Metabolic Signalling Research for a Healthier Future
The Metabolic Signalling Lab, led by internationally renowned researcher Professor Marco Falasca, is dedicated to advancing our understanding of cancer biology, metabolic disorders, and innovative therapeutic strategies. Based at the University of Parma, our work bridges molecular research and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of developing treatments that save and improve lives.
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Featured Research Highlights:
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Hormones & Diabesity: Investigating gastrointestinal hormones for better diabesity management
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Exosome Biomarkers: Developing non-invasive methods for early cancer detection.
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Pancreatic Cancer: Uncovering molecular targets to combat one of the most lethal cancers.
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Cannabinoids in Medicine: Exploring novel therapeutic potential for cancer and metabolic diseases.
Professor
Marco Falasca
Professor Marco Falasca is an internationally recognised scientist with over three decades of research experience in cancer biology and metabolic diseases.
His career includes leadership and research positions at:
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New York University
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University College London
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Queen Mary University of London
Currently based at the University of Parma, Professor Falasca has been at the forefront of:
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Discovering new therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
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Developing cannabinoid-based treatments for cancer and metabolic diseases.
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Investigating the role of gastrointestinal hormones in type 2 diabesity.
His work is supported by major research grants and is carried out in collaboration with international research teams, industry partners, and patient foundations.
News
Our study entitled "Oncogenic proteome of pancreatic cancer extracellular vesicles: sodium/myo-inositol cotransporter as a potential marker", published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (STTT), an international scientific journal from the Nature Publishing Group, identified a new protein, SLC5A3 (also known as SMIT1), as a potential marker for pancreatic cancer.
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Overall, our study highlights that cannabinoids can induce significant alterations in the gut microbiota-BA axis in KPC models. The CBD-driven changes in BA metabolism and gut microbiota composition were associated with improved survival, underscoring their functional relevance. Importantly, our findings support the use of the BA–microbiota axis as a dynamic biomarker of therapeutic response to CBD in PDAC, offering a novel avenue for both mechanistic understanding and clinical monitoring.
A new Special Issue of EVCNA, guest-edited by Prof. Marco Falasca, will spotlight the roles of extracellular vesicles in cancer metabolism and tumor microenvironment crosstalk. Submissions (articles, reviews, methods) are invited to illuminate EV-mediated communication, biomarker potential, and therapeutic targeting—deadline: 30 September 2025.