Christiano Marconi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate, Dept. of Neurosurgery
For cancer to survive and grow, it needs to first manipulate and hide from the immune system. We found that mRNA vaccines can awaken and invigorate the immune system allowing it to fight cancer cells. By studying cancer cells, we can identify the mutated proteins that distinguish them from healthy cells. We can encode these proteins in the mRNA to teach the immune system to better recognize and kill cancer cells.
Dr. Christiano Marconi is a postdoctoral associate in the Dept. of Neurosurgery. He studies the anti-cancer properties of mRNA vaccines. His goal is to design an optimized mRNA template that can be quickly personalized and administered to any patient.
Core Standards
SC.912.L.14.52
Explain the basic functions of the human immune system, including specific and nonspecific immune response, vaccines, and antibiotics.
SC.912.L.14.6
Explain the significance of genetic factors, environmental factors, and pathogenic agents to health from the perspectives of both individual and public health.
SC.912.L.16.8
Explain the relationship between mutation, cell cycle, and uncontrolled cell growth potentially resulting in cancer.
SC.912.L.16.10
Evaluate the impact of biotechnology on the individual, society and the environment, including medical and ethical issues.
SC.912.N.1.7
Recognize the role of creativity in constructing scientific questions, methods and explanations.
