Alessandra RUSSO

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of birth: June 3, 1964

Place of birth: Catania

EDUCATIONAL COURSE, QUALIFICATIONS, AND ACADEMIC POSITION

Doctor of Pharmacy (April 9, 1990) with a grade of 110/110 cum laude. Licensed to practice as a pharmacist and registered with the Order of Pharmacists of the Province of Catania (1990). PhD in Pathophysiology of the Peripheral Nervous System (6th Cycle) (October 23, 1995). 1995-1998: Volunteer Researcher, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Catania. 1999-2005: Researcher for the BIO/15 scientific-disciplinary group (Pharmaceutical Biology), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania. 2005–2015: Associate Professor, competitive sector 05/G1-Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, scientific-disciplinary group BIO/15 (Pharmaceutical Biology), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania. January 1, 2016–present: Associate Professor, competitive sector 05/G1-Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, scientific-disciplinary group BIO/14-Pharmacology (pursuant to art. 2, paragraph 3 of Ministerial Decree 855/2015), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Catania.

February 6, 2014: National Scientific Qualification (ASN 2012) as Full Professor, competitive sector 05/G1 - Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology, and Pharmacognosy.

• Academic Year 2008/2009: Chair of the Degree Program in Herbal Sciences (Ministerial Decree 509)

• Academic Year 2010/2011-2012/2013: Chair of the Degree Program in Herbal Sciences and Nutraceutical Products (Ministerial Decree 270)

• Academic Year 2013/2014-2015/16: Chair of the Degree Program in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ministerial Decree 730).

2012/2013-2018/2019: Member of the Joint Faculty-Student Committee, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

• Academic Year 2000/2001: Professor of Plant Biochemistry, University Diploma Course in "Herbal Techniques" (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2001/2002-Academic Year 2009/2010: Professor of Pharmacognostic Assays and Dosages, Degree Course in "Herbal Sciences" (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2005/2006 – 2013/14: Lecturer in Pharmacognosy II, Degree Program in "Herbal Sciences and Nutraceutical Products" (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2006/2007 – 2012/2013: Lecturer in Pharmacognosy, Master's Degree Program in "Pharmacy" (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2006/2007 – 2012/2013: Lecturer in Pharmacognosy I, Degree Program in "Herbal Sciences and Nutraceutical Products" (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2013/2014 - present: Professor of Pharmacognosy with Elements of Pharmaceutical Botany, Master's Degree in Pharmacy (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2013/2014 – 2015/16: Professor of Animal and Plant Biology, Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2014/2015 - present: Professor of Pharmacognosy and Nutraceuticals, Master's Degree in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences, Curriculum in Herbal and Nutraceutical Sciences (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania).

• Academic Year 2002/2003: Lecturer for the 6th Advanced Course in Medicinal Plants (Federico II University of Naples).

• 2002/2003: Lecturer for the MOVAIMA Master's Program (Monitoring and Evaluation of Environmental Impact in Agri-food Companies).

• 2012/2013: Lecturer for the 2nd Level Master's Program in Plant Products for Human Health: Production and Quality Control of Phytotherapeutic, Phytocosmetic, Phyto-Homeopathic, and Dietetic-Nutritional Products.

PHD.
• 2002-2009: Member of the Teaching Board of the Doctorate in Biochemical and Biomolecular Sciences (University of Catania).
• 2010-2012: Member of the Teaching Board of the International Doctorate in Neuropharmacology
(University of Catania).
• 2013-2022: Member of the Teaching Board of the International Doctorate in Neuroscience (University of Catania).

MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

Full member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF), Full member of the Italian Society of Pharmacognosy (SIPHAR), the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), and the Italian-Latin American Society of Ethnomedicine (SILAE).

ACTIVITIES IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

June 4, 2018-December 31, 2024: National President of the Italian Society of Pharmacognosy (SIPHAR).

2007-present: Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Pharmacognosy (SIPHAR).

2012- 2025: Member of the Pharmacognosy, Phytotherapy and Nutraceuticals Working Group

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Professor Alessandra Russo's research activity is documented by 103 articles published in international journals (H-index: 44 (Scopus)) and 118 communications at national and international conferences.

Last updated: 7/9/2026