Prof. Marco Foiani is an eminent molecular biologist and genome integrity researcher 🧬. He is currently the Director of the Istituto di Genetica Molecolare (IGM), CNR, Pavia 🏛️ and a Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Milan 🎓. With a career spanning decades, he has made groundbreaking contributions to genome integrity, DNA repair mechanisms, and chromatin dynamics 🧪. He has held prestigious roles, including Scientific Director at IFOM (2009–2022) and a Senior Investigator at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (2023–2024). His research has influenced oncology, mechanobiology, and cellular metabolism, making him a global leader in cancer biology and genomic research 🔬.
Prof Marco Foiani, CNR-IFOM, Italy
Profile
ORCID
🎓 Education
Prof. Foiani completed his Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Milan (1985) and later obtained a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology (1988) 🧬. His doctoral research was conducted under Prof. Paolo Plevani, focusing on DNA replication and repair. He further honed his expertise as a “Buzzati Traverso” Postdoctoral Fellow (1988–1989) at the University of Milan and later as a “Fogarty” Postdoctoral Fellow at NIH-NICHD, Bethesda, USA (1989–1991), working under Dr. Alan Hinnebush 🏛️. These formative years solidified his expertise in molecular genetics and genome integrity research.
👨🏫 Experience
Prof. Foiani has held key academic positions throughout his career. He started as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Milan (1990–1993) and later became an Adjunct Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Varese (1994–1995). By 2001, he had achieved the rank of Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Milan 🎓. Additionally, he has served as:
🔹 Scientific Director at IFOM (2009–2022) 🏛️
🔹 Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo (2021–2023) 🇯🇵
🔹 Professor at the National University of Singapore (2023–2024) 🇸🇬
🔹 Senior Investigator at Cancer Science Institute, Singapore (2023–2024) 🧪
Beyond academia, he has played a crucial role in international research collaborations, leading major cancer research programs and directing genome integrity research labs worldwide 🌍.
🔬 Research Interests
Prof. Foiani’s research focuses on chromosome dynamics, genome integrity, and DNA damage response 🧬. His key areas of study include:
✔ DNA replication, transcription, and repair 🧪
✔ Chromatin remodeling and nuclear architecture 🔬
✔ Cell metabolism and its impact on genome stability ⚡
✔ ATM/ATR-mediated mechanotransduction pathways 🏗️
His work has advanced our understanding of DNA damage response mechanisms, leading to potential breakthroughs in cancer treatment and personalized medicine 🏥.
🏆 Awards & Recognitions
Prof. Foiani has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to molecular biology and genome research, including:
🏅 Biotech Award (AMGEN, 2001)
🏅 Chiara D’Onofrio Award (2004)
🏅 Elected Member of EMBO (2004)
🏅 Elected Member of the Academia Europea (2010)
🏅 ERC Investigator Grant Award (2023)
His recognition as a leading scientist in genome stability and cancer research has earned him global invitations for keynote lectures at prestigious institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and Kyoto University 🎤.
📖 Research Publications & Impact
Prof. Foiani has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, many in high-impact journals like Nature, Science, and Cell 🏛️. His seminal contributions to genome stability, ATR/ATM pathways, and chromatin dynamics have had far-reaching implications in cancer research and DNA repair mechanisms 🧬.
Publication Top Notes
Cell stretching activates an ATM mechano-transduction pathway that remodels cytoskeleton and chromatin
Mechanisms controlling the mechanical properties of the nuclei
Sen1 and Rrm3 ensure permissive topological conditions for replication termination
Endogenous PP2A inhibitor CIP2A degradation by chaperone-mediated autophagy contributes to the antitumor effect of mitochondrial complex I inhibition
Tissue fluidification promotes a cGAS–STING cytosolic DNA response in invasive breast cancer