Filippo Veglia

Filippo Veglia, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at The Wistar Institute, where he leads research in the Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program within the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center. He returned to Wistar in December 2023 after serving as an Assistant Member at Moffitt Cancer Center in the Department of Immuno-Oncology and Neuro-Oncology Program from 2020-2023.

Dr. Veglia is an expert in myeloid cell biology, cancer immunology, and tumor metabolism. His research focuses on understanding how the tumor microenvironment, particularly in glioblastoma (the deadliest form of brain cancer), reprograms the metabolism and function of myeloid cells to create an immunosuppressive environment that helps tumors evade immune responses. His lab has made significant discoveries regarding histone lactylation and its role in promoting immunosuppressive activity in tumor-associated macrophages.

Dr. Veglia earned his Ph.D. in Immunology and Applied Biotechnology from Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy, and completed his postdoctoral training in the lab of Dr. Dmitry Gabrilovich at The Wistar Institute. His research has been published in high-impact journals including Nature, Immunity, and Cancer Discovery.

His recent publications demonstrate how glucose metabolism in tumor-associated macrophages drives histone lactylation, which promotes the expression of immunosuppressive molecules like IL-10. His work has revealed potential therapeutic targets such as PERK that could disrupt this immunosuppressive pathway and enhance immunotherapy effectiveness against brain cancer.

Dr. Veglia's laboratory includes Staff Scientist Alessandra De Leo, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellows Barbara Peixoto, Ph.D. and Alessio Ugolini, Ph.D., and Predoctoral Trainee Filippo Badii. His research has been supported by grants from The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the American Cancer Society.