
The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors.
We mainly focus on microalgal products and on the optimization of the production of bioactive compounds by changing growth parameters such as the quality of light and concentration of nutrients. We are interested in the characterization of the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds isolated from microalgae and other marine organisms, through advanced screening platforms that allow the prediction of the type of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical activity of compounds.
We also focus on the isolation and characterization of marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, which are able to resist and degrade pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Bior
emediation and bioaugmentation studies are aimed at validating new technologies for the recovery of marine polluted coastal areas. New and innovative approaches are being developed for the restoration of such sites using seagrasses and corals.
Our shared expertise covers such fields as ecology, chemical ecology, physiology, genomics and transcriptomics, chemistry and biochemistry, and cell biology that drive technology and knowledge transfer for industrial applications of marine natural products.
Available platforms include:
• BlueBiomass Platform for the isolation and maintenance and mass cultivation of microalgae and other marine organisms for potential biotechnological applications.
• BlueBioChem Platform for the extraction and fractionation of bioactive marine organisms
• BlueOmics Platform for genome mining of new enzymes and biosynthetic pathways
• BlueCell Platform to test the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds on marine model species and human cell lines.
• BlueMicrobe Platform for testing antibacterial activity of marine organisms.
• BlueEnvironment Platform for the bioremediation and restoration of polluted marine sites
SECRETED - Sustainable Exploitation of bio-based Compounds Revealed and Engineered from naTural sources
SEDREMED - Bioremediation of contaminated sediments in coastal areas of ex-industrial sites 2021-2024
ISIDORE - Integrated Services For Infectious Diseases Outbreak Research
HOTBIO - A holistic approach to training a new generation of scientists in marine biodiscovery
BlueRemediomics - ARNESSING THE MARINE MICROBIOME FOR NOVEL SUSTAINABLE BIOGENICS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Project @ CNR “SCANFISH” SEA COSMETICS AND NUTRACEUTICS: FROM FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE BYPRODUCTS
PON project “ALIFUN” Development of functional foods for the innovation of traditional Italian food products
PRoDiA: Droplet digital PCR to assess the occurrence and infer the ROle of prostaglandin in natural DIatom Assemblage in the Ionian coastal waters
Director
Researcher
Roberta Piredda (TD)
Technologist Director
Senior Technologist
Cianelli Daniela
Conversano Fabio
De Luca Pasquale
Margiotta Francesca
Saggiomo Maria
Technologist
D'Ambrosio Paolo
Passarelli Augusto
Terlizzi Francesco
Saviano Simona (TD)
Stenico Francesco (TD)
Technician
Buondonno Angela (TD)
Cannavacciuolo Marco
Corato Federico
Corato Giuseppe
Di Bari Davide
Errico Davide
Fasciglione Paolo
Furia Marta
Gallia Roberto
Gragnaniello Giovanni
Graziano Rita
Guglielmo Rosanna
Iacono Bruno
Iamunno Franco
Iorio Claudio
Lanzotti Giampiero
Miralto Marco
Pannone Raimondo
Percopo Isabella
Rando Vincenzo
Scalco Eleonora
Technical operator
Research Fellowship
Abagnale Maria
Houliez Emilie
Italiano Anna
Munsif Alì
Scholarship
Ambrosino Maria Assunta
Marcucci Andrea
Pandolfi Filippo
PhD Students
Associates
Donadio Carlo
_________________________
Updated on June 25th, 2026
Director
Fabris Michele
Research Director
Senior Researcher
Rastelli Eugenio (SZN Fano)
Rizzo Carmen (SZN Sicilia)
Researcher
Balzano Sergio
Di Dato Valeria
Galasso Christian (SZN Amendolara)
Orefice Ida
Ruocco Nadia (SZN Amendolara)
Sansone Clementina
Research Contract
Maresca Emanuela
Senior Technologist
Technologist
Barra Lucia (SZN Amendolara)
Coppola Daniela
Sardo Angela
Tedesco Pietro
Technicians
Barra Lucia (SZN Amendolara)
TER Collaborator
Palma Esposito Fortunato
Smerilli Arianna
Administrative Collaborator
Technical Operator
Research Fellowships
Lopez-Mobilia De Bustamante Andrea
Scarpato Silvia
Scholarship
Buono Lucia
Greca Teresa
Italiano Anna
Nappo Noemi
PhD Student
Pinto Bruno
Tinto Eleonora
Verdesca Laura
Moretti Eleonora
Pugliese Stefano
Kopp Gwendoline
Pierobon Giorgia
Director
Administration
Research Director
Paolo Guidetti (Coordinatore sede Genova)
Trevor J. Willis (Coordinatore Sede Fano)
Senior Researcher
Researcher
Alagna Adriana
Berlino Manuel
Bottaro Massimiliano
Campese Lucia
Cardone Frine
Cattano Carlo
Cheloni Giulia
Costa Valentina
D'Ambra Isabella
Dattolo Emanuela
Di Lorenzo Manfredi
Farina Simone
Mazzella Valerio
Milisenda Giacomo
Mutalipassi Mirko
Noè Simona
Nunez Pons Laura
Olivé Irene
Pazzaglia Jessica
Pedà Cristina
Pennesi Chiara
Pica Daniela
Riginella Emilio
Santoro Mario
Scianna Claudia
Tamburello Laura
Vega Fernandez Tomas
Technologist
Technician
Borgonuovo Camilla
Cannavacciuolo Antonio
Chiarore Antonia
Manfellotto Francesco
Manfredonia Alessandro
Minucci Carmen
Mirasole Alice
Tramontano Ferdinando
Trano Anna Chiara
Administrative Collaborator
Research Fellowships
Affuso Mario
Amorim Katherin
Cecchetto Marta Maria
Cocozza di Montanara Adele
Curcio Vittoria
Eliso Maria Concetta
Laukaityte Simona
Minetti Roberta
Mirzaei MohammadReza
Russo Luca
Scibelli Sebastiano
Secco Silvia
Zampicinini Gianpaolo
Scholarship
Bertoni Marika
Castelli Melisa
Dentale Matteo
Fontana Calogero
Mininni Claudia
Pini Lucia
Spagnuolo Francesca
Tramontin Eugenia
PhD Student
Dias Vittoria
Gambardella Chiara
Longo Antonio
Madia Manfredi
Nardiello Maria
Negro Eleonora
Salvatori Anna
Post Doc
Murillo Fabio Blanco
Updated on February 9th, 2026









