Vladimir Katanaev

Prof. Vladimir Katanaev is a Full Professor at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Medicine, affiliated with the Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism and the Centre for Translational Research in Onco-haematology. His research focuses on oncogenic signaling pathways, particularly the Wnt signaling pathway's role in cancer and developmental biology. He combines fundamental and translational research to develop anti-cancer therapies, including Wnt inhibitors and novel drug candidates. His work also extends to G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling mechanisms and biomimetic nanocoatings inspired by biological structures.

Educated at Krasnoyarsk and Moscow State Universities, he completed his PhD at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and a postdoc at Columbia University (USA). Key roles include leading a research group at the University of Konstanz (2005–2011) and joining the University of Lausanne as an associate professor before moving to UNIGE in 2018. His lab investigates Wnt pathway inhibitors, GNAO1-related encephalopathies, and synthetic applications of biological nanocoatings.

Research highlights include identifying natural product-based anticancer agents, developing personalized therapies for genetic disorders, and exploring light-interacting nanomaterials. Collaborators include postdoctoral fellows and scientific collaborators like Jana Valnohova and Gonzalo Solis. His work bridges basic science and clinical translation, aiming to advance oncology and neurology treatments.