Vincenzo Cerullo: What if we had a vaccine for tailored cancer therapy?

What are your research topics?

My main research interest is to develop innovative cancer vaccines using viruses as the starting building blocks. Viruses are a great resource as they have evolved together with us humans. In fact, while tumours are very much obscured from our immune system, viruses are visible. Consequently, to trick our immune system into thinking that tumours are viruses and as such have to be destroyed.

Where and how does the topic of your research have an impact?

Hopefully and most importantly, it will affect the lives of cancer patients who will be treated with the new drugs. The drugs my team and , a spin-off company I founded together with the University of Helsinki, are developing should be in clinical use starting from the end of 2019.

For me and my laboratory, it is very important that our research has an impact on society. To make that happen, I believe it is vital to promote the commercialisation of our discoveries. This not only affects cancer treatment in general but promotes international capital investment in Finland, like has been the case with VALO therapeutics.

For science dissemination, I’m also organising or participating in events such as ,  and .

What is particularly inspiring in your field right now?

A lot of people have inspired and inspire me in my career development, especially my former supervisors and some eminent Finnish scientists. The topic that fascinates me the most is understanding how we can capitalise on our pre-existing immunity and turn it against cancer. 

Vincenzo Cerullo is the professor of biological drug development at the Faculty of Pharmacy.

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