Dr Salvatore Ferla

Research Highlights

1. Oliva, P., Romagnoli, R., Manfredini, S., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Maccarinelli, F., Giacomini, A., Rruga, F., Mariotto, E., Viola, G., & Bortolozzi, R. (2020). Design, synthesis, in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of 2-amino-3-aroylbenzo[b]furan derivatives as highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 200, 112448

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112448, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55226

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/131812/
2. Zhao, F., Masci, D., Ferla, S., Varricchio, C., Brancale, A., Colonna, S., Black, G., Turner, N., & Castagnolo, D. (2020). Monoamine Oxidase (MAO-N) Biocatalyzed Synthesis of Indoles from Indolines Prepared via Photocatalytic Cyclization/Arylative Dearomatization. ACS Catalysis, 10(11), 6414-6421.

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c01351, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55225

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/133403/
3. Manganaro, R., Zonsics, B., Bauer, L., Lopez, M., Donselaar, T., Zwaagstra, M., Saporito, F., Ferla, S., Strating, J., Coutard, B., Hurdiss, D., Kuppeveld, F., & Brancale, A. (2020). Synthesis and antiviral effect of novel fluoxetine analogues as enterovirus 2C inhibitors. Antiviral Research, 178, 104781

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104781, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55229

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/130902/
4. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Salvador, M., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Viola, G., Bortolozzi, R., Persoons, L., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., & Schols, D. (2020). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-alkoxycarbonyl-3-anilinoindoles as a new class of potent inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. Bioorganic Chemistry, 97, 103665

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103665, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54944
5. Romagnoli, R., Oliva, P., Salvador, M., Camacho, M., Padroni, C., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Grillo, E., Bortolozzi, R., Rruga, F., Mariotto, E., & Viola, G. (2019). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel vicinal diaryl-substituted 1H-Pyrazole analogues of combretastatin A-4 as highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 181, 111577

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111577, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55235
6. Padalino, G., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Chalmers, I., & Hoffmann, K. (2019). Erratum to ‘Combining bioinformatics, cheminformatics, functional genomics and whole organism approaches for identifying epigenetic drug targets in Schistosoma mansoni’ [IJP Drugs Drug Resist. 8 (2018) 559–570]. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 10, 91

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.07.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55464

   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.07.001
7. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Baraldi, P., Ortega, S., Chayah, M., Salvador, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Mattiuzzo, E., & Viola, G. (2019). Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 6-Substituted Thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine Analogues as Dual Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Kinase and Microtubule Inhibitors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 62(3), 1274-1290.

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01391, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55238

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/120345/
8. Padalino, G., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Chalmers, I., & Hoffmann, K. (2018). Combining bioinformatics, cheminformatics, functional genomics and whole organism approaches for identifying epigenetic drug targets in Schistosoma mansoni. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 8(3), 559-570.

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.005, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55465

   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.005
9. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Baraldi, P., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Bortolozzi, R., & Viola, G. (2018). 3-Aryl/Heteroaryl-5-amino-1-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1,2,4-triazoles as antimicrotubule agents. Design, synthesis, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Bioorganic Chemistry, 80, 361-374.

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2018.06.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55466

   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2018.06.037
10. Yarova, P., Schepelmann, M., Ferla, S., Huang, P., Telezhkin, V., Kidd, E., Ford, W., Broadley, K., Ward, J., Corrigan, C., Kemp, P., Brancale, A., & Riccardi, D. (2018). Development of a new calcilytic for the treatment of inflammatory lung disease. In Airway pharmacology and treatmentEuropean Respiratory Society.

    https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.pa1060, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55467

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.pa1060
11. Bauer, L., Ferla, S., Head, S., Bhat, S., Pasunooti, K., Shi, W., Albulescu, L., Liu, J., Brancale, A., Kuppeveld, F., & Strating, J. (2018). Structure-activity relationship study of itraconazole, a broad-range inhibitor of picornavirus replication that targets oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP). Antiviral Research, 156, 55-63.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.05.010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55468

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.05.010
12. Ferla, S., Netzler, N., Ferla, S., Veronese, S., Tuipulotu, D., Guccione, S., Brancale, A., White, P., & Bassetto, M. (2018). In silico screening for human norovirus antivirals reveals a novel non-nucleoside inhibitor of the viral polymerase. Scientific Reports, 8(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22303-y, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52215
13. Slusarczyk, M., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2018). Synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-substituted-5-fluorouridine ProTides. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 26(3), 551-565.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2017.11.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55469

