Prof. Giuseppe Caruso is a translational researcher and professor of neuropharmacology with expertise in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. His work bridges mechanistic research and clinically oriented applications, in line with translational medicine objectives. He has developed recognized expertise on the endogenous dipeptide carnosine as a multimodal therapeutic molecule, also investigating its metabolism and related disorders such as carnosinemia. His studies have proved antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aggregative, and metabolic regulatory effects of carnosine in cellular, animal, and translational models of Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. His scientific development was strengthened by extended research experience in the United States, where he gained expertise in microfluidics, analytical chemistry, and advanced experimental platforms. As Principal Investigator of an American Heart Association grant on carnosine and macrophage-derived RNOS regulation, he has led funded research activities, identified novel mechanisms of action, and established strong national and international collaborations. Department of Medicine UniCamillus – International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy; Head of Research Unit of Biology and Preclinical Research, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy and Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA. https://carusogiuseppe.net.

giuseppe.caruso@unicamillus.org

Prof. Caruso presentation “Unveiling the hidden therapeutic potential of carnosine, a molecule with a multimodal mechanism of action” takes place on September 22 at 15:30

Prof. Wim Derave is an internationally recognized expert in carnosine biology and muscle metabolism. His research has been pivotal in elucidating the role of carnosine as an intramuscular pH buffer and its impact on high-intensity exercise performance. He is particularly known for his pioneering work on β-alanine supplementation as a strategy to increase muscle carnosine levels, translating molecular insights into practical applications for sport and health. Through advanced imaging and biochemical approaches, his studies have deepened understanding of carnosine distribution across muscle fiber types and its physiological functions in human skeletal muscle. Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

wim.derave@ugent.be

Prof. Derave presentation “Profiling and physiological role of carnosine analogs in mammalian skeletal muscle and the potential of their exogenous supplementation in humans” takes place on September 23 at 15:00

Prof. Craig Sale is a leading authority in muscle carnosine and β-alanine supplementation research. His work has been instrumental in demonstrating how chronic β-alanine intake elevates intramuscular carnosine levels and enhances high-intensity exercise performance. Through rigorous human intervention studies and meta-analyses, he has helped establish evidence-based dosing strategies and clarified the ergogenic mechanisms of carnosine, particularly its role in intracellular pH buffering and fatigue resistance. His research bridges fundamental muscle biochemistry with applied sports performance and nutrition. Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, 99 Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.

c.sale@mmu.sc.uk

Barbora de Courten OAM is a Distinguished Professor at RMIT University, an Adjunct Professor at Monash University and the University of Queensland, and a Specialist Physician at Monash Health. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology, a Master of Public Health, and advanced clinical trials training from the National Institutes of Health (US). Her vision is to develop innovative, safe, and scalable strategies for chronic disease prevention and management. Her research spans the full translational continuum — from human mechanistic studies and clinical trials through to public health interventions — with particular expertise in lifestyle interventions and food supplements. Barbora’s carnosine research has been highly influential in establishing its anti-glycation, antioxidative, and carbonyl-scavenging properties in humans, with significant implications for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Through mechanistic, translational, and clinical studies, her work has advanced understanding of how carnosine may protect against metabolic dysfunction and tissue damage — extending its relevance well beyond exercise performance into chronic disease prevention and therapeutic applications. Barbora’s contributions to medical research and healthcare were recognised with the Order of Australia Medal in 2024. That same year, the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine awarded her an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her standing in the field of Lifestyle Medicine. Health & Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

barbora.decourten@rmit.edu.au

Prof. De Courten presentation “Effects of carnosine on cardiometabolic health in humans” takes place on September 24 at 12:00

Prof. Shahid P. Baba is an Associate Professor of Medicine. The focus of its laboratory is to understand the mechanisms that regulate cardiac and skeletal muscle function under physiological and pathological conditions and translate the findings in population suffering from cardiovascular diseases. During heart failure there is excessive generation of toxic lipid peroxidation products, and a shift in glucose utilization in the heart and skeletal muscle. The toxic aldehydes react with proteins forming damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) and trigger inflammation. Their goal is to identify DAMPs, their contribution in inciting inflammation and diminish their toxicity. In the heart and skeletal muscle there are present histidyl dipeptides, such as carnosine and anserine, synthesized via the enzyme carnosine synthase (CARNS, encoded by Carns) that exhibit multiple properties, such as scavenging reactive aldehydes, binding with ADAMPs and pH buffering. Leveraging from these multiple abilities and altering the levels of histidyl dipeptides in the heart and skeletal muscle, they are studying how these dipeptides influence the immunogenicity of DAMPs and skeletal muscle metabolism during heart failure. Previously they showed supplementation of carnosine improves blood flow in the ischemic limb and removes toxic aldehydes from humans. Currently we are performing a NIH funded phase II clinical trial to examine the effect of carnosine on the walking ability of peripheral arterial disease patients. University of Louisville, Medicine, Louisville, KY (USA).

shahid.baba@louisville.edu

Prof. Baba presentation “Impact of carnosine-mediated antigen silencing on inflammation in heart failure” takes place on September 22 at 17:00

Prof. Guilherme Giannini Artioli is a leading researcher in Nutritional and Exercise Biology, with particular expertise in histidine-containing dipeptides, especially carnosine. His work has substantially advanced understanding of the biological effects of nutrients and bioactive food compounds on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Through mechanistic investigations and human intervention studies, he has contributed to elucidating how dietary compounds and physical exercise, both acute and chronic, modulate cellular function and physiological adaptation. A central focus of his research is the interaction between nutrients and exercise, aiming to clarify how targeted nutritional strategies can optimize exercise-induced adaptations and promote health and performance. His work bridges fundamental molecular and cellular biology with applied exercise physiology and nutritional science. Laboratory of Nutritional & Exercise Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil).

artioli@usp.br

Prof. Artioli presentation “Carnosine as a vasodilatory agent and its use as an acute supplement to improve exercise performance” takes place on September 23 at 14:30

• Giuseppe Caruso (Leading organizer; UniCamillus)
• Barbara Tavazzi (UniCamillus)
• Francesca Klinger (UniCamillus)
• Matteo Guzzini (UniCamillus)
• Stefano Palermi (UniCamillus)
• Giacomo Lazzarino (UniCamillus)
• Lucia Buccarello (UniCamillus)
• Sabina Di Matteo (UniCamillus)
• Renata Mangione (UniCamillus)
• Alessio Ardizzone (UniCamillus)
• Giuseppe Caruso (Pharma R&D – Life Sciences Consultant)
• Giuseppe Carota (University of Catania)
• Lucia Di Pietro (University of Catania)
• Vincenzo Cardaci (CRA Mirabilis)