Biografia

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Curriculum Vitae - Dr. Giovanni N. Roviello, Ph.D.

Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging (IBB), Italian National Research Council (CNR).
Recognized among the Top 2% Scientists in the Stanford University Author Database 2025 (Ioannidis, J.P.A., 2026).
Scientific Leadership: CNR Scientific Leader for the EU Projects NoBiasFluors (H2020-MSCA-RISE, ID: 872331)
and PurHumanDrome (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01, ID: 101182530). Principal Investigator for the Royal Society
(UK)-funded project on TMPRSS2 inhibitor analogues for anti-COVID-19 drugs (2022–2024). Leading the
CNR/MESRA international research collaboration (2023–2025) on “Development and applications of synthetic amino
acids with Thioflavin-like side chains”; Joint research Project – CNR/MESRA (Armenia) cooperation (CNR Prot. N.
2605 del 8/01/25)

Academic Contributions: Visiting Lecturer at Coastal Carolina University (Gupta College of Science), South Carolina,
US (November 2025);
Delivered an advanced course on Nucleic Acid Chemistry for Biomedical Applications at Adam
Mickiewicz University (AMU), Poland (April 2021);
member of AMU’s Doctoral Evaluation Committee (June 2021).
Since March 2022, lecturer for “The Biotechnological Basis of Rehabilitation” at Georgian State Teaching University of Physical Education and Sports (Tbilisi, Georgia).

Adjunct Research Professor under the Adjunct Research Professorship Program 2024, Higher Education and Science Committee of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Armenia.

Associate Professor, Medicinal Chemistry – Geomedi University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Foreign Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA)
https://www.sci.am/files/2021/260910_161149_Newly_elected_foreign_members.pdf

Editorial Roles: Member of the editorial board for Discover Life (Springer Nature), Associate Editor for Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics section), and editorial board member of Modern Issues of Medicine and Management (Geomedi University, Georgia).
Research Areas: Synthetic peptides, nucleic acids, biomedical applications, anticancer strategies, computational chemistry, plant-derived drug discovery, and antiviral therapeutics.

H-index: 33 (Scopus), 33 (WoS), 37 (Google Scholar)
ORCID: 0000-0001-6065-2367
Scopus ID: 35580154100

Italian National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale): habilitation as "Associate Professor" (II fascia)
2017 - 03/C1 - Organic Chemistry; 2017 - 03/B1 - Inorganic & General Chemistry
2017 - 05/E1 - General Biochemisty

habilitation as "Full Professor" (I fascia):
2021 - 03/C1 - Organic Chemistry

Memberships:
Sigma Xi the honorary Scientific Society (USA) full member, 2023
International Society for Neurochemistry, member, 2025
EPS (European Peptide Society), member since 2008.
EFB (European Federation of Biotechnology), member since 2016
SCI (Società Chimica Italiana), member since 2002

Some speaking engagements and links to videos of lectures, presentations, or talks ranging from academic to general audiences
Key note speaker and chairman for the MRTBS 2024 1 st International Conference Modern research trends in biomedical sciences: a holistic approach to healthcare, hosted at the Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Poland, from the 17th to the 19th of April 2024

https://mrtbs2024.inoz.uni.opole.pl/

Seminar on TRPT Nucleoamino Acid Aggregates for Drug Delivery Applications: From Synthesis to Curcumin Encapsulation and Other Properties
University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK – February 2024

https://youtu.be/Nvc5hKoD39I

Seminar on Peptide-Based Nanostructures: From Computational Studies to SEM Microscopy and Applications in Biomedicine
Armbiotechnology – NAS RA (National Academy of Sciences –Republic of Armenia) Yerevan, Armenia – December 2024

https://youtu.be/uTVMeSgh4z8

Journalistic Interview on Dr. Giovanni Roviello's (CNR, Italy) Collaborations with Armenian Groups on
Synthetic Peptides and Their Biochemical Applications Department of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia – April 2023

https://youtu.be/Sp_aeaiZ0gA

Scientific Seminar on G4 DNA and Other Molecular Systems to Professors and International Students Geomedi University, Tbilisi, Georgia – December 2024

https://youtube.com/shorts/o8d68OLnD-g

Award-Winning Presentation (Best Poster Prize): Personalized Medicine
COST European Cooperation in Science & Technology Conference, Cyprus–June 2012
Speaker at minute 4:08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7GCzs-4Xk&t=20

Interessi di ricerca

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My research interests focus on the design and study of molecular systems at the interface between organic chemistry, peptide science and biomedical applications. Over the years, my work has evolved from early studies on PNA DNA chimeras, which formed the basis of my doctoral thesis, toward increasingly complex peptide based and nucleopeptide architectures with potential roles in diagnostics, therapeutics and imaging. an be engineered to interact with biological systems in useful and predictable ways.

A central theme of my research is the study of synthetic peptide based systems, including unnatural amino acids, nucleopeptides and hybrid constructs that can self assemble into supramolecular structures. These materials often display interesting physicochemical properties and can be tailored for applications such as drug delivery, anticancer strategies and molecular recognition. My coordination of international projects, including collaborations with Armenia and Poland, has strengthened this line of research and expanded its biomedical relevance.

Another important direction concerns fluorescent and chemiluminescent probes for imaging and diagnostics. As CNR unit scientific leader of the European project NoBiasFluors, I have contributed to the development of fluorescent dyes capable of marking drugs for optical imaging in cellular and in vivo environments. Earlier industrial collaborations on chemiluminescent compounds further enriched my experience in luminescent systems and their diagnostic potential.

