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The systems biology approach with Andrea Califano – part two


In part two of this five-part interview series we hear about the networks-based methods that Dr Califano (Columbia University, New York, USA) is using to uncover the action of oncology therapeutics.

Dr Califano is the Clyde and Helen Wu Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology, in the departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. He also serves as Associate Director for Bioinformatics in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr Califano received a doctoral degree in Physics from the University of Florence in 1985. Following a postdoc at MIT he joined the IBM TJ Watson Research Center. In 2000 he co-founded First Genetic Trust, Inc. and in 2008 he co-funded Therasis, Inc., a company dedicated to the development of combination therapy approaches. Dr Califano’s lab integrates both experimental and computational research, has pioneered the first genome-wide regulatory model of human cells and a variety of methods for the identification of master regulators of aberrant transformation and physiological differentiation/maturation events and their controlling genetic alterations. These approaches have led to the discovery of several new genes in glioma, leukemia, lymphoma, and prostate cancer that can be targeted pharmacologically to abrogate tumorigenesis. He has also pioneered network-based methods for the elucidation of mechanisms of action of drugs, drug synergy and drug sensitivity.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in this work. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.