Davide Ruggero

Davide Ruggero is a Research Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), specializing in cancer biology with a focus on translation control mechanisms in oncogenesis. His work investigates how cancer cells hijack protein synthesis pathways to drive growth and metastasis, leading to novel therapeutic strategies targeting these vulnerabilities.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science, Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy (1994)
• PhD, Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy (1998)

Research Interests: His research explores molecular mechanisms underlying cancer's reliance on translation control, including viral-like hijacking of translation machinery, oncogenic stress responses, and drug resistance. Key areas include:

• Role of mRNA translation in cancer initiation and progression
• Design of translation inhibitors as cancer therapies
• Integration of metabolic and translational pathways

Grants & Awards:

• NIH R35CA242986: Mechanisms of regulated translation control in cancer (2019–2026)
• NIH R01CA154916: Prostate Cancer translational programs (2011–2022)
• Helen Diller Family Endowed Chair (2019)
• American Cancer Society Research Professor (2019)

Lab & Collaborations: His lab employs biochemical, genetic, and animal model approaches to dissect oncogenic translation mechanisms. Collaborators include institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Stanford University, focusing on translational therapeutics and precision medicine.