Saverio Candido
Keywords
Research activities mainly focuses on tumor biology
Main topics:
Tumor microenvironment
Tumor immunity
Epigenetics
Bioinformatics
Identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers
Identification of potential therapeutic targets
Saverio Candido is currently an Fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTDB) in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania. He leads the “Tumor Development and Computational Oncology” laboratory, focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying tumor pathogenesis, with particular attention to epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.
His research activity began during his undergraduate training at the General Pathology laboratories of the University of Catania. He earned a degree in Biological Sciences (with honors) with an experimental thesis entitled “The correlated increase of osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression levels in cervical cancer”. He holds a PhD in Oncological Sciences and Residency in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Catania. From 2019 to 2023, he was an Fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTDA) (MEDS-02/A) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences. During his academic training, he consolidated his expertise in molecular biology and bioinformatics through research activities at the “Centre for Genomic Regulation” (CRG) in Barcelona (Spain), the “Centro di Riferimento Oncologico” (CRO) in Aviano (Italy), and the laboratories led by Professor James McCubrey at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina (USA). Over the years, he has established numerous collaborations with national and international researchers.
Since the 2017–2018 academic year, Saverio Candido teaches several General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) courses at the University of Catania, including Master’s degree programmes in Health and Cellular-Molecular Biology, Experimental and Applied Biology, and Medicine and Surgery, as well as degree programmes in Physiotherapy, Audioprosthetic Techniques, and Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. Furthermore, from the 2019–2020 to the 2023–2024 academic year, he also taught several Laboratory Medicine Techniques (MEDS-26/A) courses, as part of the degree programme in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques at the University of Catania.
He is a member of the Faculty Board of the PhD programme in Basic and Applied Biomedical Sciences. He also serves as Deputy Coordinator and member of the Quality Assurance Committee of the degree programme in Physiotherapy (L/SNT2). In the 2023–2024 academic year, he has been Deputy Director of the second-level Master's programme in Bioinformatics Applied to Molecular Diagnostics at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
From the 2019–2020 to the 2023–2024 academic year, he also taught several courses at first- and second-level Master's programmes. Moreover, he served as a PhD supervisor for students of the Basic and Applied Biomedical Sciences programme at the University of Catania. He also supervises numerous students during curricular internship and for thesis preparation.
Personal details
Institutional Address: Section of General, Clinical and Oncological Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia n. 97, 95123 Catania (CT), Italy.
Email: scandido@unict.it
Current position
Since December 2023, Assistant Professor (RTD-B researcher) in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
Education and Research activity
1 August 2019 – 30 November 2023: Assistant Professor (RTD-A researcher) in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania
November 2020 – June 2021: International mobility programme - Action I.2,“Researcher Mobility”, Priority Axis I of the National Operational Programme for Research and Innovation (PON R&I) 2014–2020, Line 1 (Researcher Mobility). Host institution: Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
From 2016 to 2018: Research fellow in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania. Research project: “The Role of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a Therapeutic Target in Prostate Cancer”. (Supervisor: Professor Massimo Libra).
2017: Residency in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Catania. Thesis: “MMP-9 Overexpression and Intragenic Hypermethylation in a Melanoma Cell Model”. (Supervisor: Professor Massimo Libra).
2016: International PhD in Oncology (28th cycle) at the University of Catania. PhD thesis: “Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer Development and Progression”. (PhD supervisor: Professor Massimo Libra).
May–August 2015: Visiting PhD student at the laboratories headed by Professor James A. McCubrey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
November 2014 – March 2015: Visiting PhD student at the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano, an Italian Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare (IRCCS), Unit of Oncogenetics and Functional Oncogenomics headed by Dr Roberta Maestro.
2012: Research fellowship funded by the Umberto Veronesi Foundation for the research project entitled “Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer Development and Progression”. (Scientific supervisor: Professor Massimo Libra).
2011: Academic training at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.
2009: Professional qualification as a Biologist at the University of Catania.
2009: Degree in Biological Sciences (with honors) at the University of Catania. Thesis: “Correlated Increase in Osteopontin and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression Levels in Cervical Cancer”. (Supervisor: Professor Franca Stivala).
