Address book
Contacts
GIANLUCA OCCHI
Position
Professore Associato
Structure
Address
VIA U. BASSI, 58/B - PADOVA
Telephone
0498276214

Education
Degree in Biological Sciences (2001), PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology of the Development (2005) and Board in Medical Genetics (2010) at the University of Padova (UniPD).
Employment and research experience
2001: Postgraduate research, Dept. of Biology, UniPD.
2001-2002, 6 months in Dept. of Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Canada) with an abroad training fellowship from UniPD.
2005-2009: Post-Doctoral activity, Dept of Medical and Surgical Sciences, UniPD.
2008, visiting Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry Munich (Germany) as a fellow of the Max Plank Society.
2009-2012: Time-fixed contracts at Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences (UniPD).
2012-2014: Grant for Young Scientists (UniPD).
2014-2020: Assistant Professor (BIO/13), Dept. of Biology, UniPD.
2020-: Associate Professor (BIO/13), Dept. of Biology, UniPD.
Teaching activities (UniPD)
2015-: teacher of Molecular Biology and Genetics of Cancer, Biotechnology, Molecular Methods and Bioinformatics, Fundamental Biology, Genetics at the Dept. of Biology and Dept. of General Psychology.
2003-2014 University teaching assistant (courses of Applied Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology, Formal Genetics).
Supervised Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD theses since 2004.
Institutional responsibilities
Since 2019, member of the Board of the Doctoral School in Bioscience, curriculum Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics. In 2024 Member of the Doctoral Committee (XL cycle). Since 2021, member of the Scientific Commission (Area 06, Biological Sciences) and of the commission for “Study plans” for the CCS of Biology, UniPD. Since 2023 member of the Biology Department's board.
Editorial activity: Member of the editorial board of the J Endocrinol Invest. Reviewer for several journals (e.g., JCI, Eur J Endocrinol, Cancer Lett, Oncogene, J Clin Endocrinol Metab) and granting agencies (e.g., Barts and the London NHS Trust, Muenster University Medical School, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale).
Publications
Author of more than 50 original articles in indexed peer-reviewed national or international Journals. Invited as speaker at more than thirty national and international meetings.
Grants
Principal investigator and collaborator of national projects (Funding agencies: University of Padova, Italian Ministry of University, Italian Ministry of Health, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA)).
Research interests
Prof. G. Occhi's primary scientific interest lies in identifying and characterizing the pathogenic mechanisms of human disorders, with a particular emphasis on hereditary and sporadic endocrine oncology. His research career began with contributions to the study of genes and mutations involved in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies. In subsequent years, he transitioned to endocrine oncology, where he developed substantial expertise. Prof. Occhi has extensive experience using in vitro models to investigate cancer-specific signaling networks, particularly in the context of pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid tumors.
Additional Information
Member of various Societies, including the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE), European Society of Endocrinology, European Neuroendocrine Association.
Member of SIE Scientific Committee (2013-2015, 2017-). Member of the organizing and scientific committees of local and national conferences.
Notices
Office hours
at Dipartimento di Biologia - 2° Piano SUD - Stanza 11
Il ricevimento si effettua previo accordo telefonico o email.
Teachings
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS OF CANCER, AA 2024 (SCQ0094178)
- FUNDAMENTAL BIOLOGY, AA 2023 (SC02122859)
- MOLECULAR METHODS AND BIOINFORMATICS, AA 2023 (SCP8084938)
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS OF CANCER, AA 2023 (SCQ0094178)
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS OF CANCER, AA 2022 (SCQ0094178)
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS OF CANCER, AA 2021 (SCQ0094178)
- MOLECULAR METHODS AND BIOINFORMATICS, AA 2020 (SCP8084938)
- MOLECULAR METHODS AND BIOINFORMATICS, AA 2019 (SCP8084938)
- BIOTECHNOLOGY, AA 2017 (SC02111871)
- BIOTECHNOLOGY, AA 2016 (SC02111871)
- BIOTECHNOLOGY, AA 2015 (SC02111871)
Publications
For a detailed list of publications see https://scholar.google.it/citations?hl=it&user=LpMJhrEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Research Area
- Molecular and cellular studies aimed at elucidating the pathogenetic mechanisms in inherited and sporadic endocrine diseases (BMAH, FIPA, MEN) with particular attention to the syndromes that involve the pituitary gland and specifically the GH- and ACTH-secreting forms. I recently start evaluating the role of glucose-insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) in the pathogenesis of acromegaly.
- Evaluation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in endocrine tumors.
Thesis proposals
- The role of the gastric inhibitor polypeptide receptor (GIPR) in the pathogenesis and tumor progression in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas.
- Search for candidate genes associated with the familial predisposition to endocrine tumors.