Napoleone ferrara biography samples
Napoleone Ferrara
Italian-American molecular biologist
Napoleone Ferrara (born 26 July in Catania) is an Italian-American molecular biologist who joined University of California, San DiegoMoores Cancer Center in after a career in Northern California at the biotechnology giant Genentech, where he pioneered the development of new treatments for angiogenic diseases such as cancer, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy.[1] At Genentech, he discovered VEGF—and made the first anti-VEGF antibody—which suppresses growth of a variety of tumors.
These findings helped lead to development of the first clinically available angiogenesis inhibitor, bevacizumab (Avastin), which prevents the growth of new blood vessels into a solid tumor and which has become part of standard treatment for a variety of cancers.[citation needed] Ferrara's work led also to the development of ranibizumab (Lucentis), a drug that is highly effective at preventing vision loss in intraocular neovascular disorders.[citation needed]
Education
Ferrara received his medical degree from the University of Catania, Italy, in , and joined Genentech in He did his postdoctoral research at University of California, San Francisco.[2]
Current research
At UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Ferrara, a member of the National Academy of Sciences since , serves as Senior Deputy Director for Basic Science and is a Distinguished Professor of Pathology in the UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he will continue cancer drug research targeting angiogenesis.[citation needed] He is presently focusing on investigating mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis alternative to VEGF, in particular the role of factors produced by myeloid cells and fibroblasts in mediating resistance to VEGF inhibitors.[citation needed]
Selected honors and awards
For his VEGF discovery, he won a Lasker Award in [3] In , he was awarded the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his work.[4] He has received numerous other awards, including the General Motors Cancer Research Award (), the ASCO Science of Oncology Award (), the Pezcoller Foundation/AACR International Award (), the Dr.
Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research (), and The Economist's Innovation Award for bioscience in [citation needed]Grand Prix scientifique de la Fondation Lefoulon-Delalande in [5]
In September , Ferrara was awarded the António Champalimaud Vision Award, awarded by the Champalimaud Foundation.[6]
, Keio Medical Science Prize.[7]
References
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