Alfonso Bellacosa

Alfonso Bellacosa is a Professor at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, where he leads the Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer (NDC) Lab within the Cancer Epigenetics Institute. He holds adjunct professorships at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine and College of Science and Technology, as well as at Drexel University College of Medicine. His research is centered on the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, epigenetic regulation, and their roles in cancer development.

Dr. Bellacosa earned his MD from the Catholic University Medical School in Rome and a PhD in Genetics from the University of Paris. He completed postdoctoral training in Molecular Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. His scientific contributions include the cloning of the AKT oncogene and the functional characterization of DNA repair enzymes MBD4 and TDG, particularly elucidating TDG’s pivotal role in active DNA demethylation.

His research interests span cancer epigenetics, DNA methylation/demethylation, genomic stability, and targeted cancer therapies. He investigates how dysregulation of these processes contributes to melanoma, colorectal cancer, and hereditary cancer syndromes. Current lab projects focus on TDG as a therapeutic target, inhibitors of TDG, and the interplay between epigenetics and immunotherapy response.

His recent publications (2023–2024) highlight ongoing research in AKT signaling, TDG-mediated demethylation, and MBD4’s role in genome regulation, reflecting a consistent trajectory in molecular oncology and epigenetics with translational implications.

• Sir Paul Girolami Award for Innovative Research in Biology and Medicine
• Italian American Medical Award
• PhD, avec la mention Très Honorable (2004)
• MD, 110/110 Summa Cum Laude (1988)
• Fellowship from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (1992–1994)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Lawrence Greenwald Foundation (1989–1991)

Dr. Bellacosa mentors several researchers, including Rossella Tricarico (Research Associate) and student interns Gabrielle and Carly Scher. He has secured continuous research funding and leads collaborative projects, including recent work with the Weizmann Institute of Science. His lab is actively involved in training through the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship and research volunteering programs.

The Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Lab employs biochemical, genetic, and genomic approaches to study genome and epigenome stability, with a focus on TDG and MBD4 enzymes, CpG site integrity, and their implications in cancer pathogenesis and therapy.