Paolo M. Fortina

Paolo M. Fortina, MD, PhD, is a Professor at the College of Life Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. His research bridges genomics, molecular diagnostics, and microfabrication technology to study disease mechanisms and develop clinical solutions. Key focuses include genetic disorders (thalassemia, deafness, cystic fibrosis), cancer pathways (retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma), and platelet transcriptomics analyzed via next-generation sequencing.

His work integrates engineering and biology, evidenced by collaborations with biotech firms (Hitachi, Affymetrix) to design microfluidic chips for PCR, SNP typing, and array-based diagnostics. Current projects explore non-coding RNAs and exome sequencing in X-linked mental retardation and thrombocytopenia.

Publications demonstrate expertise in:

• Cancer biology (e.g., retinoblastoma DNA repair mechanisms)
• Transcriptomics (dermatology, exosome miRNAs)
• Immunology (T-cell plasticity)
• Bone formation pathways

He leads an active research laboratory, further detailed on his lab site.