XX Edizione Premio Bonifacio VIII conferito al Prof. Alberto Auricchio

Davide Cacchiarelli, a prominent figure in molecular biology and Principal Investigator at Tigem, has been awarded the prestigious Alfredo Margreth Prize from the Accademia dei Lincei, Italy's renowned national academy for sciences. This accolade, reserved for Italian researchers under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to cellular biology, was presented to Cacchiarelli by Roberto Antonelli, President of the Accademia dei Lincei, and Vice President Carlo Doglioni. Named in honor of Alfredo Margreth, a celebrated pathologist known for his research in cellular and molecular biology, this award spotlights outstanding achievements in advancing scientific knowledge in Italy and internationally.

Among the 2024 winners, Cacchiarelli, a professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Naples Federico II, has been recognized for his innovative research in muscle pathophysiology. He leads a research team specializing in stem cell biology using integrated genomics at the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) in Pozzuoli. Reflecting on the award, Cacchiarelli expressed both pride and gratitude, highlighting the value of the prize in recognizing young researchers:
"I am very proud to have received this award, which shines a light on young researchers. My work in recent years has focused on muscle pathophysiology, particularly on the regulation of muscle differentiation and reprogramming, both under normal conditions and in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)."

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe neuromuscular disorder that leads to the degeneration of muscle tissue, progressive loss of strength, and reduced motor abilities. Cacchiarelli added, “I thank everyone who supports and values research. Teamwork and the sharing of knowledge and insights are essential to developing new therapeutic possibilities for patients.”

Born in Rome in 1984, Cacchiarelli graduated in Biology in 2007 from La Sapienza University of Rome and earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology in 2011. After advancing his research abroad at Harvard University and the Broad Institute of MIT, he returned to Italy in 2017, joining TIGEM with the support of the Telethon Foundation and the Armenise-Harvard Foundation. His research continues to shed light on muscle biology, with a focus on pioneering insights that could pave the way for new treatments for muscular dystrophies and related disorders.