History
«Dario DiFrancesco has unravelled the role of ion channels in cardiac rhythm. He identified the mixed cation channel, If, the ´funny´ current, in cardiac Purkinje fibres and in the sinus node. He demonstrated its permeability and gating and recorded single channel properties, a major achievement on the smallest conductance channel known. He made important contributions to the molecular biological characterisation of the channel proteins responsible for If and characterised their biochemical and pharmacological regulations. These experiments have been complemented by mathematical and modelling analyses demonstrating the role of If in pacemaker rhythm. Recently, a selective blocker of this current has been developed (Ivabradine, Servier) which is proving highly efficacious in the treatment of ischemic heart disease by reducing cardiac frequency (and hence metabolic demand). DiFrancesco´s work is an exemplary case of development all the way from molecular mechanisms, through integrative reconstruction, to clinical use of a completely new therapeutic agent.»
"Denis Noble"
Scientific symposium to honour the career of Professor Dario DiFrancesco
A FUNNY JOURNEY ON THE WAVES OF THE HEART
Università degli Studi di Milano, Sala Napoleonica, 21st June 2019
Special Issue of PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY dedicated to DARIO DIFRANCESCO and the FUNNY CURRENT
1979-2019: A ‘FUNNY’ JOURNEY LASTING 40 YEARS, THE MULTIPLE ROLES OF F/HCN CHANNELS
Interviews
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- Lezioni di Fisiologia - Prof. Dario DiFrancesco: Generazione e controllo del ritmo cardiaco
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- History - Dario DiFrancesco and the funny channel
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- Director of Voices from Oxford, Dr Sung Hee Kim talks with Prof Dario DiFrancesco at the IUPS held in Birmingham in 2013.
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- President of the IUPS, Prof Denis Noble interviews Prof Dario DiFrancesco, University of Milan at the IUPS held in Birmingham in 2013.
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- Salute - Luigi Ripamonte interviews Prof. Dario DiFrancesco
Other Videos
[Cardiopatia ischemica / Corlentor]
Prof. Dario DiFrancesco - TABLEAU
Dr. Ferrari talk, BEAUTIFUL symposium
SERVIER International Partners
Medline.TV – Prof. Dario DiFrancesco, 01.03.2016
Press
Tempo Medicina 16-06-2008
Medical Tribune (Article Turkey) 2008
Corriere della Sera - Salute 20-06-2008
Le scienze - September 2008
Les Echos - September 2, 2008
Articles
Grand Prix Scientifique 2008
En 2008, la Fondation Lefoulon-Delalande-Institut de France a remis un prix de 500 000 euros au professeur Dario DiFrancesco, du Département des Sciences Biomoléculaires et de Biotechnologie (Laboratoire de Physiologie Moléculaire et Neurobiologie) de l’Université de Milan, pour ses travaux de recherches qui ont conduit à la découverte des canaux ioniques, impliqués dans la régulation du rythme cardiaque.
Innovàtion and Servier
Institute de France
Web press
30.04.2008 APCOM
05.05.2008 Corriere della Sera
05.05.2008 Cybermed
05.05.2008 Le Scienze Web News
06.05.2008 Bollettino Università & Ricerca
06.05.2008 Matteo Colaninno
06.05.2008 Pagine Mediche