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2017.11.037
14. Płaszczyca, A., Scaturro, P., Neufeldt, C., Cortese, M., Cerikan, B., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Pichlmair, A., & Bartenschlager, R. (2019). A novel interaction between dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 and the NS4A-2K-4B precursor is required for viral RNA replication but not for formation of the membranous replication organelle. PLOS Pathogens, 15(5), e1007736

    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007736, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55237
15. Whatley, K., Padalino, G., Whiteland, H., Geyer, K., Hulme, B., Chalmers, I., Forde-Thomas, J., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., & Hoffmann, K. (2019). The repositioning of epigenetic probes/inhibitors identifies new anti-schistosomal lead compounds and chemotherapeutic targets. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13(11), e0007693

    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007693, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55234
16. Albulescu, I., White-Scholten, L., Tas, A., Hoornweg, T., Ferla, S., Kovacikova, K., Smit, J., Brancale, A., Snijder, E., & Hemert, M. (2020). Suramin Inhibits Chikungunya Virus Replication by Interacting with Virions and Blocking the Early Steps of Infection. Viruses, 12(3), 314

    https://doi.org/10.3390/v12030314, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55231
17. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Cacciari, B., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., Hamel, E., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Manfredini, S., Zurlo, M., Finotti, A., & Gambari, R. (2020). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Antitubulin Agents Containing 2-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyanilino)-3,6-disubstituted-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]pyridine Scaffold. Molecules, 25(7), 1690

    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25071690, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55228
18. Oliva, P., Onnis, V., Balboni, E., Hamel, E., Estévez-Sarmiento, F., Quintana, J., Estévez, F., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Manfredini, S., & Romagnoli, R. (2020). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Substituted Benzyl-/Phenylethylamino-4-amino-5-aroylthiazoles as Apoptosis-Inducing Anticancer Agents. Molecules, 25(9), 2177

    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092177, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55227
19. Ferrara, M., Sessa, G., Fiore, M., Bernard, F., Asteriti, I., Cundari, E., Colotti, G., Ferla, S., Desideri, M., Buglioni, S., Trisciuoglio, D., Bufalo, D., Brancale, A., & Degrassi, F. (2018). Small molecules targeted to the microtubule–Hec1 interaction inhibit cancer cell growth through microtubule stabilization. Oncogene, 37(2), 231-240.

    https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2017.320, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55488

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/onc.2017.320
20. Romagnoli, R., Salvador, M., Ortega, S., Baraldi, P., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., Mattiuzzo, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2018). 2-Alkoxycarbonyl-3-arylamino-5-substituted thiophenes as a novel class of antimicrotubule agents: Design, synthesis, cell growth and tubulin polymerization inhibition. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 143, 683-698.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.096, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55477

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.096
21. Lauder, S., Allen-Redpath, K., Slatter, D., Aldrovandi, M., O’Connor, A., Farewell, D., Percy, C., Molhoek, J., Rannikko, S., Tyrrell, V., Ferla, S., Milne, G., Poole, A., Thomas, C., Obaji, S., Taylor, P., Jones, S., Groot, P., Urbanus, R...., & O’Donnell, V. (2017). Networks of enzymatically oxidized membrane lipids support calcium-dependent coagulation factor binding to maintain hemostasis. Science Signaling, 10(507), eaan2787

    https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aan2787, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55491

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aan2787
22. Romagnoli, R., Baraldi, P., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Salvador, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Porcù, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2017). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Methyl-4,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles as a Novel Class of Highly Potent Antitubulin Agents. Scientific Reports, 7(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/srep46356, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55492

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep46356
23. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Giancotti, G., Pertusati, F., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2017). Rational design and synthesis of novel phenylsulfonyl-benzamides as anti-prostate cancer agents. MedChemComm, 8(7), 1414-1420.

    https://doi.org/10.1039/C7MD00164A, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52212
24. Brancale, A., Shailubhai, K., Ferla, S., Ricci, A., Bassetto, M., & Jacob, G. (2017). Therapeutically targeting guanylate cyclase-C: computational modeling of plecanatide, a uroguanylin analog. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 5(2), e00295

    https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.295, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52211
25. Scuotto, M., Abdelnabi, R., Collarile, S., Schiraldi, C., Delang, L., Massa, A., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Leyssen, P., Neyts, J., & Filosa, R. (2017). Discovery of novel multi-target indole-based derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of chikungunya virus replication. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 25(1), 327-337.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2016.10.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55490

