Director, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), ITALY
Prof. Mauro Giacca is the Director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste Component, Italy
He received his Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Trieste, Italy in 1984 and his PhD in Microbiology and Virology from the University of Genoa, Italy. From 2000-2004, he has been Founder and Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, one of the leading academic institutions in Italy. Since 2004, he is Director of the Component of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy; where he coordinates the work of 17 research groups, involving over 200 people from 29 different countries (www.icgeb.org).
Since 2005 he is Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Trieste.
His current research interests focus on two major topics in the field of Molecular Medicine. The first project concerns the development of viral vectors for human gene therapy, with special emphasis on vectors based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) and their application for gene therapy of cardiovascular disorders. The ultimate purpose of these studies is the induction of new blood vessel formation and cardiac regeneration in patients with myocardial infarction or heart failure. The second project concerns several aspects of the molecular biology of HIV-1 infection with particular reference to the study of the interactions of some viral proteins (Tat, integrase) with cellular factors.
His research activity is funded through grants from various public and private bodies, including the European Research Council (Advanced Investigator Grants), the Italian Ministry for Education and Research, the World Antidoping Agency (WADA), Montreal, Canada, the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC), the Telethon foundation Italy, among others.
Over the last several years, he has reviewed scientific manuscripts for over 30 peer-reviewed international journals in the fields of gene therapy, cardiovascular disorders and HIV infection, and grant applications in the context of calls from the European Commission and various granting bodies in Italy, France, UK, Slovenia, The Netherlands and Spain.
He has published over 250 full papers, with over 200 in peer-reviewed international journals. Over the last few years, he has been invited to present his research activity at over 100 seminars in Universities and Research Institutions in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia.
