Riccardo Polosa

Professor of INTERNAL MEDICINE [MED/09]
Office: AOU 'Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele' - via S. Sofia, 78 - Ed. 4, p. 2, stanza 78
Email: polosa@unict.it
Phone: +39.095.378.1566/1583
Fax: +39.095.378.1567
www.facebook.com/Riccardo-Polosa-1464081913848672/home
@RiccardoPolosa
rpolosa
Office Hours: su appuntamento [polosa@unict.it]


Full Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Catania with specialist role as a Respiratory Physician, Clinical Immunologist, Allergist and Rheumatologist. He is Director of the Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine at the main teaching hospital of the University of Catania where he coordinates a large staff of senior physicians, young residents, nurses and administrative clerks. He is also the Director of the School of Specialization in Rheumatology and the Founder and Director of the Center for Tobacco Research at the same University, where contracted research staff conducts high profile clinical and behavioural research.

The focus of his academic research has been historically centered upon the investigation of mechanisms of inflammation, biomarkers of disease activity, and novel drug target discovery in the area of respiratory medicine (asthma, COPD, rhinitis) and clinical immunology (allergic and autoimmune diseases). This has culminated with the participation of his research group in large EU funded pan-european research consortia (Unbiased BIOmarkers for the PREDiction of Respiratory Disease Outcome -U-BIOPRED; Airway Disease Predicting Outcomes through Patient Specific Computational Modelling – AIRPROM; Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialists Network – IRIS). Nonetheless, over the last 10 years, his main research interest has progressively shifted in the area of tobacco-related diseases, smoking prevention and cessation, tobacco harm reduction and e-vapour products. More specifically, he has been involved in the behavioural, clinical, physiological and toxicological evaluation of e-cigarettes for over 6 years. PI of the first RCT in the world about effectiveness and tolerability of e-cigarettes (the ECLAT study), he is the most prolific author in the field of e-cigarettes, according to a recent bibliometric research (H. Zyoud et al., BMC Public Health 2014, 14:667), He designed and conducted dozens of research studies, working with smoking cessation specialists, clinical psychologists, experienced vapers, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, chemists, toxicologists, and biologists from all over the world.

He published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, of which about 250 are full articles that appeared in scientific journals with large international dissemination (his Impact Factor is equal to 641.7, while Citation Index is equal to 6056, and the H index is equal to 40, according to Web of Science). 

1. Campagna D, Cibella F, Caponnetto P, Amaradio MD, Caruso M, Morjaria JB, Malerba M, Polosa R. Changes in breathomics from a 1-year randomized smoking cessation trial of electronic cigarettes. Eur J Clin Invest. 2016 Jun 20.

2. Nutt DJ, Phillips LD, Balfour D, Curran HV, Dockrell M, Foulds J, Fagerstrom K, Letla-pe K, Polosa R, Ramsey J, Sweanor D. E-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking. Lancet. 2016 Mar 19;387(10024):1160-2. 

3. Polosa R, Morjaria JB, Caponnetto P, Caruso M, Campagna D, Amaradio MD, Ciampi G, Russo C, Fisichella A. Persisting long term benefits of smoking abstinence and reduction in asthmatic smokers who have switched to electronic cigarettes. Discov Med. 2016 Feb;21(114):99-108. 

4. Polosa R, Caruso M, Guarino F. Comments on Scheffler et al. Cytotoxic Evaluation of E-Liquid Aerosol using Different Lung Derived Cell Models. Int. J.  Environ. Res. Public Health, 2015, 12, 12466-12474. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Jan 6;13(1). 

5. Farsalinos K, Cibella F, Caponnetto P, Campagna D, Morjaria JB, Battaglia E, Caruso M, Russo C, Polosa R. Effect of continuous smoking reduction and abstinence on blood pres-sure and heart rate in smokers switching to electronic cigarettes. Intern Emerg Med. 2016 Feb;11(1):85-94. 

6. Russo C, Cibella F, Caponnetto P, Campagna D, Maglia M, Frazzetto E, Mondati E, Ca-ruso M, Polosa R. Evaluation of Post Cessation Weight Gain in a 1-Year Randomized Smoking Cessation Trial of Electronic Cigarettes. Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 5;6:18763. 

7. Polosa R, Campagna D, Caponnetto P. What to advise to respiratory patients intending to use electronic cigarettes. Discov Med. 2015 Sep;20(109):155-61. 

8. Polosa R, Campagna D, Sands MF. Counseling patients with asthma and allergy about e-lectronic cigarettes: an evidence-based approach. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016 Feb;116(2):106-11. 

