Deni S. Galileo

Deni S. Galileo is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware. His research focuses on cell migration mechanisms in the developing brain and malignant gliomas, utilizing chick embryo models and retroviral gene transfer technologies. His work explores how integrins, extracellular matrix molecules, and adhesion proteins like L1CAM regulate normal and abnormal cell migration. Key projects include developing novel models for studying glioma invasiveness and breast cancer brain metastases, and investigating the role of QSOX1 and PMCA4 in tumor progression.

• Education:
• B.A., New College of Florida
• Ph.D., University of Florida College of Medicine and Whitney Laboratory
• Postdoctoral Research, Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis)

Research interests span developmental neurobiology, tumor biology, and gene therapy. Current projects include:

• Control of glioma invasiveness via L1CAM
• Integrins' roles in neuronal migration and survival
• Ex vivo analysis of glioblastoma behavior using chick embryos

His lab has pioneered the use of replication-competent retroviral vectors and in ovo electroporation for widespread protein misexpression in developing brains. Collaborations with Dr. John Koh (Chemistry and Biochemistry) explore axon outgrowth on gene-patterned cell monolayers.

• Lab Resources: Office 232 Wolf Hall, Lab 248 Wolf Hall
• Teaching: Courses include Cell Biology (BISC 305), Developmental Neurobiology (BISC 439/639), and Special Topics in Modern Biological Microscopy (BISC 400).

Notable contributions include establishing chick embryo models for studying glioma and breast cancer metastasis to the brain, and discovering roles for integrin α6β1 and α8β1 in cell migration and survival.