Welcome to a new edition of “Meet the Team”
In this new edition of Meet the Team, we’re pleased to introduce Alberto Manganaro, Head of ProtoQSAR Italy. His background combines a solid education in computer science with extensive experience in chemoinformatics and the development of technological solutions with scientific, ethical, and societal impact.
Academic background and professional experience
Alberto holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Milan (Statale), and from the beginning of his career, he has been actively involved in chemoinformatics research and predictive modeling.
Between 2006 and 2012, he collaborated with the Milano Chemometrics and QSAR group led by Professor Roberto Todeschini at the University of Milano-Bicocca. Since 2008, he has also been part of the Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, directed by Professor Emilio Benfenati, with whom he continues to collaborate on R&D projects.
In 2012, he founded Kode srl, a company focused on chemoinformatics solutions, and later launched its specialized branch, Kode Chemoinformatics srl. In 2023, he joined ProtoQSAR as a chemoinformatics specialist, and in 2024, he opened the new ProtoQSAR Italy office in Pisa, strengthening the company’s international expansion and reinforcing its scientific and commercial collaborations throughout Europe.
His role at ProtoQSAR
As the Head of ProtoQSAR Italy, Alberto leads the development of the new office in Pisa, overseeing strategic planning, key partnerships, and coordination of technical activities.
His work focuses on the design of technological solutions in the field of chemoinformatics, applying his expertise in software engineering, QSAR modeling, molecular descriptors, and machine learning techniques for toxicological prediction.
He is also actively involved in European research projects, many in collaboration with the Mario Negri Institute, where he combines applied research with the development of tools for scientific and regulatory environments.
What he enjoys most about his work
“What I value most is having had the opportunity to build ProtoQSAR Italy from the ground up — defining the strategy, establishing the structure, and developing the necessary network has been incredibly stimulating. I also particularly enjoy the creative side of the work: designing projects, seeking new opportunities, and building a strong bridge between Italy and Spain. And of course, I’m deeply motivated by working with in silico tools that can reduce or even replace animal testing. It’s a field with tremendous scientific and ethical impact”.
Beyond ProtoQSAR: hobbies and personal interests
Committed to environmental protection and animal rights, Alberto closely follows these issues both personally and socially. He is also a cat lover and enjoys their company in daily life.
Music is another passion — he enjoys playing the guitar in his free time — and he has a strong interest in technology, especially in innovations that can make a real difference in society.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Alberto!
