Medical and Clinical Microbiology

Biography

Dr Giulio Tarro was born on July 9,1938 in Messina, Sicily, Dr Tarro is currently engaged in scientific research related to the separation and identification of tumour antigens present on cell membranes and their potential value in immunotherapy for cancer. Dr Tarro began his medical studies at Messina University in 1956. In 1960 continued at Naples University from which he received his M.D."summa cum laude” in 1962. In 1965 he went to the Children's Hospital Research Foundation at the University of Cincinnati, where he worked with Dr Albert B. Sabin as a Research associate for three years and subsequently in 1968 and 1969 he was assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics at the same University Naples and established a virology laboratory at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases with the help of a Research Contract from the National Cancer lnstitute (U.S.A.)and the professorship for Oncological Virology in 1972. In 1973 Dr Tarro worked as Senior Scientist at the Frederick Cancer Research Center with Dr Albert Sabin, who was then a special consultant for the National Cancer lnstitute. His most notable work provided experimental evidence for the association of Herpes viruses with cancer of the cervix. Although at first controversial, this work has been carried out by several laboratories using different techniques. And has been elected for membership of many academies and societies. He has also been the recipient of many awards and honours. Dr Tarro is life president of the T. and L. de Beaumont Bonelli Foundation for Cancer Research officially recognized by Italian presidential decree n. 36 of January 3, 1978.During 1979 he was engaged in research on an epidemic disease in Naples called the "dark disease". isolated the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and found antibody evidence that this virus was behind the epidemic. Chief Division Virology (1973-2003), Head Department Diagnostic Laboratories, (2003-2006). D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006 -. Since 2007 Chairman Committee of Biotechnologies and VirusSphere, World Academy Biomedical Technologies, UNESCO, Adjunct Professor Department Biology, Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia, recipient of the Sbarro Health Research Organization lifetime achievement award (2010).

Research Interest

His researches have been concerned with the characterization of specific virus-induced tumour antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in human cancer. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infant deaths in Naples and of tumor liberated protein as a tumor associated antigen, 55 kilodalton protein overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas.