Chiara Maria Mazzanti

Dr. Chiara Maria Mazzanti holds a degree in Biological Sciences, a PhD in Experimental Oncology and Tumor Biomorphology, and a specialization in Clinical Pathology from the University of Pisa. She has extensive experience in cancer genomics, gained through years of research at the NCI/NIH (Bethesda, USA) and Cancer Research UK (London). Since 2013, she has directed the Genomics and Transcriptomics Section at Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza (FPS), where she built the genomics lab from scratch, working closely with her team to establish a strong foundation in the field.

Dr. Mazzanti’s research is primarily focused on glioblastoma and sarcoma, two particularly complex cancers. She has developed a solid local network of clinicians and scientists, and under her leadership, her team successfully collected several tumor samples matched with blood and PBMCs in collaboration with hospitals in Pisa and Livorno. Additionally, her group pioneered the development of 3D patient-derived glioblastoma organoids, supported by a grant from FPS. It is her belief that more and more, the answers we are looking for are in what we observe, in the images we can take of the tumor. All snapshots or videos of tumors, organoids, or cells, whether live or fixed, provide valuable information. With the exploitation of modern advanced technologies, we can reach results beyond human limits. This belief drives Dr. Mazzanti’s research as she seeks to uncover deeper insights into tumor behavior. By combining cutting-edge genomic technologies with advanced imaging and artificial intelligence, her team aims to surpass current scientific limitations.

Collaboration is central to Dr. Mazzanti’s approach. She values both national and international partnerships and sees multidisciplinary collaboration as crucial to achieving significant progress. Recently, Dr. Mazzanti was awarded the prestigious AIRC grant in the glioblastoma research field, a recognition of the team’s dedication and hard work. Her ultimate goal is to overcome the current stagnation in glioblastoma and sarcoma research, placing personalized medicine at the heart of her laboratory’s mission.