Ricerc@Sapienza

A consistent group of subjects with autoimmune diabetes (AD) is affected by a slowly progressive form of the disease, known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). This suggests that progression towards absolute insulin deficiency is not ineluctable. We hypothesize that LADA may offer a novel model to search for endogenous disease modifiers.

Le malattie cardiovascolari rappresentano la principale causa di morbilità e mortalità nei soggetti affetti da diabete mellito di tipo 2 (DM2). La differenziazione dei monociti verso un fenotipo osteoblasto-simile sottoforma di cellule mieloidi calcificanti (CMC) ha dimostrato di contribuire alla patogenesi delle malattie cardiovascolari e alla calcificazione vascolare nel diabete mellito.

L'Istituto di Scienza dell'Alimentazione è stato istituito nel 1971. Fino al 1986 ha utilizzato, per lo svolgimento delle attività di ricerca e di assistenza, i locali presso l'Ospedale S.Gallicano in Via della Lungaretta 60, Roma; dall'a.a. 1986-87 a tutt'oggi i locali dell'Istituto sono ubicati al piano terreno dell'Edificio di Fisiologia umana - Chimica biologica. Ha avuto come Direttori, dal 1971 al 1986, il prof. Luigi TRAVIA e, dal 1987 al 2006, il prof. Carlo CANNELLA.

We are a national referral center for rare endocrine and andrological diseases. We follow-up disorders presenting with impaired gonadal maturation, altered metabolic phenotype and bone complications. We have a particular interest in Klinefelter syndrome and high-grade sexual chromosomes aneuploidies (HGAs). We are at the last stage of evaluation for approval by the ERN – European Endocrine Reference Network for rare diseases.

Working in the largest University Hospital in central Italy, we are a referral center for oncological patients suffering from a variety of tumors and/or developing endocrine complications. This comprises a lot of clinical work that gives us the opportunity to improve their quality of life, morbidity and mortality. We strive to give the most to our patients, and they give back energy, motivation and their happy participation in several clinical studies.

We are exploring new players involved in the interplay between metabolism and intracrinology. Using a mixed basic and translational approach, we are fascinated by how the complexity of phosphodiesterases and intracellular hormonal metabolism can shape adipocytes, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, stem cells, and cancer cells response to challenges.

Our institution has a long-standing tradition in andrological research, with the first academic position being established in Rome in 1981. We have contributed to writing pioneering meta-analyses and national and international guidelines on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in male hypogonadism, infertility, and sexual dysfunction. In the past decade, we have focused on developing advanced imaging techniques for testicular disorders. We established the first International School of Ultrasound in Andrology for the European Academy of Andrology.