Benedetto Grimaldi

Benedetto Grimaldi received his doctoral degree in genetics and molecular biology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy, he transitioned into a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Prof. Sassone-Corsi (University of California, Irvine, USA), investigating the link between circadian signaling, epigenetics, cellular metabolism and inflammation. In 2011 Benedetto Grimaldi took up a Team Leader position at the Drug Discovery and Development (D3) department at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italy), where he began pursuing his own line of research focused on the study of “clock-related pathologies”, and on the identification and evaluation of novel molecules with “clock modulator” activity for therapeutic applications. Among Grimaldi’s recent studies, he reported the first evidence that the pharmacological targeting of a circadian regulator may be a suitable anticancer strategy, unraveling a novel unexpected function of the circadian nuclear receptor REV-ERBβ in sustaining cancer cell survival when the autophagy flux is compromised. These studies also identified the first class of anticancer compounds with dual inhibitory activity toward REV-ERB and autophagy. Benedetto Grimaldi research activity is now mainly focused on the identification of the molecular mechanism behind REV-ERBβ regulation in tumors and its cytoprotective action. Considering the increasing number of epidemiological evidences indicating an intimate link between circadian disruption and tumor development and progression, these studies will provide unique insights on the circadian/cancer connection. Benedetto Grimaldi also collaborates with University of Manchester (UK) to unravel the molecular connection between the circadian clock and the human hair-follicle cycle.