Dr. Marco Colonna is a distinguished molecular immunologist and internationally recognized authority on innate immunity and immunoreceptor biology. He currently holds the prestigious Robert Rock Belliveau, MD Professorship in Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he also serves as Professor of Immunobiology and Professor of Medicine. Born in Parma, Italy, Dr. Colonna received his medical degree from Parma University in 1983 and completed his specialization in Internal Medicine there in 1988, followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. His distinguished career includes scientific membership at the Basel Institute for Immunology before joining Washington University in 2001, where his election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019 marked a significant milestone in his influential career.
Dr. Colonna's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of immunoreceptor biology, most notably through his identification of Killer cell Ig-like receptors and their HLA-C ligands, and the discovery of the LILR and TREM receptor families. His laboratory made the seminal observation that plasmacytoid dendritic cells serve as the primary source of type I interferons during anti-viral immune responses, a finding that has reshaped immunological approaches to viral infections. Additionally, his team identified innate lymphoid cells that produce IL-22 in mucosal tissues, establishing a crucial link between innate immunity and mucosal defense. These discoveries have not only advanced basic immunological principles but have also provided critical insights for developing therapeutic approaches to autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer.
Beyond his laboratory discoveries, Dr. Colonna's research program continues to push the boundaries of immunology through his investigation of innate lymphoid cells in mucosal immunity, plasmacytoid dendritic cells in host defense and autoimmunity, and the role of TREM2 in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. His laboratory's work on neuroimmune mechanisms has positioned him at the forefront of the growing intersection between immunology and neurodegenerative disease research. As an active mentor committed to training the next generation of scientists, he guides PhD and MSTP students through the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Colonna's ongoing research promises to further elucidate the complex interplay between innate immunity and human disease, with potential applications spanning from novel immunotherapies to interventions for neurodegenerative conditions.
