PRIN 2017 TarHegh

Title: “Targeting Hedgehog pathway: virtual screening identification and sustainable synthesis of novel Smo and Gli inhibitors and their pharmacological drug delivery strategies for improved therapeutic effects in tumors”

Durata: 29/10/2019 - 29/04/2023

Finanziamento: 1.197.192,69 Euro

Abstract. In recent years, the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has emerged as the most promising target for the development of anticancer drugs. A variety of Smo antagonists have been developed but their clinical use has failed due to different issues such as pharmacokinetics and the emergence of drug resistance. For this reason, the discovery of new effective Hh inhibitors is needed. The present project will be devoted to the modulation of the Hh signaling pathway by new chemical entities (NCE) designed by coupling synthetic feasibility criteria with pharmacophoric and steric features. In particular, this ambitious proposal would lead to selection, prioritization and optimization of new classes of compounds by a ligand-based molecular modeling or structure-based approaches and their synthesis through innovative and sustainable chemical processes, a priority of modern chemistry. Furthermore, the study will be aimed at developing of suitable delivery technologies in order to provide a viable alternative for cancer therapy.

Unità di Ricerca

Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza - Responsabile scientifico: Prof. Giancarlo FABRIZI

Università degli Studi della Tuscia - Responsabile scientifico: Prof.ssa Roberta BERNINI

Università degli Studi di Bologna - Responsabile scientifico: Prof. Paolo BLASI

Università degli Studi di Milano - - Responsabile scientifico: Prof. Daniele PASSARELLA

Università degli Studi di Padova – - Responsabile scientifico: Prof. Stefano SALMASO

Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche - - Responsabile scientifico: Dott. Davide PIROLLI