Education
PhD in Pathology and Experimental Neuropathology
Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan
Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
November 2012 – February 2016
Thesis: “CX3CR1+ intestinal macrophages at the crossroad of tissue repair and tumor development”
Supervisor: Dr. Paola Allavena
Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine
University of Milan, Italy
October 2012
Thesis: “Role of intestinal macrophages in experimental models of acute inflammation and carcinogenesis induced by inflammation in mice”
Supervisor: Dr. Massimo Locati
Graduated with full marks
Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Biotechnologies
University of Milan, Italy
March 2010
Thesis: “Analysis of peripheral blood in HCV-positive patients with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma”
Supervisor: Dr. Maurizio Sampietro
Graduated with full marks
Academic background
Current role – Assistant Professor
Previous experiences
- Senior Fellow
Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Milan, Italy
September 2019 – February 2025 - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, QMUL, UK
November 2016 – May 2019 - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Molecular Medicine, Division of Medicine, University College London, UK
July 2016 – October 2016 - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
February 2016 – June 2016
Membership and leadership roles
- Under-40 collaborator on PNRR-MAD-2022-12376756, 2022
- Review Editor for the section of Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy within Frontiers in Immunology and Frontiers in Oncology
- Grant revision for the French National Research Agency (ANR)
- Reviewer for Journal of Immunology Research
My research is centered on tumor immunology, with a particular focus on the role of macrophages and immune microenvironment dynamics in cancer progression and response to therapy. By integrating immunology, cancer biology, and genetic engineering, I aim to uncover novel immunotherapeutic strategies. My work leverages cutting-edge approaches, including CRISPR whole-genome editing, oncolytic virus engineering, and immune profiling, to explore how tumors reprogram immune cells both locally and systemically, ultimately influencing treatment efficacy.
- Portale F, Carriero R, Iovino M, Kunderfranco P, Pandini M, Marelli G, … Di Mitri D. “C/EBPβ-dependent autophagy inhibition hinders NK cell function in cancer”, Nat Commun, 2024
- Marelli G, Morina N, Portale F, Pandini M, Iovino M, Di Conza G, Ho PC, Di Mitri D. “Lipid-loaded macrophages as new therapeutic target in cancer”, J Immunother Cancer, 2022
- Masetti M, Carriero R, Portale F, Marelli G, …, Di Mitri D. “Lipid-loaded tumor-associated macrophages sustain tumor growth and invasiveness in prostate cancer.“ J Exp Med., 2022
- Marelli G*, Chard LS*, Yuan M, Di Gioia C, Miao J., Cheng Z., Liu P., Ahmed J., Gangeswaran R., Lemoine N.R. and Wang, Y. “A systemically deliverable Vaccinia virus with increased capacity for inter- and intra-tumoral spread effectively treats pancreatic cancer” * Equal contribution, Journal for Immunotherapy of cancer, 2021
- Marelli G, Erreni M, Anselmo A, Taverniti V, Guglielmetti S, Mantovani A, Allavena P., “Heme Oxygenase-1 production by intestinal CX3CR1+ macrophages, promotes resolution of inflammation and protects against carcinogenesis”, Cancer Research, 2017