Functional Genomics

The advent of genomics in clinical practice is rapidly revolutionizing the approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Our objective is to translate the impressive increase in knowledge deriving from recent advances in oncogenomic research into an improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This includes both basic research projects aimed at defining mechanisms of disease and translational projects aimed at discovering new therapeutic options. Our research is developed in close collaboration with other IEO research and clinical units.

In particular, our group has a long-standing interest in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The molecular mechanisms and the genetics of AML have been thoroughly investigated, yet standard therapy regimens for most subtypes have remained unchanged in the past four decades. Despite the overall encouraging rate of complete remissions, survival rates after five years remain dismal, particularly in the elderly, which represent the majority of AML patients, and in secondary AML, therapy-related AML or other AML groups with adverse prognosis. We are tackling the unmet need of novel therapeutic options using different approaches.