Maria Lina Tornesello is the head of  the Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale. She graduated cum laude from the Faculty of Science of the University Federico II of Napoli, Italy, and later specialized in Microbiology and Virology at the Federico II Medical School of Napoli. Her academic journey includes prestigious postdoctoral fellowships including the one from A.I.R.C. spent at the Tumor Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA. Her research focused on  human papillomavirus (HPV)-related tumorigenesis, with a particular emphasis on the study of viral genetic heterogeneity in male and female genital tumors as well as head and neck cancers, and the characterization of HPV genotypes and variants in several populations, including immunocompromised individuals. Her research interest also delves into host susceptibility and the accumulation of genetic alterations in the carcinogenesis of virus-driven tumors, further advancing the understanding of HPV's role in cancer development.