He graduated cum laude in Medicine and Surgery in 1980 and specialized in Endocrinology. He undertook research fellowships at the Weizmann Institute (1983–1984) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Fogarty Fellow (1985–1989). Since 1989, he has held a permanent position at the University of Catania, where he progressed from Graduate Technician to Associate Professor in 1992, and to Full Professor of Pharmacology in 2001.

He coordinated the PhD program in Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology from 1994 to 2012. He currently directs the School of Specialization in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, as well as the Clinical Toxicology Unit at the University Hospital. From 2005 to 2018, he served as an Expert for the Ministry of Health at the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), and the Directorate General for Medical Devices. He is a current member of the Higher Health Council, appointed by the Minister of Health.

He coordinated the PhD program in Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology from 1994 to 2012. He directed the School of Specialization in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology until 2023 since 200, and is actually Head of the Clinical Toxicology Unit at the University Hospital. From 2005 to 2024, he served as an Expert for the Ministry of Health at the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) in different roles, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), and the Directorate General for Medical Devices. He is a current member of the Higher Health Council, appointed by the Minister of Health.