Role
Full Professor of General Pathology, Head of the Molecular Oncology Laboratory (Oncolab), Coordinator of the interdisciplinary laboratory “Integrated Approach to Global Health,” Co-founder of the Center for Complexity and Biosystems at the University of Milan.
Bio
Caterina Anna Maria La Porta's distinguished academic and scientific career began with a solid background in general pathology and cell biology, oriented towards neuroscientific analysis and subsequently focusing on molecular oncology. As a full professor and head of the Oncolab Laboratory at the University of Milan, she focuses her research on tumor heterogeneity, focusing in particular on melanoma and breast cancer. Throughout her career, she has established international collaborations with prestigious institutions including MIT, Cornell University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Aalto University, and LMU in Germany. Since August 2026, she has been designated as the Urmila Agrawal Distinguished Visiting Chair Professor at IISc Bangalore, India, for one year.
In her integrated research, she has combined systems biology and quantitative biology with digital health, developing advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence-based diagnostic platforms to measure the dynamics of complex cellular networks and the progression of tumor metastases . These studies led to the development of the Ariadne platform. The in-depth analysis of pathophysiological alterations also includes studying the impact of the microbiome and environmental factors on the development of chronic degenerative diseases.
Included in the world Top 2% Scientist ranking drawn up by Stanford University, she is also an established scientific entrepreneur: in 2018 she co-founded the spin-off Complexdata, where she served as CEO from 2019 to 2026 (May), and as chair of the board of directors. Author of over 150 international publications, including the books Physics of Cancer (Cambridge University Press) and Inequalities and Health (Peter Lang), she combines teaching with ongoing outreach aimed at addressing inequalities in access to cancer care and prevention.