Oncologist
IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna Italy, Italy
My name is Maria Cristina Manara and I am a senior investigator (permanent staff) of the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology of the Rizzoli Institute (Bologna, Italy). I believe that networking is essential in biomedical research and in the study of rare but devastating diseases such as bone tumours.
I am a medical oncologist who dedicated my life to the study of musculoskeletal tumours and to translational research to identify new targets on which design innovative therapeutic protocols.
During my career, I have gained documented experience on the: i) pre-clinical development of bone sarcoma (mainly osteosarcoma and Ewing
sarcoma) models (cell lines, primary cultures, and patient-derived-xenografts) with particular interest to identify prognostic biomarkers and new therapeutic targets to be tested in the treatment of bone sarcoma; ii) analysis of the mechanisms of pharmacologic resistance; iii) 3D cell cultures and co-cultures to study tumour proliferation, aggressiveness, and response to drug treatments.
I have a very collaborative nature and an aptitude to work in a group with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of biological mechanisms and treatment of this tumour.
