Dr. Elisabetta Dejana is a distinguished Italian cell biologist born in 1951 who has established herself as a global authority in vascular biology and endothelial cell research. She currently serves as Professor in the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University in Sweden, a position she has held since 2015 where she leads the Vascular Biology program. Previously, she maintained a dual academic career as a professor of Pathology at both Uppsala University and the University of Milan from 2002, demonstrating her international scientific prominence. Her academic journey began with doctoral studies at the prestigious Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, where she developed the foundational expertise that would propel her to the forefront of vascular science.
Dr. Dejana's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of vascular system development and the critical role of endothelial cells in both physiological and pathological conditions. Her seminal work on the mechanisms regulating blood vessel formation has provided crucial insights into angiogenesis and vascular stability, with profound implications for cancer biology and therapeutic development. She has made particularly significant contributions to elucidating how endothelial cell junctions maintain vascular integrity and how their disruption contributes to disease processes including tumor growth and metastasis. Her extensive publication record has established foundational paradigms that continue to guide research in vascular biology laboratories worldwide.
As a senior scientific leader, Dr. Dejana has shaped the field of vascular biology through her rigorous experimental approach and conceptual clarity in understanding complex biological systems. Her affiliation with the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Milan has facilitated important translational research connecting basic vascular mechanisms to cancer therapeutics. She has mentored generations of scientists who now lead their own research groups across Europe and beyond, extending her intellectual legacy throughout the scientific community. Dr. Dejana continues to push the boundaries of vascular biology research at Uppsala University, investigating novel mechanisms that could lead to breakthroughs in treating vascular-related diseases and improving cancer therapies.
