Dr. Marco Fiorillo

Current positions

Research Associate Fellow

Biography

I graduated from the University of Calabria, Italy, having completed an MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology in 2012. Then, I started my PhD in the laboratory of Prof. Anna Rita Cappello at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria (Italy). The main focus of my work was to study the role of new natural statin-like compounds with effects on hydroxy-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMGCR) in hypercholesteraemic models (in vitro and in vivo).

During my PhD program, I visited the laboratory of Prof. Michael Lisanti and Prof. Federica Sotgia at the University of Manchester, where I became involved in anti-cancer drug discovery projects, also in the development of various drug-screening technologies targeting cancer stem cells (CSC). During these years, we developed and patented a novel approaches to cancer therapy, using graphene oxide to target cancer stem cells.

After completing my PhD, I worked as a Research Associate Fellow for 6 months at University of Manchester (Paterson Institute). Here, we found several compounds that target mitochondrial biogenesis and can eradicate breast cancer stem cells. In September 2016, I held a Lecturer position in Biochemistry of Biotechnology-derived products and Xenobiotics at the Pharmacy Dept., University of Calabria.

I took up my current role as a Research Associate Fellow at the Biomedical Research Centre of University of Salford in February 2017.