FRANCESCA ROSATO
Bethesda (MD) ,USA
Summary
Accomplished Translational Immuno-Oncology Scientist with a PhD in Biological Signaling Studies (Summa Cum Laude) and extensive expertise in cancer immunology, glyco-oncology, and targeted therapeutic development. Currently a Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, leading mechanistic preclinical studies on combinatorial immunotherapy strategies to drive next-generation immune-engaging cancer therapies. Skilled in T-cell biology, biomarker discovery, immune profiling, cell-based assay design, and molecular biology techniques, with a strong track record in translational research bridging preclinical discovery to early clinical development. Proven ability to develop innovative biologic tools, execute complex mechanistic studies, and lead multidisciplinary collaborations, contributing to high-impact research across Europe and the United States. Recognized for scientific leadership, mentorship, and communication, with a passion for advancing transformative immunotherapies that improve patient outcomes globally.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
CENTER FOR IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY (CIO), CCR, NCI/NIH,
Bethesda, Maryland
10.2023 - Current
- Designed and executed translational immuno-oncology preclinical studies investigating combinatorial immunotherapy strategies. Generated mechanistic insights into immune-engaging therapeutic pathways. Supported development of next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
- Developed and optimized immune-profiling assays evaluating T-cell activation and cytokine signaling pathways. Investigated tumor–immune interactions across experimental models. Strengthened biomarker discovery efforts supporting early-stage immunotherapeutic.
- Conducted mechanistic studies examining immune-modulating therapies within the tumor microenvironment. Analyzed cellular and molecular responses to combination treatment strategies. Contributed data informing translational hypotheses for biologics development.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including immunologists, molecular biologists, and translational scientists. Integrated experimental findings into broader oncology research initiatives.
Accelerated research progress toward clinical-stage development programs. - Communicated high-impact scientific findings through research presentations and cross-institutional collaborations. Prepared manuscripts and scientific documentation for publication. Supported dissemination of translational cancer research aligned with institutional missions.
PhD Training Intern
Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB)
Graz, Austria
03.2020 - Current
Developed click-chemistry–based molecular tools for targeted delivery of anti-tumoral agents, achieving improvement in selective tumor-cell targeting and advancing next-generation precision biologics and antibody-drug conjugate platforms.
- Designed and conducted in vitro mechanistic studies assessing drug delivery efficiency, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity, generating actionable translational insights for tumor-specific therapeutic strategies.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams of chemists, molecular biologists, and bioengineers to accelerate development of innovative cancer therapeutics, contributing to multiple preclinical proof-of-concept studies.
- Applied advanced chemical biology and protein engineering techniques to design, synthetize, and characterize functional molecular conjugates, improving therapeutic specificity and reducing off-target effects.
- Strengthened translational research capabilities through cross-institutional collaborations, leading to co-authorship in peer-reviewed publications and supporting commercialization-focused oncology research initiatives.
MSCA PhD Researcher
BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies
Freiburg Im Breisgau, Germany
04.2019 - 06.2023
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude while conducting cutting-edge research on lectin-based therapeutic strategies, advancing understanding of glyco-oncology mechanisms and tumor-cell glycan interactions to inform next-generation immunotherapy development.
- Designed and executed translational studies investigating lectin-mediated targeting approaches in cancer, generating mechanistic insights that supported novel biologic tool development for immune-modulating therapies.
- Developed and implemented high-throughput screening assays to identify anti-adhesive inhibitors blocking bacterial invasiveness, contributing to translational strategies for preventing infection-related complications in clinical contexts.
- Applied advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques to dissect signaling pathways and host-pathogen interactions, strengthening mechanistic understanding of tumor microenvironment and immune modulation.
- Mentored and supervised undergraduate and graduate researchers, providing hands-on training in experimental design, data analysis, and laboratory techniques, while contributing to the University of Freiburg’s teaching and collaborative research initiatives.
Master’s Thesis Intern
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Bonn, Germany
03.2018 - 10.2018
- Conducted structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies to design and synthetize novel ligands targeting the human orphan receptor GPR27, advancing early-stage drug discovery and providing a pipeline of candidates for therapeutic development.
- Synthesized and characterized candidate molecules with potential agonistic activity using advanced pharmaceutical chemistry techniques, achieving predicted receptor binding efficiency and supporting lead optimization strategies.
- Performed in vitro biochemical and molecular assays to evaluate receptor–ligand interactions, generating mechanistic insights into signaling pathways relevant to metabolic and neurological disease targets.
- Integrated medicinal chemistry and molecular biology approaches to strengthen translational research initiatives, bridging compound design and biological validation, enabling streamlined progression from discovery to functional evaluation.
- Delivered a comprehensive Master’s thesis demonstrating robust experimental design, statistical data analysis, and scientific communication skills, contributing to a high-quality body of work recognized by thesis committee and potential publications.
