Meet the Editors

Leandro Castellano

What is your current position? What work are you currently involved in?
I’m a Reader in RNA Biology at the University of Sussex. I’m currently investigating the role of lncRNAs in cancer progression and the mechanism of miRNA target regulation through CRISPR/CAS9 based approaches

What is your "claim to fame"?
I have pioneered work on the involvement of miRNAs in cancer progression.

Why cancer/gene and cellular therapies research? How did this become your focus area?
I have a passion to discover the cellular mechanism promoting cancer initiation and progression and I have a goal to be able to use non-coding RNAs as effective molecular targets.

What cancer gene therapy research/paper/innovation would you consider timeless.
This is tricky. Generally speaking, cancer research seems to continually evolve and it is probably difficult to consider something related to this theme to be timeless. Maybe the role of p53 in cancer?

Who/What is your favourite researcher/lab/company?
Big laboratories that focus on non-coding RNAs in cancer, such as Lander’s lab or Guttman’s lab.  

What piece of advice would you give to young scientists/labs/companies?
Be perseverant, research is difficult and has it’s high and low periods. Carry on with your ideas and passions without stopping when you encounters difficulties on the way.

What gene and cellular therapy applications would you like to see more of in industry?
RNA Therapy

What kind of Cancer Gene Therapy publication would you like to see more of?
​Cellular communication in cancer microenvironment and immunotherapy