Biography

My long term research interests involve the development of a comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of cancer in particular from eight years I have been focusing my research to study the molecular basis of NSCLC. My academic training and research experience have provided me with an excellent background in multiple biological disciplines including molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. As an undergraduate, I was able to conduct research at University “Federico II”of Naples on the role of transcription repressor ZNF224 in cell colture mammalian models. As a predoctoral student with Prof. Giuseppe Viglietto at Biogem (Ariano Irpino, AV, Italy) and University "Magna Graecia” (Catanzaro, Italy), my research focused on discovery of molecular alteration in NSCLC patients, and I gained expertise in genetic characterization of cancer patients. We discovered a new important driver mutation in squamous cell lung cancer. During PhD program I studied a tyrosine phosphatases in particular PTPN13 and discovered it as a tumour suppressor in lung cancer. This research was my first author publication. In a subsequent first author publication I discovered important PI3K/AKT pathway alterations in lung cancer patients. For my postdoctoral training, I continued to study this pathway alteration using cell colture and transgenic mouse model. FIRC Italian Fellowship gave me the possibility to continue my translational research. During these years I have understood that is essential to invest competence and knowledge to discover methods and strategies for better prevention of lung cancer. The passion and expertise are the reason for choosing to continue research in this field to expand the knowledge and draw possible ways in the lung cancer prevention and early diagnosis.