Nunzio Vicario

CURRICULUM OF SCIENTIFIC AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Last updated: June 4, 2026
Nunzio Vicario, PhD | PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ++++++++++
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Languages: Italian and English
Email: nunzio.vicario@unict.it | nunziovicario@unict.it | vicarionunzio@gmail.com
Research Gate Profile
Google Scholar Profile
ORCID: 0000-0001-5934-3962
Scopus Author ID: 57191970813
Web of Science Researcher ID: AAY-3489-2021

ACADEMIC POSITION

2025 – Present
Elected Member of the Coordination Committee of the School of Medicine at the University of Catania, Catania (Italy).

2024 – Present
Deputy coordinator of the Master’s Degree Program in Sciences and Techniques of Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities (LM-67) – University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.

2024 – Present
Member of the Academic Board for the Ph.D. Program in Biotechnology – University of Catania (Italy).

2023
Habilitation for Full Professorship in Physiology (05/D1 - FISIOLOGIA - SSD BIO/09).

2023 – Present
Assistant Professor in Physiology (Art.24 C.3-B L.240/10) with teaching activities and to support students.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2022 – Present
Elected Member of the Board of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences – University of Catania, Catania (Italy).

2021
Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

2020
Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

2020
Habilitation for Associate Professorship in Physiology (05/D1 - FISIOLOGIA - SSD BIO/09).

2020 – 2021
Deputy Director – University Master in Molecular and Translational Imaging: from preclinical to clinical research.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.

2019 – 2023
Assistant Professor in Physiology (Art.24 C.3-A L.240/10) with teaching activities and to support students.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2018 – 2019
Post-doctoral Fellow.
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Section of Physiology. https://www.unict.it/en/.

2014
Research assistant
University of Catania (Italy) – Dept. of Chemical Sciences.
INBB – Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute – http://www.inbb.it/en/

EDUCATION

2014 – 2017
International PhD program in Neuroscience.
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/
Dept. of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.

2016 – 2017
International PhD program in Neuroscience – Visiting PhD.
University of Cambridge (UK) – Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience.
http://www-neurosciences.medschl.cam.ac.uk/
Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute

2014
License to practice Pharmacy.
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/

2008 – 2014
MSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (CTF, Five Years Academic Degree).
University of Catania (Italy) – https://www.unict.it/en/
Dept. of Drug Sciences.

MENTORING

2015 – Present
Supervisor/Co-supervisor of more than 50 Thesis of Bachelor's Degree or Master’s Degree students.

2019 – Present

• Academic Supervisor of the Internship (175 hours) of 2 students of the Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnologies.
• Academic Supervisor of the Internship (300 hours) of 2 students of the Master’s Degree in Medical, Cellular and Molecular Biology.
• Academic Supervisor of the Internship (60 hours) of more than 100 students of the Master’s Degree in Motor Sciences.

2020 – Present

• Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 3 Thesis of the II level University Master in Molecular and Translational Imaging
• Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 2 PhD Students in Neurosciences
• Supervisor/Co-supervisor of 2 PhD Students in Biotechnologies

CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS

• Member of the organizing committee of the "19^thAnnual Meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology" – Catania (Italy). May 27-29, 2026.
• Vicario N. Invited Speaker "Connexin 43-based Intercellular Communication and Its Role in Neuropathic Pain". Regional Physiology Meeting 2025 jointly with the Croatian, Hungarian, and Italian Physiological Societies – Ljubljana (SLO). September 24-25, 2025.
• Member of the organizing committee of the "18^th Annual Meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology" – Catania (Italy). May 21-23, 2025.
• Vicario N. Oral presentation "Unveiling the potential of PARP1 and Connexin 43 modulation in neuropathic pain models". Congress "C4Neuro" – Palermo (Italy). October 24, 2024.
• Member of the organizing committee of the "17^th Annual Meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology" – Catania (Italy). May 22-24, 2024.
• Scientific Secretariat e oral presentation at the workshop “Photoacousting imaging and biophysical images in mice”. Congress “Novel translational approaches in hematological malignancies: from bench to bedside” – Catania (Italy). November 5-6, 2021.
• Vicario N. Selected talk “Lactate modulates microglia M2 polarization via IGFBP6 expression and remodels tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma” at the EMBO - Lactate: unconventional roles of a nutrient along tumor landscape. Online. June 22, 2021.
• Vicario N. Invited talk at the Physiological Society and at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana – Ljubljana, Slovenia. August 25, 2020. 
• Vicario N et al. “Neuroglial axis and immune cells role in a mouse model of motoneuronal ablation”. Biennial Congress of the Italian Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation - Bologna (Italy), September 19-21, 2019.
• Vicario N et al. “MOR/DOR targeting mediates neuropathic pain amelioration in chronic constriction injured rats.” 69th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2018). Firenze (Italy), September 19-21, 2018.
• Vicario N. Invited talk at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. University of Maryland - School of Medicine - Baltimore, MD (USA). June 7, 2018.
• Vicario N et al. “Transplantation of directly induced Neural Stem Cell (iNSCs) promotes remyelination in a mouse model of experimental focal demyelination”. 68th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2017). Pavia, September 6-8, 2017.
• Vicario N et al. “Transplantation of directly induced Neural Stem Cell (iNSCs) in a mouse model of experimental focal demyelination”. XIII European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease. Edinburgh, United Kingdom, July 8-11, 2017.
• Vicario N et al. “Repeated activation of delta opioid receptors (DOR) counteracts nerve injury-induced TNF-α up-regulation in the sciatic nerve of rats with neuropathic pain: a possible correlation with DOR-mediated anti-allodinic effect”. 67th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2016). Catania, Italy, September 21-23, 2016.
• Vicario N et al. “Connexin involvement in the protective effect of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells conditioned medium in SH-SY5Y Cell Line during hypoxia/re-oxygenation stress”. 66th Congress of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF 2015). Genoa, Italy, September 16-18, 2015.
• COST Thematic Workshop: Integrated approaches for Biomolecular detection: nanostructures, biosensors and lab-on-chip devices. Workshop secretariat. Catania April 28-30, 2014.

EDITORIAL ROLE

• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neuroscience
• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
• Guest Editor For Frontiers In Bioscience-Landmark
• Guest Editor For IJMS
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Antioxidants
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biomedicines
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Biomolecules
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of British Journal of Pharmacology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cancers
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cells
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Computers in Biology and Medicine
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Experimental Cell Reseach
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of European Journal of Pharmacology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Immunology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Neurology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Heliyon
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Inflammation
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of IJMS
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of IJBM
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of JBMT
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Life
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Life Sciences
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Mitochondrion
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Molecular Neurobiology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Molecules
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Oncoimmunology
• Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Redox Biology

MEMBERSHIPS

2020 – Present
Member of the research center for molecular, preclinical and translational imaging (Centro di Ricerca per l’Imaging Molecolare, Preclinico e Traslazionale).

2019 – Present
Member of the Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation.

2018 – Present
Member of the Italian Physiological Society (SIF, Italy).

RESEARCH LINES
- Intercellular Communication and Nervous System Homeostasis
A major focus of our research team is the study of intercellular communication in the central nervous system, with particular attention to the role of gap junctions, membrane receptors, ion channels, and signalling molecules. These mechanisms are essential for coordinating cellular responses and preserving tissue homeostasis under physiological and pathological conditions.
- Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Neuropathic Pain
We investigate the cellular and molecular processes involved in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and neuropathic pain. Using in vitro and in vivo experimental models, our work explores how glial cells, immune cells, and resident neural population contribute to disease progression, endogenous compensatory mechanisms, and the modulation of nervous system function.
- Cellular Stress, Hypoxia, and Adaptive Responses
A key research area concerns cellular stress responses under challenging conditions such as hypoxia, inflammation, and altered membrane signalling. This line of investigation focuses on how cells adapt to injury or environmental changes, and how these adaptive mechanisms may influence survival, proliferation, migration, and functional recovery.

