10/2007-Present: P.I. of project funded by the Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Foundation. Research Associate at the Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano. Supervisor: Prof.ssa Donatella Caruso 9/2006-9/2007: Research Associate at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. Supervisor: Dr. Enrique Saez. 5/2005-9/2006 : Postdoctoral Associate at Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California. Supervisor: Dr. Enrique Saez. 1/2006 : Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine: Atherosclerosis, University of Siena. 2/2001-4/2005: Research Associate at the Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano. Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Crestani. 2/2001: Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (104/110).
Dr. Mitro research career started describing a coordinated regulation of cholesterol and glucose metabolism by bile acids and identifying a possible target for new hypocholesterolemic drugs. In collaboration with other groups, dr. Mitro worked on the synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling of new dual ligand of the PPAR (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor) α and γ, and he also showed that some natural molecule decrease transcription, expression, secretion and activity of the MMP-9. In April 2005, dr. Mitro joined the laboratory of dr. Enrique Saez at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, and then moved with his group to The Scripps Research Institute, in La Jolla, CA, USA. In this lab dr. Mitro familiarized with cutting-edge genomic screening tools. His studies investigated the role of the Liver X receptors (LXR) in glucose metabolism. In particular, he discovered and described a new mechanism whereby glucose determines its own fate: he showed that glucose binds and stimulates the transcriptional activity of the nuclear receptor LXR. Dr. Mitro proposed LXR as hepatic glucose sensor. Moreover in collaboration with other colleagues dr. Mitro contributed to elucidate the anti-diabetic properties of the synthetic LXR ligand GW3965. In collaboration with dr. Tontonoz group he identified a natural small molecule (harmine) that despite inducing adipocytes differentiation, has anti-diabetic effects. In 2008, dr. Mitro came back to Italy since he won a career development award from the Giovanni-Armenise Harward Foundation. Now, he focuses his research on the role of LXR as a transcriptional link between diabetes and atherosclerosis since LXR is a cholesterol and glucose sensor. Moreover a second research line aim to understand the mechanisms that control mitochondrial biogenesis to discover targets for the design of new pharmacological approaches restoring a correct oxidative metabolism to apply in mitochondrial diseases (diabetes, cancer, etc.). In summary, my general research goal is to understand how diet influences gene expression, and the genetic regulation of energy balance.
Dr. Mitro published 25 papers in different international journals; he has 2 patents (in 2004: MI2004A000405; in 2005: WO2005105066), and he also won 5 scientific awards.
Dr Mitro is member from: 2001 of the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis (SISA) 2001 of the National Association of Italian Biotechnologist (ANBI) 2004 of the Italian Society of Biochemistry (SIB)
The Giovanni-Armenise Harward Foundation Career Development Award 2008-2013: Transcriptional link between diabetes and atherosclerosis. Assigned to: Dr. Nico Mitro. Funded amount: 1.000.000 $