Mauro Giacca

Mauro Giacca is the Head of the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences at King’s College London. He holds a Medical Degree from the University of Trieste and a PhD in Microbiology and Virology from the University of Genoa. Until 2019, he served as Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), a UN organization in Italy. His research focuses on developing biological therapies for the heart, including gene therapy, cardiac regeneration, and understanding SARS-CoV-2 impacts on cardiovascular systems.

Key achievements include founding startups like Forcefield Therapeutics and Heqet Therapeutics, which develop cardiovascular biologics. Giacca is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and has received prestigious grants like the ERC Advanced Investigator Grant. His work spans over 400 publications, covering viral vectors, RNA therapeutics, and myocardial infarction treatments. He also serves on scientific boards of global institutions and leads initiatives in cardio-oncology and spatial biology.

Recent studies include identifying cardioprotective factors via AAV vectors, analyzing SARS-CoV-2’s effect on lung and cardiac tissues, and exploring miRNA roles in heart regeneration. Giacca’s labs investigate mechanisms underlying heart failure, stem cell therapies, and drug delivery innovations. He actively participates in international conferences and editorial roles, emphasizing translational research and clinical application of discoveries.