Professor Lucia Anna Stivala currently works at the Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia. She graduated in Biological Sciences at the University of Pavia in 1985 and received her PhD in Experimental Pathology from the University of Firenze in 1992. She worked as a "Funzionario Tecnico" (1988–1997) and then a Researcher (1997–2003) at the Medical Faculty, Institute of General Pathology, University of Pavia. Since 1991 she has been a member of the Italian Society of Pathology (SIP). In 2002, she frequented as a visiting scientist the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre of Cambridge, UK. Her main research interests include the study of the biological activity of natural or synthetic compounds, with the aim to highlight the relationship between their chemical structures and biological properties. Her scientific activity has also focused on the study of proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and DNA replication and repair.