• Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari


Tel :+390649912825
Fax :+39064456866
rosamaria.corbo@uniroma1.it
ROSA MARIA CORBO
Associate Professor

Department of Biology and Biotecnology - Charles Darwin
Sapienza University of Rome
Istituto Genetica P.Le A.Moro 5 00185 Roma

The research activity essentially concerns the dissection of the genetic component of complex diseases. Research in this field is aimed to study particularly the role of genetic factors in the onset of Alzheimer's disease and coronary heart disease, using both family and population genetics approaches. 

 

To get an in-depth understanding of  the causes of complex diseases in the ageing population, the studies are currently being extended to candidate genes for longevity and with possible pleiotropic antagonistic effects (trade-off) on longevity and fertility.

Corbo RM, Gambina G, and Scacchi R. 2012. How contemporary human reproductive behaviors influence the role of fertility-related genes: the example of the p53 gene. PLoS One. 7(4): e35431 

 

Corbo RM, Gambina G, Broggio E, and Scacchi R. 2011. Influence of variation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene (FSHR) and age at menopause on the development of Alzheimer's disease in women. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 32: 63-69

 

Corbo RM, Ulizzi L, Positano L, and Scacchi R. 2011. Association of CYP19 and ESR1 pleiotropic genes with human longevity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 66: 51-55.

 

 Corbo RM, Ulizzi L, Piombo L, and Scacchi R. 2008. Study on a possible effect of four longevity candidate genes (ACE, PON1, PPAR-γ, and APOE) on human fertility. Biogerontology, 9: 317-323.

 

 Corbo RM, Ulizzi L, Piombo L, Martinez-Labarga C, De Stefano GF, and Scacchi  R. 2007. Estrogen receptor alpha polymorphisms and fertility in populations with different reproductive patterns. Molecular Human Reproduction, 13: 537-540.

 

Corbo RM, Gambina G, Ulizzi L, Monini P, Broggio E, Rosano A and Scacchi R. 2007. Combined effect of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and past fertility on age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease in women. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 24: 82-85.

 

Corbo R.M., Prevost M., Raussens V., Gambina G., Moretto G., and Scacchi R. 2006. Structural and phylogenetic approaches to assess the significance of human Apolipoprotein E variation. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism  89: 269-271. 

 

Corbo R.M., Scacchi R. and Cresta M. 2004. Differential reproductive efficiency associated with common apolipoprotein   E alleles in postreproductive-aged subjects. Fertility and Sterility 81: 104-107.

Corbo R.M., Ulizzi L., Scacchi R., Martínez-Labarga C., and De Stefano G.F. 2004. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and fertility: a study in pre-industrial populations. Molecular Human Reproduction, 10: 617-620.

 

Corbo, R.M. and Scacchi R. 1999.  Apolipoprotein E (APOE) allele distribution in the world. Is APOE*4  a  "thrifty" allele? Annals of Human Genetics 63:301-310.

Education

1982: Degree in Medicine, Full mark, Sapienza University of Rome.

1973: Degree in Biological Science, Full mark cum Laude, Sapienza  University of Rome.

 

 

Scientific positions and career

- Present position: Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "La Sapienza" University of Rome 

- 2003-present:  Association to the CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology

- 1981-2004: Researcher, permanent position, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology,   Sapienza  University, Rome. Group leader in population genetics and genetic epidemiology research projects.

- 1975-1981: Research fellow, Institute of Genetics,  Sapienza  University, Rome.

 

 

Academic activities

- Member of the Teaching Committees of the School of Biological Sciences and of the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, La Sapienza University.

- Coordinator of the School of Genetics and Molecular Biology, La Sapienza" University.

- Evaluator in two open calls for Researchers in Biology, Tor Vergata University, Rome. 

- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center of Evolutionary Genetics, National Research Council (1999-2002).

- Referee activities for several scientific Journals. 

 

Scientific responsibility of research grants awarded from:

- Università "La Sapienza" (1983-to date); 

- MIUR Cofin: 1997, 1999, 2003;

- CNR Committees (1993-94; 1995-97). 

Coauthor of 70 publications (Scopus) on international journals, mainly in the field of genetic epidemiology, evolutionary medicine, genetics of human populations.

 

Scientific societies 

-   European Society of Human Genetics, member

-   National Center for Studies of Gender Medicine and Heath, member