Dr. Carlo Croce stands as a preeminent figure in cancer genetics with a distinguished career spanning over five decades of groundbreaking research and leadership. Born in 1944, he earned his medical degree summa cum laude from La Sapienza University of Rome in 1969 before commencing his research career at the Wistar Institute of Biology and Anatomy in Philadelphia. He has held prestigious leadership positions including Director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University and currently serves as the John W. Wolfe Chair in Human Cancer Genetics at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James. Throughout his career, Dr. Croce has established himself as a visionary leader who has shaped the trajectory of cancer genetics research through strategic appointments and institutional building.
Dr. Croce's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression. His seminal 2002 discovery of microRNAs' role in cancer pathogenesis represents one of the most significant advances in oncology in recent decades, revealing an entirely new layer of genetic regulation in malignancy. He has pioneered the identification of critical oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that drive cancer development, providing essential insights into the earliest molecular changes that transform normal cells into malignant ones. This work has established the foundation for novel diagnostic approaches and targeted therapeutic strategies that exploit these genetic vulnerabilities in cancer cells.
As Director of the Institute of Genetics at The Ohio State University, Dr. Croce continues to lead innovative research that bridges basic science with clinical applications in cancer treatment. His leadership extends internationally through his professorship at the University of Ferrara School of Medicine in Italy, fostering transatlantic collaborations in cancer research. Recognized with numerous prestigious honors including the 2008 Albert Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research and membership in the National Academy of Sciences, his influence permeates the global cancer research community. Dr. Croce's current work focuses on translating genetic discoveries into precision medicine approaches that enable individualized cancer diagnosis and therapy, continuing his lifelong mission to transform cancer from a fatal disease into a manageable condition through scientific innovation.
