Dr. Carlo Catapano

Biography

Carlo V. Catapano, MD, PhD, is the Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Lab and the Head of Tumor Biology at the Experimental Therapeutics program. He also directs the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) since 2011. He earned his MD degree summa cum laude from the University of Naples in 1983 and specialized in Oncology in 1986. After completing his post-graduate training in cancer pharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, he obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from Wake Forest University in 1993. From 1993 to 2003, he served as a Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, holding joint appointments in various departments. In his current role in Switzerland, Prof. Catapano leads research focused on discovering innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer, especially those targeting the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that influence cancer pathogenesis and progression. His laboratory investigates the role of epigenetic regulators and cancer stem cells (CSCs) in disease recurrence and treatment resistance, aiming to establish effective CSC-directed therapies. Notably, his team has identified critical vulnerabilities in CSCs related to mitochondrial dynamics and turnover, opening new avenues for drug discovery and development.

Research Interests

Experience