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2016.10.037
26. Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Pertusati, F., Kandil, S., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2016). Design and synthesis of novel bicalutamide and enzalutamide derivatives as antiproliferative agents for the treatment of prostate cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 118, 230-243.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.04.052, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52205
27. Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Pertusati, F., Kandil, S., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2016). Rational design and synthesis of novel anti-prostate cancer agents bearing a 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl moiety. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 26(15), 3636-3640.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.06.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54208

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/91515/
28. Romagnoli, R., Baraldi, P., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Tabrizi, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2016). Design and Synthesis of Potent in Vitro and in Vivo Anticancer Agents Based on 1-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxyphenyl)-2-Aryl-1H-Imidazole. Scientific Reports, 6(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26602, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55498

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep26602
29. Brancale, A., Shailubhai, K., Ferla, S., Ricci, A., Bassetto, M., & Jacob, G. (2016). Mo1316 Structural and Dynamic Features of Plecanatide: Insights From Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Gastroenterology, 150(4), S695

    https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(16)32373-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55497

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(16)32373-3
30. Ferla, S. (2016). Novel symmetrical phenylenediamines as potential anti-hepatitis C virus agents..

    SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55499
31. Grande, F., Parisi, O., Mordocco, R., Rocca, C., Puoci, F., Scrivano, L., Quintieri, A., Cantafio, P., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Saturnino, C., Cerra, M., Sinicropi, M., & Angelone, T. (2016). Quercetin derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents: Synthesis and physiological characterization. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 82, 161-170.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2015.11.021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55496

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2015.11.021
32. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Leyssen, P., Neyts, J., Yerukhimovich, M., Frick, D., O’Donnell, R., & Brancale, A. (2015). Novel symmetrical phenylenediamines as potential anti-hepatitis C virus agents. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 24(5-6), 155-160.

    https://doi.org/10.1177/2040206616676353, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52208
33. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., & Pertusati, F. (2015). Polyfluorinated groups in medicinal chemistry. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 7(4), 527-546.

    https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.15.5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52202
34. Ferla, S., Gomaa, M., Brancale, A., Zhu, J., Ochalek, J., DeLuca, H., & Simons, C. (2014). Novel styryl-indoles as small molecule inhibitors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1): Synthesis and biological evaluation. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 87, 39-51.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.09.035, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55495

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.09.035
35. Ferla, S., Aboraia, A., Brancale, A., Pepper, C., Zhu, J., Ochalek, J., DeLuca, H., & Simons, C. (2014). Small-Molecule Inhibitors of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D-24-Hydroxylase (CYP24A1): Synthesis and Biological Evaluation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57(18), 7702-7715.

    https://doi.org/10.1021/jm5009314, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55494

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm5009314
36. Ferla, S. (2013). Small molecule inhibitors of CYP24A1 for treatment of various cancers.

    SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55493
37. Pertusati, F., Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Brancale, A., Khandil, S., Westwell, A., & McGuigan, C. (2019). A new series of bicalutamide, enzalutamide and enobosarm derivatives carrying pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) and pentafluoroethyl (C2F5) substituents: Improved antiproliferative agents against prostate cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 180, 1-14.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52218

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/124785/
38. Giancotti, G., Rigo, I., Pasqualetto, G., Young, M., Neyts, J., Rocha-Pereira, J., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (2019). A new antiviral scaffold for human norovirus identified with computer-aided approaches on the viral polymerase. Scientific Reports, 9(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54903-7, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52974
39. Pasqualetto, G., Schepelmann, M., Varricchio, C., Pileggi, E., Khogali, C., Morgan, S., Boostrom, I., Rozanowska, M., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (n.d.) Computational Studies towards the Identification of Novel Rhodopsin-Binding Compounds as Chemical Chaperones for Misfolded Opsins. Molecules, 25(21), 4904

    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25214904, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55537

    http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules25214904

All Research

• PM-344 Capstone Project

  The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to medical science. It will ask a novel research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through creating an introductory presentation on the project background, and a written dissertation and oral presentation on their research conclusions.

• Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel CD200, PD-1 and CTLA-4 small-molecule inhibitors as potential cancer treatment 2019 - 2022

  Cancer Research Wales for support of projects in cancer research-PhD studentship, with Professor A. Brancale (Cardiff University) Dr G. Patel (Cardiff University), £100,000

• Sêr Cymru Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  June 2018 - July 2020

• Research Associate, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  June 2017 - June 2018

• Research Associate, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  January 2015 - May 2017

• Research Assistant, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  September 2013 - December 2014

• PhD student, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  October 2009 - September 2013

• Co-supervisor of pharmaceutical production, CHIESI Farmaceutici S.P.A. Parma, Italy

  October 2008 - April 2009