Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Molecular Pharmacology), University of Padua
1998 and 2001 Contract Professor, Postgraduate School of Pharmacology, University of Milan
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Author of 61 publications in international, peer-reviewed journals (h index: 23)
2 book chapters; 2 Congress Proceedings
Teaching
Office hours
to be determined by e-mail
Availability for Thesis Projects
Effects of estrogens on endothelial cell metabolism and angiogenesis; effects of estrogens on macrophage immunophenotypes and function; pharmacological modulation of eicosanoids and metabolites generated by aspirin-acetylated COX-2.
Research
Scientific Activities
The research of my laboratory is in the field of cardiovascular pharmacology.
General objectives:
- Function and pharmacological regulation of intracellular receptors with particular emphasis on estrogen receptors, hormone replacement therapy and gender medicine - estrogenic pathways in diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction and inflammation, role of selective estrogen receptor modulators in complex organ and in vivo animal models
- Pharmacological modulation of the lipid mediator (eicosanoids) profile in human endothelial and innate immunity (monocyte-derived macrophages) cells in the setting of chronic inflammatory diseases - expression and regulation of biosynthetic enzymes and receptors; cell-cell interactions as a fundamental mechanism of local synthesis; pre-clinical characterization of novel pharmacological tools
Focus of ongoing research
- Pharmacological modulation of macrophage immunophenotypes in relation to gender
- Pharmacological activity of pro-resolving lipid mediators derived from aspirin acetylated-COX-2
- Endothelial-cell macrophage interaction in microfluidic platforms
EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Member of PlosONE Editorial Board
Reviewer for 10 international peer-reviewed journals
ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY
Director of the Postgraduate Course in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Padua (since 2015)
Organizer of invited seminars, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Padua
VISITING FELLOWSHIPS
1992 Research Fellow, Walter Straub Institute of Pharmacology, University of Munich
1998 Visiting Scientist, Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research (Director Prof. Gerd Assmann), University of Münster, Germany
2010 Visiting Professor, Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (USA)
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2001-2002 Educational Grant, Nutrition Foundation of Italy
1999 Award, Italian Pharmacological Society
1998-Award, European Atherosclerosis Society
1997-Young Investigator Award, Nutrition Foundation of Italy
1992-Fellowship at the Graduate School in Pharmacology, University of Milan
Technical expertise
Cell culture: isolation of human monocyte-derived and bone marrow-derived macrophages; human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and co-culture protocols
In vivo studies: diabetes induction, ovariectomy, castration, in vivo replacement with osmotic pumps, gavage and other in vivo procedures
Ex vivo studies: isolated preparations of different tissues (in particular blood vessels from rodents)
Specific techniques: flow cytometry (immunophenotypic characterization of macrophage subtypes, cytokine and ROS production); western blot (signaling proteins involved in inflammation and oxidative stress); immunoprecipitation of target proteins; RT-PCR and real time PCR; basic histological methods (vessel IHC); immunocytochemistry including basic confocal microscopy analysis
Publications
- Toniolo A, Fadini GP, Tedesco S, Cappellari R, Vegeto E, Maggi A, Avogaro A, Bolego C, Cignarella A. Alternative activation of human macrophages is rescued by estrogen treatment in vitro and impaired by menopausal status. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015; 100(1):E50-8. Impact Factor, 6.310
- Albiero M, Poncina N, Ciciliot S, Cappellari R, Menegazzo L, Ferraro F, Bolego C, Cignarella A, Avogaro A, Fadini GP. Bone Marrow Macrophages Contribute to Diabetic Stem Cell Mobilopathy by Producing Oncostatin M. Diabetes. 2015;64(8):2957-68. ImpactFactor, 8.1
- Bolego C, Cignarella A, Staels B, Chinetti-Gbaguidi G. Macrophage function and polarization in cardiovascular disease: a role of estrogen signaling? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013; 33(6):1127-34. Impact Factor, 5.5
- Bolego C, Rossoni G, Fadini GP, Vegeto E, Pinna C, Albiero M, Boscaro E, Agostini C, Avogaro A, Gaion RM, Cignarella A. Selective estrogen receptor-α agonist provides widespread heart and vascular protection with enhanced endothelial progenitor cell mobilization in the absence of uterotrophic action. FASEB J. 2010; 24(7):2262-2272. Impact Factor, 6.5
- Bolego C, Buccellati C, Prada A, Gaion RM, Folco G, Sala A. Critical role of COX-1 in prostacyclin production by human endothelial cells under modification of hydroperoxide tone. FASEB J. 2009; 23(2):605-12. Impact Factor, 6.4
Research projects and Funds
2014-2016 Natural modulators of microglia and macrophage polarization. University of Padua PRAT CPDA144389. Co-investigator
2008-2010 Effects of in vivo administration of selective estrogen receptor agonists in rats on multiple parameters of cardiovascular and uterine function. University of Padua. PRAT CPDA082973. Principal Investigator
2008-2015 “ex-60%” calls. Institutional funding from University of Padua.
Principal investigator (2008-2012; 2015): Cardiovascular effects of COXIBs.
Co-investigator (2014 and 2013): Oxidative stress and cardiovascular diseases: biochemical and functional studies.
1999 and 2000 Functional expression of estrogen receptors in the vascular wall. University of Milan, Funding for Young Investigators. Principal investigator.
2013: supervisor of the Graduate Fellowship grant CPDR130758/13 "Activation phenotypes and lipid mediator signature in human monocyte-derived macrophages"
