Francesco Bertolini
Francesco Bertolini born in Milan, Italy, Sept 8, 1961; Married with Laura, father of three sons.
Scopus Author ID:7005152585
ORCID ID 0000-0001-5660-3255
Researcher ID FYO-1287-2022
Current position
Dr. Bertolini is currently the Director of the Laboratory of Hematology/Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, the largest comprehensive cancer center in Italy.
He takes care of patients and leads research programs in hematology/oncology, angiogenesis, immunotherapy, stem cell biology and transplantation.
Dr. Bertolini has published original research papers in different cancer-related fields, namely blood transfusion, stem cell transplantation, animal models of cancer, metronomic chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic and immune-therapy over a period of more than thirty years, generating robust networks with the international experts in these fields. These achievements were obtained combining the lead of a translational research laboratory (including animal models) with diagnostic and clinical activities, including care of cancer patients affected by hematological malignancies.
Major research achievements
In the 1985-1995 decade Dr Bertolini has developed and published a novel procedure for the preparation and storage of platelet concentrates that is currently in use in most transfusion centres worldwide. In the same timeframe he was also instrumental in the development of blood filters able to reduce alloimmunization and transfusion reactions.
From 1990 to 1998 he pioneered the field of cord blood collection and transplant. He realized in Milan the first EU cord blood bank and the first Italian cord blood transplants in patients. He also published procedures for ex vivo stem cell expansion and the first EU pilot clinical trial in the field.
From 1998 onward, at the European Institute of Oncology, Dr Bertolini published seminal studies about the biology of circulating endothelial cells and their progenitors, the development of metronomic chemotherapy and of anti-angiogenic therapies of cancer, the role of adipose tissue progenitors in cancer development and progression, and the development of optimal combinatorial therapies including checkpoint inhibitors. His research has led to novel biomarkers and to clinical protocols involving anti-angiogenic drugs in cancer. Dr Bertolini has also pioneered studies on the use of NSG mice in preclinical models of hematological diseases and of several types of solid tumors.
Education
1980: High School Degree (Liceo Classico), Milan
1986: MD degree summa cum laude, Medical School of the University of Milan.
1989: Post-doctoral specialization degree (Board) in Clinical and Laboratory Hematology, Medical School of the University of Milan.
1991-1993: PhD in Experimental Medicine (Hematology-Oncology), Medical School of the Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
2006: Masterclass in Health Business Administration, University of Milan.
Work
1981-1986: Medical student in the blood research section and in the laboratory of immunology at the Blood Transfusion and Transplant Immunology Institute (Centro Trasfusionale e di Immunologia dei Trapianti), of the Milan University Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico).
1989-1990: Visiting Research Scientist, Cardeza Foundation for Hematological Research, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. Laboratory of Scott Murphy, MD.
1989-1995: Medical assistant, Blood Transfusion and Transplant Immunology Institute, Department of Hematology, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan. Since 1992, head of the stem cell laboratory devoted to stem cell collection from umbilical cord blood as part of the European Cord Blood Bank Project. Other fields of interests: cytokine-mediated mobilization of stem cells into peripheral blood, stem cell expansion and gene transfer into hematopoietic progenitor cells. Platelet transfusion, leuko-depletion of blood components.
1995-1998: Vice-Director and Head of the Experimental Hematology-Oncology Lab, Division of Medical Oncology, Scientific Institute (IRCCS) Maugeri Foundation, Pavia Medical Center, Pavia.
1998-onward: Director (formerly Vice-Director, 1998-2000, and Co-Director, 2001-2005) Division of Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Milan.
2022-onward: PI at Onco-Tech Lab, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS and Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Current clinical interests: Diagnosis and treatment of hematological malignancies. Dr. Bertolini’s lab is in charge for the molecular (NGS, PCR, FISH, cytogenetic, etc) and cytometric diagnoses of myeloid and lymphoid malignancies at the European Institute of Oncology.
Current research intrests: Immunotherapy, in vitro and in vivo models of hematopoiesis, adipose progenitor cells and cancer, angiogenesis and angiogenesis inhibitors, preclinical animal models of neoplasia. Autologous and allogeneic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells.