9. Polosa R. E-cigarettes: Public Health England's evidence based confusion? Lancet. 2015 Sep 4. pii: S0140-6736(15)00133-6. 

10. Caponnetto P, Maglia M, Polosa R. Commentary on Dawkins et al. (2015): electronic ci-garettes - from smoking cessation to smoking sensation and back. Addiction. 2015 Apr;110(4):678-9. Polosa R. Electronic cigarette use and harm reversal: emerging evidence in the lung. BMC Med. 2015 Mar 18;13(1):54.

11. Caponnetto P, Saitta D, Sweanor D, Polosa R. What to consider when regulating electro-nic cigarettes: Pros, cons and unintended consequences. Int J Drug Policy. 2015 Mar 14. pii: S0955-3959(15)00068-7.

12. Polosa R, Caponnetto P, Cibella F, Le-Houezec J. Quit and smoking reduction rates in vape shop consumers: a prospective 12-month survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Mar 24;12(4):3428-38.

13. Polosa R, Morjaria J, Caponnetto P, Caruso M, Strano S, Battaglia E, Russo C.  Effect of smoking abstinence and reduction in asthmatic smokers switching to electronic cigarettes: evidence for harm reversal. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 May 8;11(5):4965-77.

14. Farsalinos KE, Polosa R. Youth tobacco use and electronic cigarettes. JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Aug;168(8):775. 

15. Farsalinos KE, Polosa R. Safety evaluation and risk assessment of electronic cigarettes as tobacco cigarette substitutes: a systematic review. Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014 Apr;5(2):67-86.

16. Polosa R, Morjaria J, Caponnetto P, Caruso M, Strano S, Battaglia E, Russo C.  Effect of smoking abstinence and reduction in asthmatic smokers switching to electronic cigarettes: evidence for harm reversal. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 May 8;11(5):4965-77.

17. Nutt DJ, Phillips LD, Balfour D, Curran HV, Dockrell M, Foulds J, Fagerstrom K, Letla-pe K, Milton A, Polosa R, Ramsey J, Sweanor D. Estimating the Harms of Nicotine-Containing Products Using the MCDA Approach. Eur Addict Res. 2014 Apr 3;20(5):218-225. 

18. Saitta D, Ferro GA, Polosa R. Achieving appropriate regulations for electronic cigaret-tes. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2014, Vol. 5(2) 50–61.

19. Spicuzza L, Scuderi V, Morjaria JB, Prosperini G, Arcidiacono G, Caruso M, Folisi C, Di Maria GU, Polosa R. Airway responsiveness to adenosine after a single dose of fluti-casone propionate discriminates asthma from COPD. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Feb;27(1):70-5. 

20. Caruso M, Alamo A, Crisafulli E, Raciti C, Fisichella A, Polosa R. Adenosine signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets in respiratory disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2013 Jul;17(7):761-72. 

21. Babu KS, Polosa R, Morjaria JB. Anti-IgE--emerging opportunities for Omalizumab. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2013 May;13(5):765-77. 

22. Caruso M, Crisafulli E, Demma S, Holgate S, Polosa R. Disabling inflammatory pa-thways with biologics and resulting clinical outcomes in severe asthma. Expert  Opin Biol Ther. 2013 Mar;13(3):393-402. 

23. Polosa R, Thomson NC. Smoking and asthma: dangerous liaisons. Eur Respir J. 2013 Mar;41(3):716-26. 

24. Polosa R, Caponnetto P. Time for evidence-based e-cigarette regulation. Lancet Oncol. 2013 Dec;14(13):e582-3.

25. Polosa R, Caponnetto P. Regulation of e-cigarettes: the users' perspective. The Lancet Re-spiratory Medicine - 1 September 2013 ( Vol. 1, Issue 7, Page e26 )

26. Polosa R, Rodu B, Caponnetto P, Maglia M, Raciti C. A fresh look at tobacco harm re-duction: the case for the electronic cigarette. Harm Reduct J. 2013 Oct 4;10(1):19. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-10-19.

27. Polosa R, Morjaria JB, Caponnetto P, Campagna D, Russo C, Alamo A, Amaradio M, Fi-sichella A. Effectiveness and tolerability of electronic cigarette in real-life: a 24-month prospective observational study. Intern Emerg Med. 2013 Jul 20. [Epub ahead of print]

28. Caponnetto P, Keller E, Bruno CM, Polosa R. Handling relapse in smoking cessation: strategies and recommendations. Intern Emerg Med. 2013 Feb;8(1):7-12.