FEATURED RESEARCH ARTICLES
1. Denaro S, et al. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2026.
Connexin Regulation and Modulation of Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Induced by Cell-Permeable Itaconate.
2. Gervasi A, et al. Cell communication and signaling, 2025.
Mitochondrial connexin 43 modulates metabolic stress adaptation in glioma cell lines.
3. D'Aprile S, et al. Cell death & disease, 2025.
Purine metabolism rewiring improves glioblastoma susceptibility to temozolomide treatment.
4. Denaro S, et al. Inflammation research, 2024.
Sigma-1 receptor targeting inhibits connexin 43 based intercellular communication in chronic neuropathic pain.
5. Alberghina C, et al. Cell proliferation, 2024.
Microglia and glioblastoma heterocellular interplay sustains tumour growth and proliferation as an off-target effect of radiotherapy.
6. D'Aprile S, et al. Scientific reports, 2024.
Glioblastoma mesenchymal subtype enhances antioxidant defence to reduce susceptibility to ferroptosis.
7. Denaro S, et al. Molecular neurobiology, 2024.
Sigma-1 Receptor Inhibition Reduces Mechanical Allodynia and Modulate Neuroinflammation in Chronic Neuropathic Pain.
8. Cammarata FP, et al. Communications biology, 2023.
Proton boron capture therapy (PBCT) induces cell death and mitophagy in a heterotopic glioblastoma model.
9. Vicario N, et al. Cell death & disease, 2021.
Clobetasol promotes neuromuscular plasticity in mice after motoneuronal loss via sonic hedgehog signaling, immunomodulation and metabolic rebalancing.
10. Vicario N, et al. Molecular neurobiology, 2019.
 Simultaneous Activation of Mu and Delta Opioid Receptors Reduces Allodynia and Astrocytic Connexin 43 in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain.
Molecular neurobiology. 2019. Doi:10.1007/s12035-019-1607-1.

FEATURED REVIEW ARTICLES
1. Gervasi A, et al. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 2025.
Connexin 43 Role in Mitochondrial Transfer and Homeostasis in the Central Nervous System.
2. Denaro S, et al. Front in Cellular Neuroscience. 2025.
Mechanistic insights into connexin-mediated neuroglia crosstalk in neurodegenerative diseases.
3. D'Aprile S, et al. Front in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2025.
Targeting metabolic reprogramming in glioblastoma as a new strategy to overcome therapy resistance.

Guida alle tesi di laurea

FINALITÀ
La tesi di laurea rappresenta un momento formativo centrale nel percorso accademico dello studente. È l’occasione per dimostrare capacità di studio autonomo, pensiero critico, rigore metodologico e attitudine all’elaborazione scientifica.
All’interno del nostro gruppo di ricerca, la tesi è concepita come un percorso di avvicinamento alla ricerca biomedica, con particolare attenzione allo studio del sistema nervoso centrale. L’obiettivo non è soltanto produrre un elaborato scritto, ma sviluppare una comprensione critica dei processi biologici studiati, imparare a formulare domande scientifiche, analizzare dati e letteratura, e comunicare in modo chiaro i risultati ottenuti.

AMBITI DI RICERCA PROPOSTI
- Intercellular Communication and Nervous System Homeostasis
- Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Neuropathic Pain
- Cellular Stress, Hypoxia, and Adaptive Responses

TIPOLOGIE DI TESI
Tesi compilativa
La tesi compilativa consiste in una revisione critica della letteratura scientifica su un tema specifico. L'elaborato non deve limitarsi a una raccolta di informazioni, ma dimostrare la capacità dello studente di selezionare fonti rilevanti, confrontare risultati e individuare punti di forza e limiti degli studi disponibili.
Tesi sperimentale
La tesi sperimentale prevede la partecipazione attiva dello studente a un progetto di ricerca. Lo studente può essere coinvolto, in relazione al corso di studio, nella raccolta e analisi dei dati, nella preparazione dei campioni, nell’esecuzione dei protocolli sperimentali e nell’elaborazione e interpretazione dei risultati.

