MINI SYMPOSIUM REPORT
Scientific Day of the Italian Peptide Society dedicated to Young Members
The “Scientific Day of the Italian Peptide Society dedicated to Young Members, Vittorio Erspamer and Carlo Pedone Awards 2026” was held at the University of Napoli Federico II, Pharmacy Department, Aula Magna Ludovico Sorrentino,on June 24th, 2026 (https://sites.google.com/view/itps-giornata-giovani). This biennial mini-symposium is an excellent platform for early-career scientists to showcase their work and network. This edition has seen the participation of 60 researchers, making it a highly successful event in terms of turnout (Photo 1).
The Local Organizing Committee of the event has included:
Daniela Marasco – University of Napoli – Napoli, Italy (Organizing Secretariat)
Concetta Avitabile – National Research Council, CNR – Caserta, Italy
Annarita Del Gatto – National Research Council, CNR – Naples, Italy
Carlo Diaferia – University of Napoli – Napoli, Italy
Annarita Falanga – University of Napoli – Portici, Italy
Sara La Manna- -University of Napoli – Napoli, Italy
Laura Zaccaro – National Research Council, CNR – Napoli, Italy
The Scientific Committee has included:
Carlo Diaferia – University of Napoli – Napoli, Italy
Chiara Falciani – University of Siena – Siena, Italy
Lucia Ferrazzano – University of Bologna – Bologna, Italy
Marco Macis – Fresenius Kabi Pharma – Villadose (RO), Italy
Giuseppe Pappalardo – National Research Council, CNR- Catania, Italy
Sara Pellegrino – Università of Milano – Milano, Italy
During the mini symposium, the “Young Researchers Awards” Vittorio Erspamer and Carlo Pedone Awards were presented to young members of the Society to acknowledge their distinguished contribution to peptide science and the best doctoral thesis in the field of peptide science. This year, oral presentations were delivered by the awardees: Bellavita Rosa (winner of the Erspamer award), Daniele Florio (winner of the Pedone award), and Roberto Frigerio (Carlo Pedone Award Joint second place) followed by the award ceremony (Photos 2-3). The awards were presented by the current and past Presidents of ItPs Daniela Marasco and Maria Luisa Mangoni.
The symposium covered a broad range of topics, giving the possibility to eighteen young members of our society, selected by the scientific committee of ItPS based on the abstracts received, to present their work during the three scientific sessions of the day. Another highlight was the keynote address delivered by Prof. Severin T. Schneebeli (Purdue University, Indiana-USA) (photo 4) titled “Integrating Computational Modeling and High-throughput Supramolecular Chemistry to Accelerate Oral Peptide Drug Discovery”. The event was supported by EPS, Jasco, CEM and Department of Pharmacy of the University of Napoli Federico II.
EPS sponsorship was acknowledged by the organizers during the mini symposium, and the logo of the Society was displayed on the printed material of the conference as well as on the website of the “Scientific Day of ItPS”.
Photo 1. Group picture of the participants to the ““Scientific Day of the Italian Peptide Society dedicated to Young Members 2026”
Photo 2. Vittorio Erpamer Awards ceremony
Photo 3. Carlo Pedone Award ceremony
Photo 4. KN by Prof. Severin T. Schneebeli
Programme
During the mini symposium a keynote and 18 oral presentations were delivered.
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 1
Chairs: Annarita Falanga (University of Napoli Federico II – Napoli) and Michele Saviano (CNR Institute of Crystallography – Caserta)
Keynote
Severin T. Schneebeli (Purdue University Indiana- USA)
“Integrating Computational Modeling and High-throughput Supramolecular Chemistry to Accelerate Oral Peptide Drug Discovery”
Vittorio Erspamer Award Winner
Bellavita Rosa (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“From Assembly to Action: Functional Peptide Nanofibers for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer”
Carlo Pedone Award Winner
Daniele Florio (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“Amyloid Modulation in Intrinsically Disordered Peptides: Implications for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Carlo Pedone Award Joint second place
Alexia Mattellone (University of Bologna – Bologna)
“IDES Unveiled: Pioneering Green Peptides Synthesis and Oligonucleotides Innovations in Science”
Carlo Pedone Award Joint second place
Roberto Frigerio (University of Brescia – Brescia)
“Membrane Sensing Peptides as Pan-Specific Probing and Sorting of Extracellular Nanoparticles”
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 2
Chairs: Carlo Diaferia (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli) and Laura Zaccaro (CNR Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging – Napoli)
Anna Giorgio (CNR Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging – Napoli)
“Metabolism and Metabolites Identification of Selective αvβ3 [99mTc][Tc(N)(PNP43)][RGDechi1-17(Cys)]+ peptide”
Chiara Innamorati (University of Roma Tor Vergata – Roma)
“An Integrated Computational and Experimental Framework for Peptide-Based Inhibition of SHP2 Protein-Protein Interactions”
Francesco Tammaro (University of Napoli Federico II – Napoli)
“Rational Design and Synthesis of Bioactive miPEP205-Derived Fragments as Modulators of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer”
Carlo Vetrano (Sapienza, University of Roma -Roma)
“From Resistance to Susceptibility: Esculentin-Derived antimicrobial peptides in KPC-K. pneumoniae”
Elena Lagreca (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“Honeybee Venom Peptide Characterization and Encapsulation for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment”
Ida Boccino (University of Napoli Federico II – Napoli)
“Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Cyclic Temporin L Analogues via Non-Conventional Guanidinium-Based Functionalization”
SCIENTIFIC SESSION 3
Chairs: Concetta Avitabile (CNR Institute of Crystallography – Caserta) and Annarita Del Gatto (CNR Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging – Napoli)
Anna Palma (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“Peptide-Integrated Polymeric Microneedles for TNF-α Monitoring in Interstitial Fluid”
Vincenzo Mazzarella (University of Campania – Caserta)
“Expanding the Horizon of Label-Free CTC Detection: Toward a CXCR4-Targeted Plasmonic Optical Fiber Biosensor for Liquid Biopsy Applications”
Lorenzo Emiliano Imbò (University of Napoli Federico II – Napoli)
“Temporizin-1-Derived peptides as Novel Antifungal Agents against Fusarium oOysporum for Post-Harvest Applications”
Agata Greta Liruzzo (University of Catania – Catania)
“KLVFF Functionalized Graphene Oxide For Selective Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers Detection”
Antonia Nutini (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“Design and Development of Nanoparticles Decorated with Peptides for the Target Delivery Through the Blood-Brain Barrier for the Removal of Cholesterol and 24-Hydroxycholesterol”
Michele Quagliata (University of Firenze – Firenze)
“Solution-Phase Assembly of Azapeptide Using Resonant Acoustic Mixing in Green Solvents”
Sara Palladino (University of Napoli Federico II- Napoli)
“Peptide Decorated β-Cyclodextrin Nanoplatform for miRNA Delivery to Glioblastoma”
The social events included lunch and one coffee break served at the venue. The mini symposium ended with the meeting of the Italian Peptide Society