Alessandro Sangion
Research Associate

ResearchGate

Dr. Alessandro Sangion received a PhD in Chemistry and Environmental Sciences from the University of Insubria (Como-Varese, Italy) in January 2019. During his doctoral degree Dr Sangion’s research focused on the development and application of Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) models to study environmental properties and toxicity of Contaminants of Emerging Concern.

He has experience in chemometric, multivariate data analysis and in the development and validation of QSAR models to predict toxicological and ecotoxicological endpoints for conventional and emerging pollutants. His research activity is focused on the application of statistical methods and modelling approaches to study several topics related to human health, environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology. This activity includes studies regarding the use of chemometric methods to prioritize and safely design chemicals, and the integration of QSAR models within risk assessment frameworks as alternative techniques to animal testing.

Some research topics include: i) design consistent approaches based on QSAR models for the evaluation of the intrinsic environmental hazard of chemicals in order to facilitate the identification of the most environmentally hazardous compounds; ii) screening and prioritization of large libraries of organic compounds for their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic (PBT) properties, iii) refinement of the bioaccumulation assessment of chemicals for air-breathing organisms investigating the role of biotransformation using novel QSAR models and in vitro data, and iv) prediction of physico-chemical and (eco)toxicological properties of emerging contaminants.

Dr. Sangion collaborated with the QSAR research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology at the University of Insubria on the development of the software for QSAR multiple linear regression models development and validation QSARINS and QSARINS-Chem. He is author or co-author of several publications in international scientific peer-reviewed journals, scientific posters and oral contributions in national and international meetings in the field of QSAR and environmental chemistry.

Currently, Dr. Alessandro Sangion is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough with financial support from ARC and Mitacs. Proposed research includes the development of a mass balance modelling framework for chemicals and their primary metabolites for ecological and human health assessment. The aim of the research is to combine QSAR methods with mechanistic toxicokinetic, environmental fate and exposure models to better quantify chemicals and their break-down products (metabolites) in environmental compartments and organisms. Expected results will provide key insights into the relative importance of key parameters and processes relating to holistic chemical exposures. This research will increase the capacity for the legislated scientific evaluation of chemicals used in society.

Scientific Interests: Bioaccumulation, biotransformation, chemical hazard assessment, ecotoxicology, alternative to animal testing.

Languages: Italian (Native speaker). English (Fluent).



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Associate
Arnot Research and Consulting Inc Toronto, ON Canada2020-Present
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto, Canada2019-2020

Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow

Academic Supervisor: Prof. Frank Wania

Partner Organization: Arnot Research and Consulting Inc, Dr Jon Arnot

Project: A mass balance modelling framework for chemicals and their primary metabolites for ecological and human health assessment


Research Fellow
University of Insubria Varese, Italy10/2018 – 01/2019

Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Ester Papa

Project: Database implementation, data analysis and QSAR modelling of biotransformation related endpoints in mammals in support of CEFIC LRI ECO44 Project iBAT-Mam

  • Development, application and integration of QSAR models and related predictions in a framework for the estimation of bioaccumulation in mammals.
  • Preparation of scientific manuscripts, reports and material for conferences.
  • Supervision of Master students.


Research Fellow
University of Insubria Varese, Italy01/2014 – 06/2015

Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Paola Gramatica

Project: Development of QSAR models for the environmental hazard estimation of emerging pollutants

  • Development, validation and application of QSAR models for the study of persistency, bioaccumulation and toxicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.
  • Preparation of scientific manuscripts and material for conferences


PUBLICATIONS

13. Gramatica Paola, Papa Ester, Sangion Alessandro. “QSAR Modeling of Cumulative Environmental End-Points for the Prioritization of Hazardous Chemicals”. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2018, 20 (1): 38–47. doi.org/10.1039/C7EM00519A

12. Papa Ester, Sangion Alessandro, Arnot Jon A, Gramatica Paola. “Development of Human Biotransformation QSARs and Application for PBT Assessment Refinement”. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2018, 112(2): 535–43. doi.org/10.1016/J.FCT.2017.04.016

11. Papa Ester, Sangion Alessandro, Taboureau Olivier, Gramatica Paola. “Quantitative Prediction of Rat Hepatotoxicity by Molecular Structure” International Journal of Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships, 2018, 3 (2): 12.