29. Caponnetto P, Auditore R, Russo C, Cappello GC, Polosa R. Impact of an electronic ciga-rette on smoking reduction and cessation in schizophrenic smokers: a prospective 12-month pilot study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013 Jan 28;10(2):446-61.

30. Caponnetto P, Russo C, Polosa R. Smoking cessation: present status and future  perspec-tives. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Jun;12(3):229-37.

31. Caponnetto P, Campagna D, Papale G, Russo C, Polosa R. The emerging phenomenon of electronic cigarettes. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2012 Feb;6(1):63-74.

32. Polosa R, Caponnetto P, Sands MF. Caring for the smoking asthmatic patient. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Nov;130(5):1221-4. 

33. Polosa R, Casale T. Monoclonal antibodies for chronic refractory asthma and pipeline developments. Drug Discov Today. 2012 Jun;17(11-12):591-9. 

34. Caponnetto P, Polosa R, Russo C, Leotta C, Campagna D. Successful smoking cessation with electronic cigarettes in smokers with a documented history of recurring relapses: a case series. J Med Case Rep. 2011 Dec 20;5:585.

35. Caponnetto P, Cibella F, Mancuso S, Campagna D, Arcidiacono G, Polosa R. Effect of a nicotine-free inhalator as part of a smoking-cessation programme. Eur Respir J. 2011 Nov;38(5):1005-11.

36. Polosa R, Caponnetto P, Morjaria JB, Papale G, Campagna D, Russo C. Effect of  an elec-tronic nicotine delivery device (e-Cigarette) on smoking reduction and cessation: a pro-spective 6-month pilot study. BMC Public Health. 2011 Oct 11;11:786.

37. Polosa R, Russo C, Caponnetto P, Bertino G, Sarvà M, Antic T, Mancuso S, Al-Delaimy WK. Greater severity of new onset asthma in allergic subjects who smoke: a 10-year longitudinal study. Respir Res. 2011 Jan 24;12:16. 

38. Polosa R, Benowitz NL. Treatment of nicotine addiction: present therapeutic options and pipeline developments. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2011 May;32(5):281-9. 

ACADEMIC YEAR 2018/2019

ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/2018

ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017

ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

  • Smoking cessation (disease-related outcomes, epidemiology, biomarkers and genetics)
  • Tobacco Harm Reduction and new alternative products to tobacco smoking (e-cigarettes)
  • Pathogenetic mechanisms of bronchial hyperreactivity and in particular on the role of a number of proinflammatory agonists such as adenosine, bradykinin, substance P, and neurokinin A
  • Pathogenetic mechanisms and treatment of asthma, COPD and rhinitis
  • Diagnostic role of adenosine bronchoprovocation in chronic airways diseases as a biomarker
  • Pathogenetic mechanisms of tissue remodelling and repair aimed at the evaluation of the role of growth factors and their receptors
  • Environmental related health issues including the rising incidence of allergic and respiratory diseases in relation to  urban air pollution
  • Significant risk factors for new onset asthma and for COPD progression
  • Immunomodulation and pharmacology prevention of new onset asthma: immunotherapy
  • New therapeutic modalities for chronic severe asthma

KEY WORDS:
SMOKING CESSATION  - ASTHMA -  COPD -  ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE -  TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION -  IMMUNOTHERAPY

He acts as Scientific Advisor for LIAF (Italian Antismoking League), and serves as external member of the Italian Institute of Health (ISS) Technical Committee on monitoring electronic cigarettes. Already National Coordinator for the Italian Working Group on “Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids”, he has been recently elected Convenor for the Working Group on “Requirements and test methods for emissions of electronic cigarettes”, within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN/TC 437).

He is one of the editors of the Italian edition of Macleod’s Clinical Examination (Elsevier, 1964): “Macleod - Manuale di semeiotica e metodologia medica” Ferraccioli G.; Olivieri O.; Pirisi M.; Polosa R.; Silvestris F.  (Edra, 2014).

He has been serving in the role of Associate Editor the following scientific journals: Clinical Experimental Allergy, Pediatric Asthma Allergy and Immunology, Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Diseases, and Internal and Emergency Medicine. He also served as Head in the Respiratory WG of the European Respiratory Society and as Chair of the Asthma Diagnosis and Therapeutic Committee of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.

He was invited as an expert in scientific advisory boards for R&D of asthma and COPD drugs for several Pharmaceutical companies including: MSD, Shering-Plough, CV Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Forest Laboratories. In 2008, he assumed the position of Clinical Director of Duska Therapeutics's Aspirex program. The program was focused on the development of therapeutic, medical device and diagnostic products related to adenosine 5'-triphosphate.