National Scientific Qualification
In 2025, he received the National Scientific Qualification for the role of Full Professor in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A)
In 2018, he received the National Scientific Qualification for the role of Associate Professor in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A)
In 2018, he received the National Scientific Qualification for the role of Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine Techniques (MEDS-26/A)
Scientific and professional societies
Since 2018, Member of the Italian Society of Pathology and Translational Medicine (SIPMeT)
Since 2010, Member of the Sicilian Order of Biologists – National Federation of the Orders of Biologists (FNOB), Registration No. EA_019818
Teaching activities
Since the 2017–2018 academic year, Saverio Candido teaches several General Pathology (MEDS-02/A) courses at the University of Catania, including Master’s degree programmes in Health and Cellular-Molecular Biology, Experimental and Applied Biology, and Medicine and Surgery, as well as degree programmes in Physiotherapy, Audioprosthetic Techniques, and Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. Furthermore, from the 2019–2020 to the 2023–2024 academic year, he also taught several Laboratory Medicine Techniques (MEDS-26/A) courses, as part of the degree programme in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques at the University of Catania.
He is a member of the Faculty Board of the PhD programme in Basic and Applied Biomedical Sciences. He also serves as Deputy Coordinator and member of the Quality Assurance Committee of the degree programme in Physiotherapy (L/SNT2). In the 2023–2024 academic year, he has been Deputy Director of the second-level Master's programme in Bioinformatics Applied to Molecular Diagnostics at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
From the 2019–2020 to the 2023–2024 academic year, he also taught several courses at first- and second-level Master's programmes. Moreover, he served as a PhD supervisor for students of the Basic and Applied Biomedical Sciences programme at the University of Catania. He also supervises numerous students during curricular internship and for thesis preparation.
Scientific committees of master’s programmes
2023–2024 academic year: Deputy Director of the second-level Master’s programme in “Bioinformatics Applied to Molecular Diagnostics”, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania
2020–2021 academic year: Member of the Scientific Committee of the second-level Master’s programme in “Integrative Medicine and Food Management for Cancer Prevention and Treatment”, Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania
2019–2020 academic year: Member of the Scientific Committee of the second-level Master’s programme in “Integrative Medicine and Food Management for Cancer Prevention and Treatment”, Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania
Leadership and coordination of national research groups
From 2025 to present
Principal investigator (PI) of the research project entitled “Identification of Novel Tumour Antigens for the Development of Innovative Vaccine Strategies for the Treatment of Cancer Patients”, founded by the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer (LILT) (LILT 2024 Call for Projects – 5×1000 2024).
From 2024 to present
Principal Investigator (PI) of research project entitled “EPigenetic Identification of DNA Methylation Clusters INvolved Into the Regulation of CAncer-related Genes” (EPICLINICA), founded by “Progetti di ricerca collaborativa" Università degli Studi di Catania, linea di intervento 1 (Grant No. 20722142188).
From 2024 to present
Principal Investigator (PI) of research project entitled “Identification, through Bioinformatics Approaches and Validation, of DNA Methylation Clusters Associated with the Expression of Genes Involved in the Development and Progression of Cutaneous Melanoma” (EpiMethEx), founded by "Starting Grant" Università degli Studi di Catania, linea di intervento 3 (Grant No. 20722142176).
From 2019 to present
Head of the “Tumor Development and Computational Oncology” laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
From 2017 to 2019
Head of the “Biomarker Discovery” research group of the Translational Oncology laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
From 2016 to 2018
Head of Research Unit for the research project entitled “Genetic and Molecular Assessment of Family Members of Patients with BRCA1- and/or BRCA2-Positive Breast and Ovarian Cancer as a Potential Screening Strategy”, funded by the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer (LILT), National Public Call for Health Research, 5x1000 programme 2018.
From 2014 to 2016
Principal investigator (PI) of the research project entitled “Digital Droplet PCR on Liquid Biopsy Samples and Computational Models for Optimising the Early Diagnosis of Cutaneous Melanoma”, funded by the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer (LILT), National Public Call for Health Research, 5x1000 programme 2016.
PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH GROUPS
From 2025 to 2026
National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs Based on RNA Technology – Spoke 2, Research project title “Development of Gene Therapies and RNA-Based Drugs” (CN00000041), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4, “Education and Research”, Component 2, “From Research to Business”, Investment Line 1.4, “Strengthening Research Structures and Establishing National R&D Champions in Selected Key Enabling Technologies”. CUP: E63C22000950006.
From 2024 to 2026
PRIN 2022 PNRR, Research project entitled “Targeting Brain Barriers in Parkinson’s Disease”, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4, “Education and Research”, Component 2, Investment 1.1, “Fund for the National Research Programme and Projects of Significant National Interest (PRIN)”, under the public call for proposals for Projects of Significant National Interest (PRIN) to be funded through the PNRR. CUP: E53D23018080001.
From 2017 to present
Member of the Research Centre for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer (PreDiCT), based at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania.
International and National scientific collaborations
Professor Aristides Tsatsakis - Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Research topic: environmental, genetic and epigenetic determinants of cancer
Dr Paolo A. Ascierto - Melanoma Unit, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
Research topic: genetic and epigenetic alterations in cutaneous melanoma
Dr Roberta Maestro - Unit of Oncogenetics and Functional Oncogenomics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano, National Cancer Institute, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
Research topic: molecular alterations in cancer and the tumour microenvironment
Professor James A. McCubrey - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Research topic: pathogenetic mechanisms of cancer
Dr Melchiorre Cervello - National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
Research topic: pathogenetic mechanisms of cancer
Third Mission Activity
From 2024, Saverio Candido is a Member of the Executive Board of the Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer (LILT) - Metropolitan Association of Catania (LILT Catania)
Organization of national and international congresses
30th International Congress on Molecular Medicine”, November 6-8, 2025, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Second Young Researchers’ Symposium on Recent Advances in Translational Medicine”. May 4, 2024, Catania, Sicily, Italy
1st Joint International Symposium - Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of RKIP and YY1 in Cancer, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases, March 8-11, 2023, Catania, Sicily, Italy
First Young Researchers’ Symposium on Recent Advances in Translational Medicine, January 19th, 2023, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Chairman at national and international congresses
Second Young Researchers’ Symposium on Recent Advances in Translational Medicine”. May 4, 2024, Catania, Sicily, Italy
First Young Researchers’ Symposium on Recent Advances in Translational Medicine, January 19th, 2023, Catania, Sicily, Italy
"Workshop on Inflammation: The Cornerstone of Chronic Diseases, Alteration of Cellular Microenvironment", 24th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 24th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, October 10-12, 2019, Sparti, Greece
Speaker at national and international congresses
Candido S. Bioinformatics Approaches for the Identification of DNA Methylation Biomarkers in Cancer. 1st Joint International Symposium - Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of RKIP And YY1 In Cancer, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases, March 8-11, 2023, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Candido S, Salemi R, Falzone L, Gattuso G, Vivarelli S, Libra M. Methylation profiling of genes involved in inflammation and immune response in melanoma, 24th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 24th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, October 10-12, 2019, Sparti, Greece
Candido S. “Marcatori epigenetici e loro prospettive di utilizzo nella pratica clinica”. Prevenzione terziaria: Percorsi di cura integrata dopo la diagnosi di tumore. LILT Catania, 21-22 Maggio 2019 Catania, Sicily, Italy
Candido S, Parasiliti G, Russo G, Pappalardo F, Libra M. EpiMethEx: an in silico platform to evaluate the correlation between gene expression and gene methylation. 4° Congresso Nazionale SIPMeL, 34° Congresso Nazionale SIPMeT, 4° Congresso dell’Area di Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio - "Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio 4.0", October 23-25, 2018, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Candido S, Falzone L, Salemi R, Libra M. Effects of intermolecular bond depletion of NGAL/MMP9 complex on MMP9 activation and tumor invasiveness, 23rd World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 22nd International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, September 20-22, 2018, Athens, Greece
Candido S. “Digital droplet PCR su biopsia liquida e modelli computazionali per l’ottimizzazione della diagnosi precoce del melanoma cutaneo” 2^ Giornata della ricerca LILT, in qualità di Responsabile Scientifico – Sezione LILT Catania, 16 Maggio 2018 Milano, Italy
