Dr. Napoleone Ferrara

Professor

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Biography

Napoleone Ferrara, M.D., is a Distinguished Professor in Pathology at the University of California, San Diego. He holds adjunct professorships in Ophthalmology and Pharmacology, and he is the Hildyard Endowed Chair for Eye Disease. Ferrara's primary research interests focus on the biology of angiogenesis, particularly the identification of its regulators. In 1989, he was instrumental in isolating and cloning vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and his subsequent studies have demonstrated VEGF's critical role as a regulator of both normal and pathological angiogenesis. His research established that inhibition of VEGF can suppress tumor growth in various cancers, leading to the development of humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies like Bevacizumab, which has received FDA approval for multiple cancer indications. Furthermore, his discovery of VEGF as a key mediator of angiogenesis in intraocular neovascular syndromes paved the way for clinical therapies, including Ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration and other ocular vascular disorders.

Research Interests

Awards

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Prince Mahidol Award

2023-01-01
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Weinman Award

2022-01-01
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G.B. Bietti Medal

2019-01-01
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Elected to National Academy of Medicine

2015-01-01
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Canada Gairdner International Award

2014-01-01
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Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

2013-01-01
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Elected Fellow, AACR Academy

2012-01-01
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Economist Innovation Award

2011-01-01
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Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research

2011-01-01
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Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award

2010-01-01
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AACR Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award

2005-01-01

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).