Riccardo Zucchi

Riccardo Zucchi Overview

Riccardo Zucchi, rector of the University of Pisa, was born on December 31, 1957, in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (Lucca). His educational journey led him to the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, where he earned his medical degree from the University of Pisa in 1982. Progressing further, he obtained a PhD from the Scuola Sant’Anna in 1985, specializing in Cardiology. In 1984, he enriched his knowledge as an International Research Fellow at London's Rayne Institute of St. Thomas Hospital.

Professor Zucchi's academic path took root in 1989 when he became a research fellow at the Scuola Sant’Anna. His dedication led him to be appointed an associate professor in 2000 and a full professor in Biochemistry within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, later contributing his expertise to the Department of Pathology at the University of Pisa.

His contributions extended to various roles within the University of Pisa. From 2004, he served on the scientific committee of the biological area. He assumed the role of Deputy Head of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery from 2005 to 2006, followed by the position of Director of the Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery from 2006 to 2014. His commitment propelled him to roles such as a member of the Academic Senate (2012-2015), Head of the Department of Pathology (2015-2019), and President of the School of Medicine (2019-2022). Professor Riccardo Zucchi has once again assumed the esteemed position of Rector at the University of Pisa. With this, he continues to steer the university towards its goals for the term 2022-2026.

Professor Zucchi's influence was felt not only in administrative roles but also in his dedication to teaching. He consistently imparted knowledge in Biochemistry to students pursuing degrees in Medicine and Surgery. His expertise extended to teaching Chemistry and Biochemistry across various medical programs, including Biomedical Engineering, as well as postgraduate schools.

His research pursuits spanned diverse areas, from energy and purine metabolism in the myocardium to the study of cardiac purinergic receptors and the roles of adenosine in physiology and pathology. He explored topics such as calcium homeostasis, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium channels, trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), and the discovery of 3-iodothyronamine as a new chemical messenger. His influence also extended to developing and characterizing thyroid hormone analogs.

Engaged in the scientific community, Professor Zucchi was affiliated with multiple scientific societies. He spearheaded research projects supported by the Ministry of University, the University of Pisa, and private institutions. His expertise was sought as a reviewer for various scientific journals and by esteemed institutions such as MIUR, NSF (National Science Foundation - USA), and DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinshaft – Germany).

His scholarly achievements culminated in over 180 publications in esteemed international scientific journals, complemented by numerous book chapters and two patents. With over 5.000 citations and an H-index of 35 (up to 2022), his impact on the academic realm is indelible.