Giulio Superti-Furga
Encyclopedia
Giulio Superti-Furga, PhD (* 17 May 1962 in Milan
) is an Italian molecular and systems biologist based in Vienna
, Austria.
Giulio Superti-Furga is the Scientific Director of CeMM; the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
.
Amongst his most significant scientific achievements to date are the elucidation of basic regulatory mechanisms of tyrosine kinases in human cancers and the discovery of fundamental organization principles of the proteome
of higher organisms, which is one of the most highly cited papers in the field. His work has directly contributed to a systems-level understanding of pathogen
infections in host cells and of the mechanism of action of specific drugs. He is an advocate for the adoption of systems biology
approaches for medicine and in particular for drug discovery
and aims to bridge basic research and the clinical world.
Giulio Superti-Furga has published some 90 manuscripts that have been collectively cited over 7,000 times. His current work focuses on protein complexes, molecular networks
and drugs relevant for leukemia
and host immune defense
mechanisms against pathogens.
(DSM) in Milan, Italy. He performed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Molecular Biology
at the University of Zurich
, at Genentech
Inc. in San Francisco and at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
(IMP) in Vienna. Giulio Superti-Furga was a post-doctoral fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
(EMBL) in Heidelberg and became Team Leader in 1995. From 1997 to 2000 he served as Guest Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Bologna
, Italy. In 2000, he co-founded the biotech company Cellzome Inc. and served as Scientific Director. Since 2005 he has been Scientific Director of CeMM; the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Giulio Superti-Furga is a Visiting Professor of Molecular Pharmacology
at the Medical University of Vienna
and is on the Scientific Advisory Board of several institutions. Giulio Superti-Furga chairs the board of the EMBL Alumni Association, which has ~1,500 members. In 2009, he was awarded the Knight Officer Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy
for his contributions to science. He is married and has two children.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
) is an Italian molecular and systems biologist based in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria.
Giulio Superti-Furga is the Scientific Director of CeMM; the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Austrian Academy of Sciences
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
.
Amongst his most significant scientific achievements to date are the elucidation of basic regulatory mechanisms of tyrosine kinases in human cancers and the discovery of fundamental organization principles of the proteome
Proteome
The proteome is the entire set of proteins expressed by a genome, cell, tissue or organism. More specifically, it is the set of expressed proteins in a given type of cells or an organism at a given time under defined conditions. The term is a portmanteau of proteins and genome.The term has been...
of higher organisms, which is one of the most highly cited papers in the field. His work has directly contributed to a systems-level understanding of pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
infections in host cells and of the mechanism of action of specific drugs. He is an advocate for the adoption of systems biology
Systems biology
Systems biology is a term used to describe a number of trends in bioscience research, and a movement which draws on those trends. Proponents describe systems biology as a biology-based inter-disciplinary study field that focuses on complex interactions in biological systems, claiming that it uses...
approaches for medicine and in particular for drug discovery
Drug discovery
In the fields of medicine, biotechnology and pharmacology, drug discovery is the process by which drugs are discovered or designed.In the past most drugs have been discovered either by identifying the active ingredient from traditional remedies or by serendipitous discovery...
and aims to bridge basic research and the clinical world.
Giulio Superti-Furga has published some 90 manuscripts that have been collectively cited over 7,000 times. His current work focuses on protein complexes, molecular networks
Interactome
Interactome is defined as the whole set of molecular interactions in cells. It is usually displayed as a directed graph. Molecular interactions can occur between molecules belonging to different biochemical families and also within a given family...
and drugs relevant for leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
and host immune defense
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
mechanisms against pathogens.
CV
Giulio Superti-Furga was educated at the German School of MilanGerman School of Milan
The German School of Milan , founded in 1886, is an international institution located in Milan, Italy....
(DSM) in Milan, Italy. He performed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, at Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
Inc. in San Francisco and at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology is a basic biomedical research center sponsored largely by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, and located in the Campus Vienna Biocenter ....
(IMP) in Vienna. Giulio Superti-Furga was a post-doctoral fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a molecular biology research institution supported by 20 European countries and Australia as associate member state. EMBL was created in 1974 and is an intergovernmental organisation funded by public research money from its member states...
(EMBL) in Heidelberg and became Team Leader in 1995. From 1997 to 2000 he served as Guest Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, Italy. In 2000, he co-founded the biotech company Cellzome Inc. and served as Scientific Director. Since 2005 he has been Scientific Director of CeMM; the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Giulio Superti-Furga is a Visiting Professor of Molecular Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at the Medical University of Vienna
Medical University of Vienna
The Medical University of Vienna is a medical university in Vienna, Austria.Formerly the faculty of medicine of the University of Vienna, became an independent university on January 1, 2004...
and is on the Scientific Advisory Board of several institutions. Giulio Superti-Furga chairs the board of the EMBL Alumni Association, which has ~1,500 members. In 2009, he was awarded the Knight Officer Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy
Italian orders of merit
There are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
for his contributions to science. He is married and has two children.
Honors
- 2004: Faculty of 1000Faculty of 1000Faculty of 1000 is a service for researchers and clinicians that provides ratings of and commentary on scientific research papers. The service acts as a filter, identifying and evaluating the most significant articles from biomedical research publications...
Biology, member, genomics section - 2005: European Molecular Biology OrganizationEuropean Molecular Biology OrganizationEMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The EMBO mission is to enable the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment....
(EMBO), member - 2007: Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
, corresponding member - 2008: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, member
- 2009: Order of Merit of the Republic of ItalyItalian orders of meritThere are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
, Knight Officer - 2009: Karl Landsteiner Prize by the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
- 2009: Advanced Investigator Grant of the European Research Council
- 2010: Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences
- 2010: Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
, full member - 2011: Research Prize of the City of Vienna
- 2011: Austrian Scientist of the Year 2011