San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy

Dr. Naldini is Professor of Cell and Tissue Biology and of Gene and Cell Therapy at the San Raffaele University School of Medicine and Scientific Director of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy in Milan.

He pioneered the development and applications of lentiviral vectors for gene transfer, which have become one of the most widely used tools in biomedical research and are providing a long-sought hope of cures for several currently untreatable and otherwise deadly human diseases. His work focuses on development of new strategies to overcome the major hurdles to safe and effective gene transfer and has led to innovative solutions that are being translated into new therapeutics. Additionally, his research has driven novel insights into hematopoietic stem cell function, induction of immunological tolerance, and tumor angiogenesis. He also contributed to advancing the use of artificial nucleases for targeted genome editing in cell and gene therapy.

Dr. Naldini is Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), has been President of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT), has been appointed as expert on the Human Gene Editing Study of the US National Academies of Sciences and of Medicine, and serves on the Italian National Committee for Biosafety, Biotechnology and Life Sciences. He was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) and from ESGCT, an Honorary doctorate from the Vrije University, Brussel, the Jimenez Diaz Prize, the Beutler Prize from the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and the Jeantet-Collen Prize for Translational Medicine. He was nominated Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, one of the highest-ranking honors in Italy, by Italy’s President and Prime Minister. Dr. Naldini received his medical degree from the University of Torino and his PhD from the University of Rome.