Tiziano Marzo

Tiziano Marzo is an Associate Professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa. His research focuses on bioinorganic, inorganic, coordination, and medicinal inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on the synthesis and mechanistic studies of metal-based drugs (platinum, gold, and other transition metals) for medicinal applications. He also develops integrated biophysical approaches to investigate drug–biological target interactions.

**Academic Positions

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa (since 2023)

Visiting Professor/Academic Researcher, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Calgary (Global Skills Strategy Program, July–Aug 2024)

Senior Assistant Professor (RTDb), Univ. of Pisa, 11/2020 – 10/2023

Junior Assistant Professor (RTDa), Univ. of Pisa, 11/2018 – 10/2020

AIRC-FIRC Research Fellow (PI), Univ. of Pisa, Dept. of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, 04/2016 – 10/2018 (“Cisplatin Analogues Bearing Different Halide Ligands for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer”, €75,000)

**Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences, Univ. of Florence, 01/2016
Thesis: “From Conventional to Novel Pt-Based Antineoplastic Agents: Mechanistic Aspects and Biological Effects”

Visiting Scientist, COST Action CM1105, Univ. Autónoma de Madrid, 2014

M.Sc. in Chemical Sciences (LM-54), Univ. of Florence, 09/2012

**Academic Qualifications

National Scientific Qualification – Full Professor (I Fascia), Sector 03/B1, 06/2023–06/2034

National Scientific Qualification – Associate Professor (II Fascia), Sector 03/B1, 08/2018–08/2024

**Research Projects (Principal Investigator)

PRIN2022: “Biocompatible nanostructures for chemotherapy treatment of prostate cancer”

SPARK PISA 2025 – Proof-of-Concept Project TRIUMPH: “Targeted Delivery of Established Drug Combinations for Prostate Cancer Using Biocompatible Nanoparticles Acting on Multiple Pathways” (€20,000)

“Innovative Combinatory Chemotherapy Approaches for Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Advanced Preclinical Evaluation” (2019–2021, €15,000)

**Selected Research Collaborations & Participation

ITT Project (Istituto Toscano Tumori): “Selected gold compounds for ovarian cancer: mechanistic studies and preclinical evaluation” (2016–2019, Technical Coordinator)

AIRC–CRF Multi-user Equipment Program 2016: “Advanced mass spectrometry tools for cancer research” (2017–present)

University International Grant (UIG) with Univ. of Calgary (Prof. J. Gailer) & Univ. of Florence (Prof. L. Messori), 2018 ($8,450), with workshops in Calgary and Florence.

**Patents

Italian Patent No. 782024000176133 (submitted for European extension): Novel nitrile hydration process via palladium/arsenic-mediated catalytic cycle, enabling efficient conversion of aliphatic and aromatic nitriles into amides.