Prof. Valentina Trapani is an Adjunct Professor of Pathology at the Catholic University School of Medicine "A. Gemelli" in Rome and Scientific Officer at Alliance Against Cancer (ACC), the largest Italian organization for cancer research. Moving on from a background in biophysics, in her career she has been involved in the preclinical development of several experimental anticancer drugs. In more recent years, her research interests have focused on the role of magnesium and magnesium-specific ion channels in diverse pathophysiological processes, including inflammation-driven conditions and colon carcinogenesis. She is currently project manager for ACC in several wide-spanning EU initiatives for the Mission on Cancer (joint actions CraNe and JANE, and coordination and support action UNCAN, among others).