Senior Advisor of Division Metabolic Cancer Reprogramming
Prof. Dr. Rer. Nat. Natalia Pellegata
“I have long-standing expertise on translational studies of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), rare tumors with malignant potential. My work has identified novel genes, pathways, biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NETs, with the potential to lead to personalized patients’ treatments. ”
Academic Career and Research Areas
For over 20 years, Natalia has studied neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), focusing on their molecular mechanisms, genetic risk, and new targeted therapies using translational animal models.
She identified CDKN1B (p27) mutations as the cause of a new human syndrome (MEN4), establishing this gene as a NET susceptibility factor. Using a corresponding rat model (MENX), she showed strong similarities with human tumors, enabling the discovery of new therapeutic pathways and the preclinical testing of targeted drugs, supported by functional imaging collaborations to monitor treatment response in vivo.
Fields of Work and Expertise
Neuroendocrine Tumors Preclinical in-vivo studies Drug Testing
Professional Background
Full Professor of Genetics, University of Pavia, Italy
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich
Head of Neuroendocrinology, Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Munich
Priv-Doz Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich
Principal Investigator, Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Munich
Honors and Awards
- 2022 - Associate Editor, Special Issue “MEN1” to be published in Frontiers in Endocrinology
- 2022 - Guest Editor, Special Issue “Translational Research on Neuroendocrine Tumors and Experimental Tumor Therapy” to be published in Cancers
- 2021 - Editorial Board of Frontiers in Endocrinology
- 2015 - Eleonore Trefftz Visiting Professorship for Women Scientists, Technical University of Dresden
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndromes associated with p27 mutations
Natalia at the European Congress of Endocrinology - 2016
ENS@T
SFB 205 Adrenal Research
