Dr Flavia Pichiorri is a Los Angeles-based cancer researcher and scientific writer whose work focuses on translating laboratory discoveries into therapies for patients with blood cancers. Her research centres on haematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma and acute leukaemia, with particular expertise in therapeutic targets including CD38 and CD84, as well as radiation-based treatment strategies.
Born in Rome, Italy, Pichiorri grew up in a family strongly connected to analytical fields. Her mother worked in statistics and organisational science, while her father was a mechanical engineer involved in large industrial projects across Europe and the Middle East. This environment encouraged structured thinking and problem-solving from an early age.
She studied classical literature during secondary school before pursuing molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. In 1999 she completed a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Enzymology, graduating with top honours. Her early research explored enzyme polymorphisms and protein interactions before she began studying growth factors involved in multiple myeloma.
Pichiorri later moved to the United States, where she conducted research at Thomas Jefferson University and The Ohio State University. Her work on tumour biology and epigenetic regulation in multiple myeloma led to a widely cited scientific publication that helped expand understanding of the disease.
Over time she built a career in translational cancer science, contributing to the development of targeted therapies and early-phase clinical research programmes. Her work has included antibody-based therapies, immune-based approaches, and radiolabelled treatments aimed at improving outcomes for patients with blood cancers.
Today, Pichiorri continues to focus on bridging scientific discovery and clinical application while also working as a scientific writer and mentor in translational research.
Flavia Pichiorri on Translating Cancer Science Into Real Therapies
Q: You grew up in Rome. What first shaped your interest in science?
I grew up in a family where analytical thinking was part of daily life. My mother worked in statistics and organisational research, and my father was a mechanical engineer who worked on large international projects. Conversations at home often revolved around problem-solving.
At the same time, I spent much of my childhood outdoors in the countryside along the Appia Antica. I practised show jumping for nearly twenty years. Horse riding taught me discipline and resilience very early in life.
Those lessons later translated directly into how I approach scientific work.
Q: Your academic path began in classical studies before you moved into science. How did that transition happen?
In secondary school I studied classical literature, which meant a lot of Latin and Greek. That training teaches you to think carefully about structure and logic.
Later I decided to pursue molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. I completed a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Enzymology in 1999. My early laboratory work focused on enzyme polymorphisms and protein-substrate interactions.
Soon after graduating, I joined the Italian National Research Council, where I began studying growth factors involved in multiple myeloma cell proliferation. That experience introduced me to the disease that would define much of my research career.
Q: Why did you decide to focus on multiple myeloma and blood cancers?
At the time I started working in this field, patients with multiple myeloma often survived only a short period after diagnosis. Treatment options were limited.
There was clearly a major need for both basic biological research and clinical innovation. I realised that understanding the molecular mechanisms of the disease could eventually lead to better therapies.
That idea became the foundation of my career.
Q: You later moved to the United States for research. What did that period teach you?
I joined laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University and later The Ohio State University. My research focused on tumour suppressor genes and fragile site DNA regions that contribute to cancer development.
That period was important because it exposed me to large collaborative research environments. It also showed me how laboratory discoveries could be translated into clinical programmes.
One example was work involving Clusterin as a circulating biomarker for colon cancer, which led to the development of a patented diagnostic assay.
Q: One of your most cited publications explored epigenetic changes in multiple myeloma. What did that research show?
Our work demonstrated that multiple myeloma progression is influenced not only by genetic mutations but also by epigenetic mechanisms regulated by oncogenic pathways such as c-Myc.
At the time, this helped broaden how researchers understood plasma cell degeneration. It suggested that the disease involved more complex biological regulation than previously thought.
The study was widely cited because it opened new directions for therapeutic research.
Q: Your career has focused heavily on translational science. What does that mean in practice?
Translational science is essentially about connecting laboratory discovery with clinical application.
You develop an idea in the laboratory, test it in preclinical models, then evaluate whether it can move into early-phase clinical trials. The results from those trials then guide new laboratory experiments.
It is a continuous cycle between the bench and the clinic.
Q: What kinds of therapies has your research explored?
Several of my projects have focused on antibody-based therapies targeting proteins expressed on cancer cells. One major area involves CD38, which is commonly expressed in multiple myeloma.
We have also studied radiolabelled antibodies that deliver radiation directly to tumour cells. Another area of research involves immune-based therapies designed to help immune cells recognise and eliminate cancer stem cells.
In addition, our team identified CD84 as a potential therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia.
Q: What philosophy guides your work as a scientist?
For me, success in science is not about how quickly something is published. It is about whether the conclusions stand the test of time.
Meaningful scientific progress requires careful validation and intellectual independence. Sometimes the most important discoveries come from questioning established assumptions.
Science moves forward through curiosity and evidence.
Q: What motivates you to keep working in this field?
I rarely dwell on past successes because science evolves quickly. What keeps me motivated is curiosity.
Each day presents new questions. Staying engaged with those questions is what keeps the work meaningful.
Ultimately, the goal is always the same: to develop knowledge that may eventually help patients.
Pallavi Singal is the Vice President of Content at ztudium, where she leads innovative content strategies and oversees the development of high-impact editorial initiatives. With a strong background in digital media and a passion for storytelling, Pallavi plays a pivotal role in scaling the content operations for ztudium’s platforms, including Businessabc, Citiesabc, and IntelligentHQ, Wisdomia.ai, MStores, and many others. Her expertise spans content creation, SEO, and digital marketing, driving engagement and growth across multiple channels. Pallavi’s work is characterised by a keen insight into emerging trends in business, technologies like AI, blockchain, metaverse and others, and society, making her a trusted voice in the industry.