Skills
- Translational Immuno-Oncology Research
- Cancer Immunology
- T-Cell Biology & Immune Modulation
- Glyco-Oncology & Lectin Biology
- Biomarker Discovery & Validation
- Immune Profiling & Immunoassay Development
- Cell-Based Assay Design
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Techniques
- Protein Engineering & Biological Therapeutics
- Drug Discovery & Target Validation
- Experimental Design & Data Analysis
- Mechanistic Research Investigation
- Tumor Microenvironment Analysis
- Scientific Writing & Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Research Project Leadership
- Cross-Functional Scientific Collaboration
- Translational Research Strategy
- Scientific Data Interpretation
- Mentorship & Academic Training
- Scientific Presentation & Communication
Education
- October 2016 – December 2018
M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies at UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA, Padova, Italy
Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Focus on advanced experimental pharmacology, protein engineering,
molecular immunology, pharmaceutical chemistry. - October 2013 – September 2016
B.Sc. in Biotechnologies at UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA, Padova, Italy
Knowledge of molecular pharmacology, molecular biology, structural biochemistry, organic chemistry,
recombinant DNA techniques, microbiology.
Languages
Italian (native) | English (professional proficiency) | German (basic) | Spanish (basic)
Scientific Training
Artificial Intelligence in medicine (2026), Translational Research in Clinical Oncology (2026), Principles of Clinical Pharmacology (2025), Statistics for Biomedical Researchers (2024), Biomedical Business Development for Scientists (2024)
Collaborations
- Marengo Therapeutics, USA
- Immunity Bío, USA
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB GmbH), Austria
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany
- BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria
- enGenes Biotech GmbH, Austria
- University Grenoble Alpes, CERMAV, CNRS, France
- University of Leeds, United Kingdom
- University of Konstanz, Germany
Outreach Activities
- Poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research Immuno-Oncology (AACR IO) 2026, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2026)
- Poster session at the Society for Immunotherapy of cancer (SITC) 2025 conference, National Harbor, MD, USA (2025)
- Speaker at the COST Action CA18132 GlycoNanoProbes ITN Symbicort conference, Prague, Czech
Republic (2022) - Invited speaker at the European Summit of Industrial Biotechnologies (ESIB) conference, Graz, Austria
(2022) - Invited speaker at the virtual event “Career opportunities for women in STEM”, Italy (2022)
- Co-organizer of the Symbicort European Network Training Event 4 (TE4), Freiburg, Germany (2021)
Awards
- Federal Technology Transfer Award (2024), Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Selected Key Publications
- Rosato, F., Santiago-Sanchez, G.S.,, Fabian, K.P. , Padget, M.R., Lee, J.K., Allen, C.T., Su, Z., Katragadda, M., Moisan, J., Bayliffe, A., Schlom, J., Hodge, J.W. Combination of a novel TCR Vβ chain-directed selective T cell activator with standard of care therapy for head and neck cancer improves antitumor responses and promotes regression of checkpoint-refractory tumor models. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 13:e013158 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2025-013158.
- Rosato, F., Pasupuleti, R., Tomasch, J., Meléndez, A. V., Kolanovic, D., Makshakova, O. N., Wiltschi, B., & Römer, W. A bispecific, crosslinking lectibody activates cytotoxic T cells and induces cancer cell death. Journal of Translational Medicine, 20, 578 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-022-03794-w.
- Santiago-Sanchez, G.S., Rosato, F., Fabian, K.P. , Padget, M.R., Lee, J.M., Schlom, J., Gulley, J., Hamilton, D.H., Bayliffe, A., Su, Z., Moisan, J., Katragadda, M. and Hodge, J.W.. Combination of PARP inhibition with a T cell receptor β chain-directed antibody fusion molecule promotes antitumor immunity. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (in revision).
- Rosato, F., Danielewicz, N., Tomasch, J., Graeber, J., Wiltschi, B., Striedner, G., Römer, W., & Mairhofer, J. (2023). Clickable Shiga Toxin B-subunit for drug delivery in cancer therapy. ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c00667.
- Rosato, F., Zahorska, E., Stober, K., Kuhaudomlarp, S., Meiers, J., Hauck, D., Reith, D., Gillon, E., Rox, K., Imberty, A., Römer, W., & Titz, A. (2023). Neutralizing the Impact of the Virulence Factor LecA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Human Cells with New Glycomimetic Inhibitors. Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed., 62: e202215535. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202215535.
Bibliography Link
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/francesca.rosato.1/collections/66748827/public/
Timeline
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
CENTER FOR IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY (CIO), CCR, NCI/NIH,
10.2023 - Current
PhD Training Intern
Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB)
03.2020 - Current
MSCA PhD Researcher
BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies
04.2019 - 06.2023
Master’s Thesis Intern
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
03.2018 - 10.2018