A Special Issue Celebrating the 75th Birthday of Professor Massimo Stefani
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025
Special Issue Editors
Interests: amyloid aggregation; autophagy; natural polyphenols; neurodegenerative diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: amyloid; cytotoxicity; inflammation; polyphenols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleague,
As we celebrate the 75th birthday of Professor Stefani Massimo, we reflect with admiration on a distinguished career that spans over four decades of ground-breaking contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology. Born in Pisa on July 31, 1950, Professor Massimo graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Florence, where he began his academic career in 1981 as a researcher. After a brief tenure as Full Professor at the University of Siena, he returned to Florence in 1993, where he has since served as Full Professor of Biochemistry—first in the Department of Biochemical Sciences and later in the Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences.
Professor Massimo is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation, particularly in the context of amyloid diseases. His research has illuminated the toxic mechanisms of protein aggregates and explored protective strategies involving natural compounds such as oleuropein aglycone. His scientific contributions are reflected in over 186 peer-reviewed publications, with approximately 15,780 citations and an H-index of 58, underscoring the global impact of his work. He holds three patents related to therapeutic approaches for type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and has led or participated in numerous national and international research projects funded by CNR, MIUR, and the EU. His collaborations span prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, CNRS Paris, and several Italian universities. Professor Massimo has also been a dedicated scientific leader and mentor. He served as
Director of the Italian Research Center on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN) and has served on numerous editorial boards, including for Current Proteomics, Genes and Diseases, and the World Journal of Biological Chemistry. He has evaluated research for major institutions worldwide and chaired the Italian National Scientific Commission for Biochemistry (ASN, 2014–15). A passionate promoter of scientific dialog, he has organized and participated in numerous international conferences and symposia. He is also a committed member of scientific societies such as the Protein Society, the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the ASBMB. Over the past four decades, Professor Stefani’s scientific interests have evolved from enzyme biochemistry to the molecular mechanisms of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation, particularly in relation to amyloid diseases. His work has provided deep insights into the cytotoxicity of protein aggregates and opened new avenues for therapeutic intervention. More recently, his research has focused on the molecular and cellular basis of the protective effects of natural polyphenols, especially oleuropein aglycone, in preventing and counteracting neurodegenerative disorders. This shift highlights his forward-looking commitment to integrating biochemical research with nutraceutical and preventive health strategies. In celebration of his 75th birthday and in recognition of his significant contributions to this field, it is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for a Special Issue honoring Prof. Massimo Stefani.
This Issue will focus on the healthy activity of natural polyphenols, with particular attention to their role in preventing neurodegenerative disorders. Contributions should enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which natural products exert their protective effects, reflecting the scientific vision and impact of Professor Stefani's work. Both manuscripts on original work and review articles are welcome.
Dr. Manuela Leri
Dr. Monica Bucciantini
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- protein aggregates
- natural compounds
- enzyme biochemistry
- protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation
- amyloid diseases
- natural polyphenols
- neurodegenerative disorders
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