Elena Rainero

Dr. Elena Rainero is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield. She holds a PhD in Human Biotechnology from the University of Piemonte Orientale, Italy. Her research focuses on the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) internalization in cancer cell migration and metabolism, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancers. She investigates how ECM components sustain cancer growth under nutrient deprivation and regulate invasive behaviors through endocytic pathways.

Her teaching includes modules such as BMS243 (Stem Cells, Aging, and Cancer) and BMS379 (Cancer Biology). She supervises PhD projects in molecular and cellular biology, exploring ECM interactions, proteases, and metabolic adaptations in cancer. Dr. Rainero’s work integrates cell biology, biochemistry, and imaging to unravel mechanisms linking ECM dynamics to cancer progression.

Key research themes include ECM-driven nutrient signaling, metabolic reprogramming in tumors, and the bi-directional interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Her lab employs 3D matrix models and high-content screening to identify novel therapeutic targets.