Dr. Renato Colognato

Renato Colognato was born in Asmara (Eritrea) the 09 April 1971.

He received, in 1999, a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology, molecular biology branch, at the University of Pisa, Italy. Winner of a PhD fellowship at the Clinical University of Ulm, Germany, he obtains, in 2003, the PhD in Clinical Pharmacology (Dr. Rer. Nat.) with a thesis on the in vitro differentiation on professional antigen presenting cells. Back in Italy, he discussed a thesis for the Master of Science (Scuola di Specializazione) in Applied Genetics at the University of Pisa.

From 2003 to 2007 he enter as Senior Postdoc at the Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, where he was responsible for the research activities of the Environmental Mutagenesis laboratory. The research studies where mainly focused on the primary and oxidative DNA damage and on neurodegenerative diseases and on the possible toxic effects of manufactured nanomaterials, for both industrial and biomedical applications, like 3D scaffold or nanosystems for gene and drug delivery.

From 2007 to 2009 he join the European Commision, Nanobiosciences Unit, as Contractual Agent, in the Nanotoxicology laboratory. Renato Colognato, PhD is member of the European Environment Mutagens Society (EEMS) and of the Italian Society of Environmental Mutagenesis (SIMA) and author of many peer reviewed papers in the fields of genotoxicity of neurodegenerative diseases and in toxicity of nanomaterials. Actually his role is R&D Manager at BIOCELL Center.

Education/Qualifications

July 1989: High school Diploma (secondary senior)
with the votation of 56/60 at the “Italian public school” in Lagos, Nigeria.

4 March 1999: Bachelor of Science (BCs) in Biological Sciences, molecular and cellular biology branch, University of Pisa.
Votation: 109/110.

May 1999 - June 2002: Doctor in Phylosopy (PhD) in Immunology and Pharmacology.
Department of Immunology and Pharmacology, University of Ulm.
Votation: “summa cum laude”
Nov. 2001: Habilitation to the biology profession. Votation: 137/150.
July 2006: Master of Sciences (MS) in Applied Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pisa. Votation: 110/110 cum laude.

Professional and Research Experiences

Last Work: European Commission, JRC Institute for Health and Consumer Protection Nanotechnology and Molecular Imaging Unit TP 203, Via Fermi 2749, I‐21027 Ispra (VA) Italy

Apr. ‘94 Oct.’94: Working as undergraduate at the Biophysic Laboratory at the project “ Identification of the rhodopsina‐like proteins implicated in the mechanical move of the flagelli in the bacterium Halobacterium halobium: biochemical hypothesis “ with Dr. Giovanni Cercignani of the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Pisa.

Oct. ’94 Jun ’96: Undergraduate project at the Physiology and Biochemistry department laboratory as degree thesis on the “ Cytogenetic and cytotassonomic relationships in Dugesia gonocephala s.l. planarians”.

PhD position:

May ’99 June 2002: PhD project concerning the isolation and characterisation of Protease Activated Receptor (PARs) in Human Monocyte and MonocytesDerived Professional Antigen Presenting Cells”.

Postdoctoral fellowship:

June 2002 june 2003: Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa working on the molecular characterization of neuroblastoma tumors induced by Micro Foci Inducing Virus (MFV). In vitro and in vivo models.

June 2003 May 2007: Winner of a senior postdoctoral fellowship at the Dept. of Human and Environmental Sciences, Section of Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis under the supervision of Prof. Lucia Migliore on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of chemicals and nanomaterials. In vitro cell models studies.

Research Associate:

Aug. 2003 July 2010: Contractual agent at the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Nanotechnology and Molecular Imaging Unit. Supervising Research activites on FP6 and FP7 European projects on toxicology of nanomaterials and implementation of nanosystesms drug delivery and for biomedical applications.

Technical experiences

Working knowledge of GLP and GMP regulations and according to standard OECD guidelines.

Cellular biology:
extended experience with cell culturing techniques. Experience on both primary and cell lines (PBMC, human derived Macrophages and Dendritic cells, Lymphocytes, primary hepatocytes, COS7, THP‐1, MonoMac6, HEK293, U937, HEK, Balb/3T3, MDCK, A549, RAW,CaCo2, ect. ect.)
Molecular biology:
‐ Basic techniques for DNA ans RNA
‐ Polymerase Chain Reaction (Touch Down, Quantitative, and Semi‐quantitative)
‐ Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) protocols
‐ FACs
‐ Basic histological and immunohistochemical techniques.
‐ Cells isolation from Buffy Coat and whole blood
‐ Differentiation of Macrophages and Dendritic cells from PBMC
‐ Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization experiments in blood related cells and cell lines
‐ Chemotaxis experiments with monocytes and monocytic cell lines
‐ Principles of protein purification.
‐ Comet Assay
‐Micronucleus test
‐ General human caryotiping methods

Toxicology:
‐ Cytotoxicity Assays (MTT, WST1, NRU, LDH, and Colony Forming Efficiency (CFE))
‐ Genotoxicity Assays (Comet and Micronucleus Test)
Carcinogenic potential:
‐ Cell Transformation Assay (CTA) on Balb/3T3

Informatics:
Knowledge of the MacIntosh, MS‐DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and NT systems.
Knowledge of the following programs: MS Office 97 programs, MS Publisher 98, Corel Draw 7, Paint Shop Pro 5, Publisher, Adobe Photo Deluxe, WinZip 6.3, etc.

Teaching activity

2003 2007:
Responsible for teaching part of General Biology, Medical genetics, Environmental Mutagenesis and Toxicology coureses at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Biology, University of Pisa. Moreover during this period I supervised undergraduate and PhD students.

Known languages: Italian as mother language
Spoken and written English at an excellent levels.
Spoken German at good levels.