Molecular and Cellular Biology

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology hosts 14 independent research groups working in two broad, closely interwoven research areas, with the goal of identifying specific therapeutic targets for use in disease prevention and control.

The first area focuses on Virology, dissecting viral replication mechanisms and on structural studies of key viral proteins, as well as virus-host interactions for important human and veterinary pathogens. The identification of virus and cell elements with key roles in virus replication is essential for the rational design and implementation of new strategies for disease control. Understanding the mechanisms that allow a virus to evade or counteract innate and adaptive host immune responses will allow generation of innovative vaccination strategies and virus-based vaccine vectors. The second area regards different aspects of Biomedicine, from gene expression, to cellular biology of tumors and the development of novel antitumor therapies to understand the molecular networks allowing the generation of neurons and circuits of the mammalian cerebral cortex. The main aim of this research program, is to improve current diagnostics and therapies for different human diseases.

Head: Isabel Sola