ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1271-8998
Rosanna Mezzapelle is a researcher in the fields of molecular biology, oncology, and immunology, and currently serves as a Principal Investigator at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Her scientific career began with her studies in Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Perugia, culminating in 2010 with a Master’s Degree magna cum laude and subsequently with her certification to practice as a biologist.
Between 2010 and 2014, She completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine at the Università del Piemonte Orientale under the supervision of Prof. Renzo Boldorini, focusing on the molecular mechanisms involved in mesothelioma carcinogenesis and the identification of biomarkers useful for treatment selection. During her Ph.D., she also spent a research period at the Hawai‘i Cancer Center at the University of Hawai‘i under the supervision of Prof. Michele Carbone, expanding her research into the pathogenesis of mesothelioma.
From 2014 to 2022, she continued her work as a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Marco Bianchi’s laboratory at the IRCCS San Raffaele in Milan, developing specialized expertise in the study of inflammation—particularly HMGB1—and its implications for tumor development and the immune response to tumors. During this period, he also received a three-year AIRC fellowship dedicated to the study of HMGB1 in mesothelioma.
Over the years, her research has progressively focused on the interaction between the tumor microenvironment, the immune system, and tumor cells, with a particular emphasis on mesothelioma. Among other things, she has studied the HMGB1, CXCR4/CXCL12, and CSF-1/CSF-1R signaling pathways, exploring new strategies to stimulate the antitumor immune response and identify potential therapeutic targets.
From 2020 to 2022, she also held a research fellowship on the role of the RAGE receptor in tumor development, and since 2023, she has been the Principal Investigator of a My First AIRC Grant project dedicated to the role of the tumor microenvironment in CXCR4-mediated antitumor immunity. He is also the Principal Investigator of a project funded by the Buzzi Unicem Foundation focused on studying the CSF-1/CSF-1R pathway in mesothelioma.
Alongside her research activities, she has gained significant experience in teaching and supervising students, both in Medicine and Biotechnology courses and in doctoral programs. Since 2019, she has also supervised Master’s Degrees and currently serves as the Director of Studies for a PhD student in Molecular Medicine. Her career is also marked by a substantial body of scientific work: her CV lists 22 publications, 9 of which she authored as first or last author, a Scopus h-index of 16, and over 1400 citations.
Furthermore, she has participated as a speaker at numerous national and international conferences, acts as a peer reviewer for scientific journals and grant evaluator, and is a Guest Associate Editor for *Frontiers in Immunology*. More recently, beginning in 2024, she has also undertaken specialized training in Medical Genetics at the University of Eastern Piedmont and the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital. In the same year, she attained the National Scientific Qualification as an Associate Professor in both Applied Biology and Pathology.
Curriculum VitaeOFFICE HOURS
The professor is available to receive the students at the end of the lessons. However, the students may also request an appointment by email.