FASI DEL PERCORSO DI TESI
1. Definizione del tema
2. Ricerca bibliografica
3. Elaborazione del progetto di tesi
4. Attività sperimentale e/o analisi della letteratura
5. Stesura dell’elaborato

STRUTTURA CONSIGLIATA DELLA TESI
Frontespizio
Indice
Introduzione
Obiettivi
Materiali e metodi
Risultati
Discussione, conclusioni e prospettive future
Bibliografia

FIGURE, IMMAGINI E DATI
Le figure rappresentano una componente essenziale della comunicazione scientifica. Ogni figura deve essere numerata progressivamente, richiamata nel testo e accompagnata da una legenda chiara. Le figure devono essere presentate con qualità grafica adeguata ed essere coerenti con i risultati descritti.

RAPPORTO TRA STUDENTE, RELATORE E TEAM DI RICERCA
La tesi è un percorso guidato, ma richiede partecipazione attiva da parte dello studente. Il relatore e il team di ricerca orientano il lavoro, definisce gli obiettivi e supervisiona le attività. Lo studente rispetta le scadenze concordate, partecipa agli incontri e aggiorna il relatore sull’avanzamento del lavoro. Lo studente interno ha inoltre il compito di rispettare le norme etiche e di sicurezza del laboratorio, evitare il plagio o l’uso improprio di dati o fonti e curare la qualità della scrittura.

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PURPOSE
The degree thesis represents a central formative stage in the student’s academic path. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to conduct independent study, critical thinking, methodological rigor, and aptitude for scientific reasoning/writing.
Within our research group, the thesis is conceived as a pathway toward biomedical research, with particular attention to the study of the central nervous system. The objective is not only to produce a written dissertation, but to develop a critical understanding of the biological processes studied, learn to formulate scientific questions, analyze data and literature, and clearly communicate the results obtained.

PROPOSED RESEARCH AREAS
- Intercellular Communication and Nervous System Homeostasis
- Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Neuropathic Pain
- Cellular Stress, Hypoxia, and Adaptive Responses

TYPES OF THESIS
Literature-based thesis
A literature-based thesis consists of a critical review of the scientific literature on a specific topic. The dissertation should not be limited to a collection of information, but should demonstrate the student’s ability to select relevant sources, compare results, and identify the strengths and limitations of the available studies.
Experimental thesis
An experimental thesis involves the student’s active participation in a research project. Depending on the degree programme, the student may be involved in data collection and analysis, sample preparation, execution of experimental protocols, and elaboration and interpretation of results.

STAGES OF THE THESIS PATHWAY
1. Definition of the topic
2. Bibliographic research
3. Development of the thesis project
4. Experimental activity and/or analysis of the literature
5. Writing of the dissertation

RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS
Title page
Table of contents
Introduction
Objectives
Materials and methods
Results
Discussion, conclusions, and future perspectives
Bibliography

FIGURES, IMAGES, AND DATA
Figures represent an essential component of scientific communication. Each figure must be numbered consecutively, cited in the text, and accompanied by a clear legend. Figures must be presented with adequate graphic quality and be consistent with the results described.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENT, SUPERVISOR, AND RESEARCH TEAM
The thesis is a guided pathway, but it requires active participation from the student. The supervisor and the research team guide the work, define the objectives, and supervise the activities. The student respects the agreed deadlines, attends meetings, and updates the supervisor on the progress of the work. The student working within the research team also has the task of respecting the ethical and safety rules of the laboratory, avoiding plagiarism or improper use of data or sources, and taking care of the quality of the writing.