Prof Dr. Dolores Di Vizio | Big Data Analytics | Best Researcher Award
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | United States
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Current Positions
Prof. Dr. Dolores Di Vizio currently serves as a Professor of Surgery, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a position she has held since 2018. She also holds the title of Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program at Cedars-Sinai since 2022, where she plays a pivotal role in driving forward interdisciplinary cancer research and translational initiatives.
Suitability Summary
Prof. Di Vizio is an internationally recognized physician-scientist with a strong background in pathology, molecular biology, and oncology. Her career reflects a seamless integration of clinical insight and scientific innovation, particularly in the study of prostate and ovarian cancers. With leadership experience in multiple international societies, active roles in peer-review panels, and a robust publication and funding record, she is well-positioned to lead high-impact translational research. Her expertise in extracellular vesicles, large oncosomes, molecular diagnostics, and tumor microenvironment makes her a valuable asset to the scientific and medical community.
Education & Experience
Prof. Di Vizio earned her MD from the University of Naples Federico II in 1994, followed by a Residency in Anatomic Pathology at the same institution. She later obtained her PhD jointly from the University of Naples Federico II and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 2003. Her postdoctoral work included significant research fellowships at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. Academically, she has held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School and Cedars-Sinai, where she advanced from Assistant to Associate to full Professor. Additionally, she has served as Visiting Professor at top international institutions including POSTECH (South Korea), University of Trento (Italy), and Sapienza University (Rome).
Professional Development
Dr. Di Vizio has contributed significantly to institutional leadership and mentorship at Cedars-Sinai through roles on the Graduate Program Thesis Committee, Faculty Recruitment Committees, and the Graduate Education Governance Committee. She has also been deeply involved in organizing scientific symposiums and steering faculty searches in Urology, Pathology, and Radiology. Nationally and internationally, she has served as a grant reviewer for organizations such as the NIH, Department of Defense (CDMRP), Prostate Cancer UK, and the Israeli Ministry of Science. Her work on study sections and review panels reflects her thought leadership in oncology and translational medicine.
Research Focus
Prof. Di Vizio’s research centers on the biology and clinical translation of extracellular vesicles, particularly large oncosomes, in cancer progression. Her lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of EV-mediated tumor communication, explores exosomal biomarkers for cancer diagnostics, and studies the role of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in treatment response. She is also engaged in collaborative projects focused on exosomal SPHK1 in ovarian cancer and the development of novel liquid biopsy tools.
Honors & Awards
Among her many accolades, Prof. Di Vizio was awarded the K99-R00 NIH Pathway to Independence Award, the SBUR Research Scholar Award, and the UCLA SPORE in Prostate Cancer Career Development Award. She has been an active and elected member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV), where she also served as Chair of Communications and Membership. In 2023 and 2024, she chaired key ISEV conferences and workshops, and in 2025 she will chair the Gordon Research Conference on RNA Nanotechnology. Recently, she was also named the winner of the EV Super-Resolution Competition and Co-Lead for ISEV’s Blood Task Force Education & Outreach Working Group.
Selected Publication