
Immunonutrition: innovative strategies against food-induced diseases and obesity
Prof. Dr. Roberto Berni Canani is internationally recognized as a leading researcher in the field of pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric allergology and human nutrition. He received his degree in Medicine and Surgery and his PhD in Pediatric Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II. He is a specialist in pediatrics. Head of the Departmental Program of Pediatric Allergology at the Department of Translational Medical Sciences and head of the Immunonutrition Laboratory at CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology. He is the author of over 400 publications. His publications are widely cited (>45000 citations as of July 2025). H index 94. Associate Editor of World Journal of Gastroenterology, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research, Allergies, International Journal of Autoimmune Disease&Therapy. He is a member of several national scientific societies (Italian Society of Pediatrics, Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Italian Society of Pediatric Allergology and Immunology, Italian Society of Infectious Diseases, Italian Society of Pediatric Research). Vice-president of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2008-2012) and coordinator of the study group on Food-induced Diseases (since 2014). Founder of the ImmunoNutrition WG and coordinator of the Task Force on UPF and member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. He is a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition. He has received numerous scientific awards for his research activity. Member of the expert group (since 2011) and of the Nutrition and Allergy group of the European Food Safety Authority (2012-2015). Since 2013 he is included in the list of the 100 best Italian scientists of VIA-Academy.
The Team is highly interdisciplinary and composed by pediatricians, nutritionists, biologists, microbiologists, immunologists, biostatisticians, and research nurses.
The research activity is mainly focused on the study of basic and clinical aspects of: nutrition, gut microbiome structure and function, epigenome, pro-/pre-/sin/postbiotics, food allergy and intolerances, pediatric allergy, obesity and obesity-related conditions, aiming to move disease biology from the laboratory to clinical practice with the development of innovative for the diagnosis, the prevention and the management of these conditions.
The basic science research activity is well integrated with the clinical research activity dedicated to several randomized controlled trial performed at national and international level.
- Food-induced diseases: allergies and food intolerances. Pathophysiology of immune tolerance. Genetic and epigenetic basis. Role of environmental factors. New tools for diagnosis, prevention and management.
- Pediatric allergy. Pathophysiology of immune tolerance. Genetic and epigenetic basis. Role of environmental factors. New tools for diagnosis, prevention and management.
- Obesity and obesity-related disorders. Pathophysiological basis. Role of environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. New strategies for prevention and treatment.
- The immunonutrition approach as an innovative strategy for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases using dietary, probiotic and postbiotic factors.
- Role of postbiotics as adjuvants in the treatment of breast cancer.
- Biomarkers involved in autism spectrum disorder.
- Role of advanced glycation products in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis.
- The role of ultra-processed foods in the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases in childhood.
- Analysis of the composition of breast milk and environmental factors that can modulate it.
Clinical Unit:
L.Carucci, MD, PhD E.Caldaria, MD A.Masino, PhD R.Nocerino, RN A.Ripa, MD M.Fiorenza, MD, P.D’Alessio, MD B.Trojano, MD R.Pirone, MD M.Barra, MD G.Manganelli, MD G.Bedogni, MD, PhD
Basic Reasearch Unit:
C.Luongo, PhD F.Oglio, PhD student, R. Di Santillo, BS V.Mauriello, BS M.Michelini, BS
Nutrition Unit:
S.Coppola, RDN A.Agizza, BS E.Scognamiglio, BS A.Di Bennado, BS C.Messuri, BS
- Paparo L, Coppola S, Nocerino R, Pisapia L, Picariello G, Cortese M, Voto L, Maglio M, Miele E, Carucci L, Oglio F, Trinchese G, Mollica MP, Bruno C, De Vita S, Tarallo A, Damiano C, Cerulo M, Esposito C, Fogliano V, Parenti G, Troncone R, Berni Canani R. How dietary advanced glycation end products could facilitate the occurrence of food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Mar;153(3):742-758. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.023. Epub 2023 Nov 30. Erratum in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Jul;154(1):243. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.05.005. Erratum in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2025 May;155(5):1690. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2025.03.002. PMID: 38042501.
- Paparo L, Nocerino R, Ciaglia E, Di Scala C, De Caro C, Russo R, Trinchese G, Aitoro R, Amoroso A, Bruno C, Di Costanzo M, Passariello A, Messina F, Agangi A, Napolitano M, Voto L, Gatta GD, Pisapia L, Montella F, Mollica MP, Calignano A, Puca A, Berni Canani R. Butyrate as a bioactive human milk protective component against food allergy. Allergy. 2021 May;76(5):1398-1415. doi: 10.1111/all.14625. Epub 2020 Nov 16. PMID: 33043467; PMCID: PMC8247419.
- De Filippis F, Paparo L, Nocerino R, Della Gatta G, Carucci L, Russo R, Pasolli E, Ercolini D, Berni Canani R. Specific gut microbiome signatures and the associated pro-inflamatory functions are linked to pediatric allergy and acquisition of immune tolerance. Nat Commun. 2021 Oct 13;12(1):5958. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26266-z. PMID: 34645820; PMCID: PMC8514477.
- Paparo L, Picariello G, Bruno C, Pisapia L, Canale V, Sarracino A, Nocerino R, Carucci L, Cosenza L, Cozzolino T, Berni Canani R. Tolerogenic Effect Elicited by Protein Fraction Derived From Different Formulas for Dietary Treatment of Cow's Milk Allergy in Human Cells. Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 12;11:604075. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.604075. PMID: 33679694; PMCID: PMC7928417.
- Coppola S, Nocerino R, Paparo L, Bedogni G, Calignano A, Di Scala C, de Giovanni di Santa Severina AF, De Filippis F, Ercolini D, Berni Canani R. Therapeutic Effects of Butyrate on Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Dec 1;5(12):e2244912. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.44912. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2421429. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21429. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Apr 1;8(4):e259711. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9711. PMID: 36469320; PMCID: PMC9855301.