Candido S, Falzone L, Salemi R, Polesel J, McCubrey JA, Libra M. Role of Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 21st World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 18th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, October 6-8, 2016, Athens, Greece
Candido S, McCubrey JA, Salemi R, Pezzino FM, Malaponte G, Libra M. MMP-9 is a candidate marker of response to treatment with dabrafenib in melanoma cells, 19th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 17th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, October 9-11, 2014, Athens, Greece
National and international scientific awards
2021 – Cancers 2019 Best Paper Award for the scientific publication entitled “Gut Microbiota and Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapy”, awarded by Cancers (MDPI)
2019 – Excellence in Reviewing Award for peer-review activities, released by the international scientific journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (Spandidos Publications)
2016 –Fourth Margaret Foti Scholar-in-Training Award, named in honour of Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), for the study entitled “Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer Development and Progression”. The award was funded by the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer (LILT)
2014 – Best Paper Award 2014 for the scientific publication “Analysis of the B-RafV600E Mutation in Cutaneous Melanoma Patients with Occupational Sun Exposure” (Candido et al., Oncology Reports, 2014)
2012 – Research fellow funded by the Umberto Veronesi Foundation for the project entitled “Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer Development and Progression
Editorial board membership and editorial activities for scientific journals
Editorial Board Member of Biomedical Reports (Spandidos Publications). (website - https://www.spandidos-publications.com/pages/br/editorial)
Topic Editor for Frontiers in Oncology, Cancer Genetics section. Research Topic: “Epigenetics in Cancer: DNA Methylation as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target”. (website - https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76076/epigenetics-in-cancer-dna-methylation-as-a-biomarker-and-therapeutic-target)
Guest Editor for Cells (MDPI). Special Issue: “Recent Advances in DNA Methylation and Cancer”. (website - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/7TCVV2Y5PF)
Guest Editor for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS, MDPI). Special Issue: “Advances in Cancer Epigenetics for Precision Medicine”.
(website - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/K245Z598U1)
Guest Editor for Cells (MDPI). Special Issue: “Molecular Mechanisms of Tumour Pathogenesis”. (website - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells/special_issues/64C8HNZ78R)
Guest Editor for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS, MDPI). Special Issue: “Epigenetic Dysregulation in Cancers: From Mechanism to Therapy”. (website - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/J36N01SW4B)
Guest Editor for Biology (MDPI). Special Issue: “Epigenetic Factors Involved in the Development of Tumours of the Digestive Tract”.
(website - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biology/special_issues/Epigenetic_Factors)
Topic Editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology. Research Topic: “Inflammation and Aging in Chronic and Degenerative Diseases: Current and Future Therapeutic Strategies”.
(website - https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/32600/inflammation-and-aging-in-chronic-and-degenerative-diseases-current-and-future-therapeutic-strategies).
Reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Translational Medicine (BMC), Disease Markers (Hindawi), BioMed Research International (Hindawi), Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (Spandidos Publications), Biomedicines (MDPI), International Journal of Molecular Sciences (MDPI), Current Issues in Molecular Biology (MDPI), Microorganisms (MDPI), Diagnostics (MDPI), Cancers (MDPI), Vaccines (MDPI), Pharmaceuticals (MDPI) and Cells (MDPI).
Saverio Candido heads the “Tumor Development and Computational Oncology” laboratory at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, where he serves as Fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTDB) in General Pathology (MEDS-02/A).
His research focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer cell invasion and metastasis, with particular attention to the MMP-9–NGAL complex. He also investigates the role of gene mutations in the activation of signal transduction pathways in tumor cells. Using bioinformatics approaches, he explores the main epigenetic alterations associated with tumor development and progression, identifying and validating several DNA methylation hotspots and microRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
He is a member of the Research Centre for the Study of Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment (CRS PreDiCT) at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, where he collaborates with the computational biology and modelling research group. He is the principal investigator (PI) of numerous research projects and actively collaborates with several international research teams.
His research activities have resulted in the publication of more than 90 scientific papers in indexed international journals, with an h-index of 39 and more than 6,100 citations.
Third Mission Activity:
From 2024, Saverio Candido is a Member of the Executive Board of the Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer (LILT) - Metropolitan Association of Catania (LILT Catania)