Associate Professor Orazio Vittorio
Master Of Science in Biology 2006
PhD in Oncology 2011
Dr Vittorio is a cancer biologist with an international reputation in studying the mechanism of action of anti-cancer therapeutics in paediatric cancers. He is Scientia Associate Prof at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney and Team Leader at the Children鈥檚 Cancer Institute. He is the Head of the Metal Targeted Therapy & Immunology lab. 听He authored >100 papers in international journals, 6 book chapters and he is inventor on 6 patents.听 He has extensive experience in cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, nanomedicine and PET imaging. In the past 10 years Dr Vittorio secured competitive research funding of >$5 million as sole CI and >$10 million as co-CI. His recent investigations are focused on understanding the role of copper metabolism/homeostasis in progression of aggressive childhood cancers (Neuroblastoma, Lower-Grade-Glioma, DIPG and Glioblastoma). A/prof Vittorio was awarded the 鈥淥utstanding Career development Fellow鈥 of the year 2020 from the Cancer Institute New South Wales and the Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2021, and Cure Cancer Australia Research of the year 2022 in recognition of his achievements and dedication to childhood cancer research.听Dr Vittorio鈥檚 discovery that the level of copper in childhood neuroblastoma cells are higher than in normal cells is a world first achievement, and his development of anti-cancer therapeutics for both neuroblastoma and gliomas is internationally recognised. He also developed a PET imaging protocol using radiolabelled Copper to monitor cancer cell response to therapy in Neuroblastoma. Importantly, he was the first to discover that neuroblastoma and gliomas use copper to hide from the immune system attack, opening to the potential clinical use of copper chelation therapy as immunotherapy to boost anti-cancer immune response. Dr Vittorio鈥檚 strategic position at UNSW, the Children鈥檚 Cancer Institute and the Kids Cancer Alliance has allowed him to expand his research, build capacity in the field of copper targeting anticancer drugs and accelerate the translation of discoveries to the clinic.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2013-2015听听听听听听 UNSW Vice Chancellor's Postdoc Research Fellowship听
2014-2016听听听听听听 Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship听
2016听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Australian Institute of Nuclear Science Award听
2017-2018 听听听听听 The Lake Golf Charity Day Grant听
2017-2019听听听听听听 Cancer Institute NSW Career Development Fellowship听
2018-2019听听听听听听 Australia- Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme听
2018-2019 听听听听听 Cancer Australia鈥檚 Priority-driven Collab. Cancer Res Sch.
2018-2020听听听听听听 Australian Institute of Nuclear Science Award听
2019-2020 听听听听听 Tour de Cure Australia听
2020听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ARC LIEF听
2020-2021听听听听听听 The Zoe fight foundation听
2020-2021听听听听听听 Cancer sphere seed grant听
2021听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Tour de Cure Australia听
2020-2022听听听听听听 The Ross Trust Foundation Research grant听
2019-2023听听听听听听 NHMRC Career Development Fellowship听
2020-2025听听听听听听 Cancer Institute Program Grant听
2019-2026听听听听听听 UNSW Scientia Fellowship
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听2013听听听 Cancer Institute NSW Award: Outstanding Cancer Research of the Year
2015听听听 The SPOT Award 鈥 Childrens Cancer Institute
2017听听听 NanoMedicine Elevator Pitches Award, UNSW
2018听听听 UNSW Postgraduate Research Supervisor Award
2018听听听 ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress Gen猫ve Dec 2018 (Best Poster presentation).
2018听听听 Early Career Researcher Best Publication Award 2018 School of Women's and Children's health UNSW.
2020听听听 CINSW Outstanding Cancer Research CDF of the Year 2020.
2021听听听 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards
2022听听听 Cure Cancer Australia Research of the year
Copper metabolism; Cancer immunology; Single cell transcriptomics; Nanomedicine; Neuroblastoma, Low-Grade Glioma, Diffuse Midline Glioma, Glioblastoma, Triple Negative Breast Cancer.