Dr. Marco Emilio Bianchi is a distinguished scholar and leading authority in molecular biology with a distinguished career spanning over two decades at one of Italy's premier research institutions. He currently serves as Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan, a position he has held since November 2000 following his appointment as Associate Professor of General Microbiology. With a strong academic foundation including a Scientific High School degree from Liceo Leone XIII in Milan (1976) and a Laurea in Biological Sciences from the University of Milan (1980, with highest honors), Dr. Bianchi established his research credentials through significant work at Yale University in the Departments of Human Genetics, Biophysics, and Molecular Biochemistry. His career trajectory has spanned multiple prestigious Italian universities, including appointments as Associate Professor of General Microbiology at the University of Pavia (1987-1991) and the University of Milan (1991-1999). These formative experiences provided the foundation for his subsequent groundbreaking work on nuclear proteins and their role in inflammatory responses.
Dr. Bianchi is internationally recognized as a pioneering leader in the study of HMGB proteins, nuclear proteins released by accidentally dead cells that function as alarmines or Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns, triggering inflammatory, immune, and tissue regeneration responses. His groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed understanding of how these proteins contribute to disease processes, most notably through his demonstration of HMGB1's critical involvement in epilepsy and inflammation-associated tumor development. The therapeutic implications of his work are profound, as evidenced by his co-founding of HMGBiotech srl, a company dedicated to translating these discoveries into clinical applications. His laboratory's insights into the molecular mechanisms of HMGB proteins have established new paradigms in immunology and molecular pathology, with significant implications for treating inflammatory conditions, cancer, and neurological disorders. These discoveries have positioned HMGB proteins as critical targets for novel therapeutic interventions across multiple disease domains.
Beyond his laboratory research, Dr. Bianchi has played a pivotal role in shaping the scientific landscape through extensive leadership in academic administration and research direction. As EMBO member since 2000, Chairman of the Master of Sciences in Biotechnology and Medical Biology from 2017 to 2023, and former Director of the Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, he has significantly influenced the training of the next generation of scientists. His translational approach extends to cystic fibrosis research, where his team is investigating repurposed market molecules that inhibit HMGB1 as novel anti-inflammatory treatments. Currently directing multiple research initiatives at the intersection of molecular biology, immunology, and disease pathogenesis, Dr. Bianchi continues to advance our understanding of cellular damage responses. His ongoing work promises to further elucidate the complex relationship between cell death, inflammation, and tissue regeneration, offering new therapeutic avenues for numerous challenging medical conditions.
