Dr. Marco Gallo
Positions
Adjunct Associate Professor
Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Member
Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute
Child Health & Wellness Researcher
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
Contact information
For media enquiries, contact
Kelly Johnston
Senior Communications Specialist
Please submit your media request here
Preferred method of communication
Administrative Assistant
Benedicta Odame-Ankrah
Email: b.odameankrah@ucalgary.ca
Telephone: 403.220.3029
Background
Educational Background
B.S. Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 2005
Doctor of Philosophy Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2010
Biography
Dr. Marco Gallo obtained his BSc degree at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC), and did his honors thesis under the supervision of Dr. David Baillie. He then moved to The University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC) to work on his PhD in Dr. Donald Riddle's laboratory. In 2010, he started his postdoctoral fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, ON) and worked with Dr. Peter Dirks, the founder of the cancer stem cell field in brain tumors. Here, Dr. Gallo specialized in epigenetic and epigenomic techniques
Research
Areas of Research
- Cancer stem cell epigenomics in brain tumors
Our group studies the epigenetics and epigenomics of brain tumors, with a special emphasis on glioblastoma (GBM). The modest success in treating and curing GBM is at least in part because this cancer is very heterogeneous, and not all tumor cells have the same functional properties. A few cells in these tumors behave like stem cells in a normal tissue, and are responsible for the continuous growth of the malignancy and its recurrence after treatment. We believe that targeting these cancer stem cells will be fundamental in fully eradicating GBM. We have recently discovered that cancer stem cells in GBM have a characteristic way of packaging their DNA. We are currently trying to characterize how cancer stem cells do this, and we are looking for ways to exploit this vulnerability with next generation therapeutics.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Publications
Are you the profile owner?
Login to edit.