Editor Profile
Prof. Massimo Zollo, Ph.D.
Full Professor
Present
University of Naples Federico II
Naples
Italy
Prof. Massimo Zollo, A Pioneer in Molecular Cell Biology, Human Genetics, and Cancer Research during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Massimo Zollo was born on October 08, 1963, in Naples, Italy. From a young age, Massimo was interested in the sciences, and in high school, he excelled in all his science classes, especially biology. His fascination with the mysteries of life and how our bodies functioned only grew stronger as he matured.
After completing his degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II in year 1989 (Magna Cum Laude), Massimo joined first the Laboratory of NIH-NIDDK Bethesda Maryland USA, leaded By Prof. Robert G. Martin and Prof. Graziella Persico at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IIGB) in Naples, where he worked as a researcher for three years. He then moved to the United States again to join the lab of Professor David Schlessinger at Washington Medical School of St. Luis (Emeritus at NIH, Bethesda USA) then move to Bay Area S. Francisco working at Genentech Inc. and then Applied Biosystems Inc. with Prof. Ellson-Y. Chen developing the ACGT center for Human Genome Project, as Group Leader and Associate Scientist working as the X- Chromosome sequencing Group Leader and specialist in Gene-hunting. Here he started his research work in the field of molecular biology and Human Genetics.
Molecular Cell Biology Research Massimo Zollo's research interest lies in molecular cell biology, Human Molecular Genetics where he has spent over two decades researching on the transcriptional regulation of genes associated with cancer. Back in Italy in 1995 he become Scientist at Telethon Institute of Genetics in Milan then in Naples till year 2004, where following an independent research line on Breast metastases target identifications supported by EU FP6 and EU FP7 grants, he move his laboratory at CEINGE Research Institute leading his own team. In 2006 he was appointed as Associate Professor at University Federico II of Naples teaching GENETICS at the Department of Molecular Medicine, then confirmed as Full Professor in Genetics in year 2018. His research contributions include unraveling the mechanisms of transcriptional control of miRNA, gene and oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In the Human Genetics and Cancer Research Massimo was interested in understanding the genetic basis of certain types of cancer (Breast and Brain Cancer) with focus on metastasis and immune-system and how these cells are coordinating actions in the tumor microenvironments. He uncovered how the PRUNEprotein, regulated the cell cycle, generatingenergies and influencing cellular metabolism by producing inorganic phosphates as sources of energy during the development of cancer. He was corresponding author in several high impact articles describing the mechanism on how this target gene is important for brain malignancies in pediatric carcer with focus on Medulloblastoma. Research on SARS-CoV-2 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across the world, Massimo Zollo put his expertise in molecular biology to use to study the viral RNA's unique features in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. This work has helped in developing diagnostic tools and new potential therapies at early stage of infection.He was appointed as Scientific director of the CEINGE the Task-Force Covid19 financed by Regione Campania leading 22 researchers working on Diagnostics, Genetics and therapeutics of Sars_Cov2.This latest effort is of importance because cancer mechanisms related to how to evade the immune system are very similar to the virus biology within immunoregulation, which is crucial for developing vaccines. Awards and Honors: Massimo Zollo's contributions to the fields of molecular biology, human genome project and cancer research have garnered him numerous awards and honors, including being the recipient of the prestigious " Investigator Award" from the Italian Association for Cancer (AIRC) as in the list of the top 10 grant applications in year 2011.
- Human Genetics
- Functional Genomics and Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology and Oncology
- Tumor Microenvironment – Metastasis and Metastatic Niche
- Paediatric Brain Tumors
- Cell immunology
- Central Nervous System (CNS) is driven to develop neurodevelopment inherited genetic disorders and how paediatric brain tumors are originated in cerebellum by Genetics and Functional genomics methodologies. Recently my team is involved additionally on Research on Sars-Cov-2 diagnostics, genetics and therapeutics on interaction of host Virus communication with host cells and with focus on brain
- Functional Genomics of PRUNE1 in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) Tied to Medulloblastoma (MB) and Other Tumors. Frontiers in Oncology ,2021, 11, 758146.
- Long-chain polyphosphates impair SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication Science Signaling 2021, 14(690), eabe5040.
- Metastatic group 3 medulloblastoma is driven by PRUNE1 targeting NME1-TGF-β-OTX2- SNAIL via PTEN inhibition. Brain. 2017 141(5), pp. 1300-1319.
- PRUNE is crucial for normal brain development and mutated in microcephaly with neurodevelopmental impairment. Brain.2017. 140(4), pp. 940-952.
- Gene Heterogeneity within Medulloblastoma Subgroups from author profile Cancer Cell. 31(6), pp. 737-754.e6 2017.
- PRUNE1 and NME/NDPK family proteins influence energy metabolism and signaling in cancer metastases. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2024 Jun;43(2):755-775.
- Targeting ATP2B1 impairs PI3K/Akt/FOXO signaling and reduces SARS-COV-2 infection and replication. EMBO Rep. 2024 May 30.
