From the classrooms of Naples to the laboratories of Philadelphia, Dr. Antonio Giordano explains how his discoveries are transforming cancer research, and what the future holds for medicine.
Italy has several excellences in the world of medical research: one of these is Antonio Giordano , President of the Sbarro Health Research Organization and Professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, United States. Giordano promotes initiatives supporting scientific research, patients and their families, in order to finance projects for the fight against cancer. He is engaged on the front line and he has already obtained important results, such as the discovery of antitumor agents that could be effective in the treatment of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.
Recently included in the world elite of scientists, what was your path? How did you arrive in the USA?
The path that brought me to the United States was motivated by the desire to expand my academic and scientific horizons. After completing my studies in Italy, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some highly prestigious international research centers and the United States was, and still is, one of the main hub for biomedical research . I had the extraordinary opportunity in New York to join the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of the most prestigious research centers in the world, founded by James Watson, Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of the structure of DNA . Meeting and collaborate with Watson represented a turning point in my scientific career. Naples and Italy remain my roots, but the American scientific environment offered me tools and opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.
What does it mean to be an Italian scientist in the USA?
Being an Italian scientist in the United States is a double responsibility and a great privilege. Italy has given me the qualitative foundations of study, fundamental qualities in the competitive world of research, helping me to see scientific problems from a different and more creative perspective. This combines well with the Anglo-Saxon approach to science, which is encouraged and not slowed down as, at times, can happen in Italy.
What should scientific research in the field of oncology focus on today?
We have certainly made great strides forward, but we need to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development. This would allow us the development of more personalized and effective therapies. Furthermore, it is essential to invest in prevention and early diagnosis , taking advantage of new technologies available, such as genomics and biomarker analysis. In the long term, collaboration between different disciplines will be essential to tackle cancer from different angles.
What do you think about the use of Artificial Intelligence? Have you already started using it in your field?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an extraordinary resource for scientific research and we have already started using it in our field. AI allows us the analysis of big data, which would otherwise be impossible to manage. It also allows us the identification of complex patterns that could escape the human eye. With my team we have explored the use of virtual reality in some pathologies, including oncology. AI, if well supported by a team of experts, can bring great benefits to the biomedical field.
Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University's College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, to receive the latest updates.
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