Prof. Massimo Libra

Dr. Massimo Libra is a professor of general pathology at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania (Catania, Italy). He is the director of the Translational Oncology and Functional Genomics Laboratory in the same department. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Catania in 1995. He was a post-fellow at the National Cancer Institute in Aviano (Italy) with a Specialization in Oncology. In 2002, he received his Ph.D. degree in Oncology from the University of Catania. He was a visiting scientist at UCLA and East Carolina University. His research is focused on defining the molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and progression of tumors and the identification of new elements for a more effective diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer. In detail, he studies the activation of Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK-MAPK and PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathways and their pharmacological targeting, the cross-talk between the p53 pathway and other pathways (Yin Yang 1, Stathmin), associated with the development of cancer, and the study of the tumor microenvironment (NGAL, OPN, MMPs, cytokines).