Mauro Pistello

Mauro Pistello, PhD, was born in 1961, graduated in Biological Sciences, curriculum Biomedicine, at the University of Padua and received the Ph.D. in Virus Immunobiology at the University of Pisa. From 2015 he is Full Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at the University of Pisa, Medical School. He teaches Microbiology and Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pisa and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.

He chairs the Retrovirus Centre, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa and Unità Operativa Virologia (UO Virology), a virology service of Pisa University Hospital. He is Director of the Specialization School in “Microbiology and Virology” University of Pisa, and member of various Italian Ministry of Health Commissions as well as of European and international scientific panels. He is co-founder and Scientific Director of Vectagene, start-up company and spin-off of University of Pisa, Red Biotech, molecular and cell biology activity.

His research activity extend from basic (carried out at the Retrovirus Centre) to applied and clinical (Pisa University hospital) research and is focused on: Identification of host targets for antiviral therapy and development of host-targeted antivirals; Study of virus host-interaction and mechanisms of pathogenesis, particularly of neurotropic and immunodeficiency viruses; Elucidation of the pathways to escape innate and adaptive immunity and resistance to antiviral therapy; Development of antiviral vaccines, particularly against mucosal infections; Development of viral vectors for gene therapy and vaccination. Such research activity is supported by European, national and regional grants and by private companies and foundations.