LABORATORY OF VIROLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Dr. Catanese received her Master's degree in Medical Biotechnology from Federico II University in Naples, Italy where she studied the molecular basis for the regulation of gene expression in cells exposed to oxidative stress. She subsequently moved to IRBM/Merck Research Laboratories, where, supported by a European Union research grant, she studied the structural and functional characteristics of the HCV glycoproteins with the aim of identifying targets for antiviral therapy. Her doctoral research, which was performed at IRBM/MRL in Pomezia, focused on the role of scavenger receptor type B class 1 (SR-B1) in HCV entry. She received her Ph.D. from Tor Vergata University in Rome in 2007. Dr. Catanese joined the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C in June 2007 and she is currently investigating the mechanisms underlying host-virus interactions.