Luigi Russo

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT LUIGI RUSSO

PMO Lead, Medicinal Chemist and Ph.D. in Microbiology. Leading a group of Project Managers and a project portfolio of expansion of a pharmaceutical facility, technology transfer of products and transformation/integration initiatives. During my over ten-yearly experience in the pharma industry I have covered several roles in Project Management, Technical Business Management, Manufacturing Technology and Product Development Service focusing on small and large molecules, biologics and cytotoxic drugs.During my experimental Master thesis at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry of the University of Naples “Federico II”, I studied the structure-activity relationship of several bioactive peptides, focusing my interests on the synthesis and characterization of membrane-active antimicrobial polymers. My PhD studies at the Experimental Medicine Department of the Second University of Naples focused on molecular virology. I performed in vitro pharmacological assays on mammalian cells infected by several virus models (herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, human parainfluenza virus type 3, rotavirus).As part of my graduate education I spent three months at the Department of Clinical and Biological Studies of the University of Turin, where I refined my cell and tissue culture skills to investigate the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of infection of respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus.Subsequently I joined for seven months the laboratory of Prof. Arthur Grossman at Stanford University, with whom I still maintain an active collaboration. During my time at Stanford, I exploited the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a host organism for the production of a algae-based oral recombinant vaccine against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis, while improving my skills in molecular biology and cloning techniques. This experience also improved my ability to adapt to new environments and work in a highly competitive cutting-edge institution.While having a strong motivation towards science, I also enjoy visual arts: I am a professional illustrator and a photographer. Furthermore, I am a dynamic, resolute, pragmatic and trustworthy person.