Maurizio Botta obtained a degree with laude in Chemistry at University of Rome in 1974. In November 1977 he got the PhD at the University of New Brunswick. He has been researcher in Organic Chemistry at University of Rome (1981-1987). From November 2009 to October 2012 he was Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Siena. From January 2008 he is Adjunct Professor in Temple University College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia (USA) and, since 2000, he is Full Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy of University of Siena. Author of more than 500 papers, 26 patents, and more than 450 proceedings at congresses. EU Expert for reviewing projects belonging to the TMR research program and in the panel “Quality of Life”. Member of the Editorial Board of ChemMedChem, JMedChem and JChemInfoModel, Associate Editor for MedChemLetters. Member of the Committees of several scientific Schools and Meetings. Co-founder of two spin-off (MoLiRom, LeadDiscoverySiena).

• 1. Targeting Human Onchocerciasis: Recent Advances Beyond IvermectinStefano Sainas, Franco Dosio, D. Boschi and M.L. Lolli2. Scaffolds and Biological Targets Avenue to Fight Against Drug Resistance in LeishmaniasisChiara Borsari, Antonio Quotadamo, Stefania Ferrari, A. Venturelli, Anabela Cordeiro, Nuno Santarem and Maria Paola Costi3. Drugs and Drug Resistance in African and American TrypanosomiasisJaime Franco, Laura Scarone and Marcelo A. Comini4. Antiviral Agents Against Ebola Virus Infection: Repositioning Old Drugs and Finding Novel Small MoleculesElisa Fanunza, Aldo Frau, Angela Corona and Enzo Tramontano5. X-Ray Crystallography Contributions to Drug-Discovery Against Parasite InfectionsCecilia Pozzi, Giusy Tassone and Stefano Mangani