Mauro Giacca received his Degree in Medicine from the University of Trieste, Italy in 1984 and his PhD in Microbiology and Virology from the University of Genoa, Italy in 1989.
Since 2014, Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), an international organization in the UN system for advanced research and education with seats in Trieste, Italy, New Delhi, India and Cape Town, South Africa (www.icgeb.org). From 2004 to 2014, Director of the Italian Component of the ICGEB. Since 2005, Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the Department of Medicine of the University of Trieste. From 2000 to 2005, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Founding Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy.
He has served on the Boards of various scientific organizations in Italy and abroad. Since 2012, he is an Expert Member in the National Committee for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Life Sciences (CNBBSV), an advisory body to the President of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Italy.
His current research interest focuses on the development of novel biotherapeutics for cardiovascular disorders, with particular reference to the identification of growth factors and microRNAs inducing cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction. He is an expert in the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for cardiovascular applications. He also maintains a strong interest in the molecular biology of HIV-1 infection.
His research activity is funded internationally through grants from various public and private bodies, including a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Investigator Grant. He has published over 270 papers in peer-reviewed, international journals, in addition to several reviews or chapters in published books and university textbooks. He regularly contributes articles to national newspapers and popular science magazines.
Further information: http://www.icgeb.org/mauro-giacca.html
Selected Publications
Marini, B., Kertesz-Farkas, A., Ali, H., Lucic, B., Lisek, K., Manganaro, L., Pongor, S., Luzzati, R., Recchia, A., Mavilio, F., Giacca, M., Lusic, M. 2015. Nuclear architecture dictates HIV-1 integration site selection. Nature, in press
Zacchigna, S., Zentilin, L., Giacca, M. 2014. Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors as Therapeutic and Investigational Tools in the Cardiovascular System. Circ Res 114, 1827-1846.
Lusic, M., Marini, B., Ali, H., Lucic, B., Luzzati, R., Giacca, M. 2013. Proximity to PML Nuclear Bodies Regulates HIV-1 Latency in CD4+ T Cells. Cell Host Microbe 13, 665-77.
Eulalio, A., Mano, M., Dal Ferro, M., Zentilin, L., Sinagra, G., Zacchigna, S., Giacca, M. 2012. Functional screening identifies miRNAs inducing cardiac regeneration. Nature 492, 376-81.
Manganaro, L., Lusic, M., Gutierrez, M.I., Cereseto, A., Del Sal, G., Giacca, M. 2010. Concerted action of cellular JNK and Pin1 restricts HIV-1 genome integration to activated CD4+ T lymphocytes. Nature Med 16, 329-33.