10. Papa Ester, Arnot Jon A., Sangion Alessandro, Gramatica Paola. “In Silico Approaches for the Prediction of In Vivo Biotransformation Rates”. In Advances in QSAR Modeling,2017, 425–51. Springer. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56850-8_114

9. Caruso Enrico, Gariboldi Marzia, Sangion Alessandro, Gramatica Paola, Banfi Stefano. “Synthesis, Photodynamic Activity, and Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Modelling of a Series of BODIPYs”. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2017, 167: 269–81. doi.org/10.1016/J.JPHOTOBIOL.2017.01.012

8. Sangion Alessandro, Gramatica Paola. “Ecotoxicity Interspecies QAAR Models from Daphnia Toxicity of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products” SAR and QSAR in Environmental Research, 2016, 27 (10): 781–98. doi.org/10.1080/1062936X.2016.1233139

7. Sangion Alessandro, Gramatica Paola. “Hazard of Pharmaceuticals for Aquatic Environment: Prioritization by Structural Approaches and Prediction of Ecotoxicity”. Environment International, 2016, 95(10): 131–43. doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVINT.2016.08.008

6. Sangion Alessandro, Gramatica Paola. “PBT Assessment and Prioritization of Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Pharmaceuticals”. Environmental Research, 2016, 147(5): 297–306. doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2016.02.021.

5. Papa Ester, Doucet Jean Pier, Sangion Alessandro, Doucet-Panaye Annick. “Investigation of the Influence of Protein Corona Composition on Gold Nanoparticle Bioactivity Using Machine Learning Approaches”. SAR and QSAR in Environmental Research, 2016, 27 (7): 521–38. doi.org/10.1080/1062936X.2016.1197310

4. Gramatica Paola, Sangion Alessandro. “A Historical Excursus on the Statistical Validation Parameters for QSAR Models: A Clarification Concerning Metrics and Terminology”. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 2016, 56 (6): 1127–31. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00088.

3. Gramatica Paola, Cassani Stefano, Sangion Alessandro. “Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Personal Care Products: QSAR Models and Ranking for Prioritization and Safer Alternatives’ Design". Green Chemistry, 2016, 18 (16): 4393–4406. doi.org/10.1039/C5GC02818C

2. Gramatica Paola, Cassani Stefano, Sangion Alessandro. “Are Some ‘Safer Alternatives’ Hazardous as PBTs? The Case Study of New Flame Retardants”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2016, 306 (5): 237–46. doi.org/10.1016/J.JHAZMAT.2015.12.017.

1. Gramatica Paola, Cassani Stefano, Sangion Alessandro. “PBT Assessment and Prioritization by PBT Index and Consensus Modeling: Comparison of Screening Results from Structural Models.” Environment International, 2015, 77 (4): 25–34. doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVINT.2014.12.012

EDUCATION
PhD in Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
University of Insubria Varese, Italy10/2015 – 09/2018

Supervisor: Prof. Ester Papa

Co-supervisor: Prof. Paola Gramatica

Project: QSAR models for the screening, prediction and refinement of PBT properties of Contaminants of Emerging Concern.

The general objective of the project is to apply QSAR methodologies to integrate biotransformation potential in the bioaccumulation assessment to refine PBT screening of organic contaminants.


International Visiting Graduate Student
University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto, Canada05/2017 - 08.2017

Supervisors: Prof. Frank Wania, Adj Prof. Jon Arnot

Project: Develop and apply methods to screen organic chemicals for their bioaccumulation potential in air-breathing organisms

This experience allowed me to get familiar with environmental fate and exposure models and enlarge my background about environmental modelling.


Guest PhD student
Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7) Paris, France03/2016 - 07/2016

“Laboratoire ITODYS”, UMR7086

Project.1: Develop QSAR models for biotransformation potential in human

Project.2: Develop QSAR models for the cytotoxity of heterogenous nanoparticles


M.Sc in Environmental Sciences
University of Insubria Varese, Italy09/2013 – 09/2015

Final grade: 110/110 cum laude

Supervisor: Prof. Paola Gramatica

Thesis: Identification of environmental potential harmful Pharmaceuticals by QSAR modelling.

The project was focused on the development and application of QSAR models to investigate the Persistence, Bioaccumulation and Toxic potential of Pharmaceuticals as environmental contaminants.


B.Sc in Natural and Environmental Sciences
University of Insubria Varese, Italy09/2010 – 09/2013

Final grade: 110/110 cum laude

Supervisor: Prof. Paola Gramatica


MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND CODING
  • QSAR modelling, Multivariate analysis, Molecolar descriptors Chemometrics, Ecotoxicology
  • Regression, Classification, Machine learning, Clustering, Data Curation, Database Management
  • R, advanced. SQL, intermediate. Python, beginner.
  • QSARINS, Knime, MySQLworkbench, Dragon, CDK, EPISuite, QSARToolbox, Statistica, ACDLab, Hyperchem, Microsoft Office Package

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teacher assistant
University of Insubria Varese, ItalyWinter Sessions 2017-2019

Course: Chemical methodologies for the environment part 1: Applied Environmental Chemistry

Lecturer: Professor Ester Papa

Tasks: Frontal lessons and student supervision during the computational laboratory of chemometric.


Teacher assistant
University of Insubria Varese, ItalyWinter Session 2016

Course: Chemometric and Ecotoxicological test: Chemometric

Lecturer: Professor Paola Gramatica

Tasks: Frontal lessons and student supervision during the computational laboratory of chemometric.