Nucleic acid chemistry also plays a significant role in my research interests. I have worked on nucleopeptide DNA interactions, G quadruplex structures and hybrid nucleic acid systems, exploring how these architectures can be used in biomedicine. My teaching activities and invited seminars on nucleic acid chemistry and G4 DNA reflect a long standing engagement with these topics.

In recent years, I have devoted increasing attention to peptide based nanostructures, including self assembled aggregates and nano carriers capable of encapsulating therapeutic molecules. These studies combine synthesis, computational modeling and microscopy to understand how peptide materials can be engineered for controlled release and targeted delivery.

Computational approaches complement my experimental work. I have supervised projects involving molecular docking, binding energy calculations and structure function analysis, particularly in the context of TMPRSS2 inhibitor analogues for antiviral drug design. My role as consultant for a Royal Society funded project on TMPRSS2 inhibitors highlights the integration of synthetic chemistry with computational predictions to accelerate the identification of promising drug candidates.

Biophysical chemistry is another area of interest, including protein ligand interactions, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Participation in international conferences and workshops has broadened my perspective on how biophysical tools can elucidate molecular behavior and support rational design.

My research interests also extend to diagnostic technologies, particularly through projects funded by national and European programs. The POR FESR project on medical and molecular diagnostics involved developing molecular systems for biosensing and traceability, integrating chemistry with biotechnology and public health needs.

Beyond laboratory research, I am engaged in scientific communication, peer review and editorial work. My roles in editorial boards and scientific societies reflect a commitment to scientific rigor, mentoring and international collaboration.

Finally, I maintain an interest in the relationship between molecular science and broader biomedical or environmental contexts. This includes contributions to interdisciplinary studies such as the work on physical activity and forest bathing as tools to sustain the immune system against COVID 19, presented at an international conference in Georgia. Forest bathing, which encourages mindful engagement with natural environments, has been discussed in my academic activities as a complementary approach to immune resilience and stress reduction. This reflects a broader interest in how molecular level research can intersect with lifestyle medicine and preventive health.

Overall, my research interests converge on the design and study of functional molecular systems, from synthetic amino acids to nucleopeptides, fluorescent probes and peptide based nanostructures. Through interdisciplinary collaborations across Europe and beyond, I aim to advance molecular innovation at the interface of chemistry and life sciences.

Pubblicazioni scelte

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Binding of G-quadruplex DNA and serum albumins by synthetic non-proteinogenic amino acids: Implications for c-Myc-related anticancer activity and drug delivery
Simonyan H, Palumbo R, Vicidomini C, Scognamiglio PL, Petrosyan S, Sahakyan L, Melikyan G, Saghyan A, Roviello GN*
Molecular Therapeutics Nucleic Acids, 2025 Apr 2025; 36: 102478-102478.

Nanostructural Modulation of G-Quadruplex DNA in Neurodegeneration: Orotate Interaction Revealed Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
Falanga AP, Piccialli I, Greco F, D'Errico S, Nolli MG, Borbone N, Oliviero G, Roviello GN*
Journal Of Neurochemistry, 2025 Jan 20; 169: e16296

Self‑assembly of thyminyl l‑tryptophanamide (TrpT) building blocks for the potential development of drug delivery nanosystems
Scognamiglio PL, Riccardi C, Palumbo R, Gale TF, Musumeci D, Roviello GN*
Journal Of Nanostructure In Chemistry, 2023 , 14 , 335–353

Old growth forests and large old trees as critical organisms connecting ecosystems and human health. A review
Gilhen-baker M, Roviello V, Beresford-kroeger D, Roviello GN
Environ Chem Lett (ISSN: 1610-3653linking), 2022 May; 20(2): 1529-1538.

Lower COVID-19 mortality in Italian forested areas suggests immunoprotection by Mediterranean plants
Roviello V, Roviello GN
Environ Chem Lett , 2021 Jan; 19: 699-710.

Progetti in evidenza

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Jan 2014-Oct 2020: New strategies for medical and molecular diagnosis and for food traceability and monitoring (Nuove strategie per la diagnostica medica e molecolare e per la tracciabilita' ed il monitoraggio dei prodotti alimentari) 4.049.300,00 € (104.000,00 € IBB-CNR, Roviello G. scientific project leader for CNR) Italian Ministry for University and Research (MIUR) - Campania Region POR-FESR 2014-2020 project PON03PE_0060_4; OR5; n. prot 668 released by Regione Campania 24 Dec 2018;

Jan 2020-Dec 2024: NoBiasFluors (Non-biased fluorescent dyes as markers of drugs for optical in cellulo and in vivo imaging) 669.200,00 € (92.000,00 € IBB-CNR, Roviello G. scientific project leader for CNR). European Union EU - H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 number: 872331.

CNR scientific leader for EU project NoBiasFluors, H2020, 872331 and PurHumanDrome, HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01, 101182530

Royal Society (UK)-funded project on TMPRSS2 inhibitor analogues for anti-COVID-19 drugs (2022–2024). T.Gale 10000 £

Sept 2012-Apr 2014: Synthesis of Chemiluminescent compounds for diagnostic applications (Industrial Research Project) funded by ALTERGON Italia SRL, 20.000 € (IBB CNR-Roviello G PI); prot. IBB CNR N. 0001626; prot. IBB CNR N. 0001024