- Study of the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial functions in yeast and extension of the model to the study of human mitochondrial disorders. Expression and functional analysis in S. cerevisiae of putative pathological mutations found in patients affected by mitochondrial diseases in order to evaluate their pathogenicity. Study of the molecular consequences of mutations. -Search of molecules able to reverse or reduce phenotypic defects induced by mutations associated to pathological mutations by means of drug repositioning approaches or new drugs. Identification of the action mechanisms and of the molecular target of the selected molecules. - Toxicological, geno-toxicological and epi-genotoxicological profile of environmental contaminants, pharmacologically active molecules and foods. Study of the structure/activity relationship of newly synthesized compounds with antitumor or antibiotic activity. -Genetics and epigenetics of additive behavior. Identification, through statistical models of the Hazard Models type, of risk factors in the development of drug addiction, with particular attention to the role of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. - Investigating molecular mechanisms of chronic pain. To get new insights into pain molecular mechanisms and to identify useful biomarkers for clinical practice and future research in complex multifactorial pain conditions. - Reconstruction of the evolutionary history and population dynamics of human and non-human primates using genomic data