Our team of specialist
Golgenia is based on the interaction between scientists expert in areas ranging from glycosciences, to imaging, molecular, systems and computational technologies with a group of leaders in the field of clinical applications and pharmaceutical industry.
Golgenia's team and culture
Golgenia believes in scientific innovation and technological development, and in exploring new scientific areas, specifically, Golgi-based glycosylation, to discover and target novel cancer- relevant mechanisms within the Golgi glycosylation apparatus.
Leadership Team
Golgenia's team has the harmonious blend of cultures in fundamental and industrial research necessary for continued innovation in cancer therapy.
Our team
Alberto Luini
Chief Scientific Officer
Graduated in Medicine in Milan and spent long periods at the Weizmann Institute (Israel) and the NIH (US) before returning to Italy, now at the IEOS-CNR in Naples. He is a permanent member of the EMBO and Academia Europaea, and has served in the EMBL Technical Advisory Committee, the ERC Advanced Panel, and the EuroBioimaging Governing Board. He was Director of the Cell Biology and Oncology Department at the Mario Negri Sud Institute; co-founder and first coordinator of the European Light Microscopy Initiative (ELMI); co-founder of the Telethon Initiative for the Discovery of Drug Targets (TIDID). He worked in different areas of biology including drug metabolism, microscopy technologies and cell biology and oncology, with a continued focus on the Golgi complex. He demonstrated the mechanism of intra-Golgi transport (Cell, 1998); developed modern correlative video-electron microscopy (CLEM) (JCB, 2000); discovered novel mechanisms of membrane fission (Nature, 1999); and, more relevant to Golgenia’s goals, unraveled the mechanisms linking glycosylation with intra-Golgi transport. This has led to the discovery of the glyco-oncogenes and to the development of inhibitors of their action for the treatment of solid tumors.
Alberto Luini
Chief Scientific Officer
Graduated in Medicine in Milan and spent long periods at the Weizmann Institute (Israel) and the NIH (US) before returning to Italy, now at the IEOS-CNR in Naples. He is a permanent member of the EMBO and Academia Europaea, and has served in the EMBL Technical Advisory Committee, the ERC Advanced Panel, and the EuroBioimaging Governing Board. He was Director of the Cell Biology and Oncology Department at the Mario Negri Sud Institute; co-founder and first coordinator of the European Light Microscopy Initiative (ELMI); co-founder of the Telethon Initiative for the Discovery of Drug Targets (TIDID). He worked in different areas of biology including drug metabolism, microscopy technologies and cell biology and oncology, with a continued focus on the Golgi complex. He demonstrated the mechanism of intra-Golgi transport (Cell, 1998); developed modern correlative video-electron microscopy (CLEM) (JCB, 2000); discovered novel mechanisms of membrane fission (Nature, 1999); and, more relevant to Golgenia’s goals, unraveled the mechanisms linking glycosylation with intra-Golgi transport. This has led to the discovery of the glyco-oncogenes and to the development of inhibitors of their action for the treatment of solid tumors.
Khalid Islam
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Khalid Islam has over 35 years of experience in Biotech & Pharma and a decade in academia. He has been the Chairman of Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Gentium S.p.A. (2009-2014; GENT; sold to Jazz Pharma 1b$). Previously he was President & CEO of Arpida (1999-2008; ARPN, SWX) and earlier had various roles at Hoechst Marion Rousell. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharma Inc. (FENC; North Carolina), Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX; Maryland) and Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. (Barcelona). He has been a member of the Board of Directors of listed companies including Immunomedics (IMMU; sold to Gilead for 21b$), Processa Pharma (PCSA; Maryland), Karolinska Development (KDEV; Stockholm) Arpida AG (ARPN; Basel) and Molmed SpA (MLM.MI; Milano) and several private companies in the Nordics. He is an Advisor to the Venture Capital Groups Kurma BioFund (Paris) and Indaco (Milan).
He graduated in Biochemistry (Kings College, Univ. of London) and obtained his Dipl. I.C. and Ph.D. from Imperial College (Univ. of London).
Gianni Luini
Chief Operating Officer
Gianni Luini, after obtaining his high school leaving diploma in classical studies, studied political science at the Statale University in Milan for two years before deciding to take up a professional opportunity offered in the sales and commercial area of the tissue and cellulose sector, in the world of Italian large-scale distribution until 1990. From 1990 to 2010 he oversaw the commercial development of exports of Kartogroup spa in Lucca (cellulose products for household use) in the South West Europe Large-scale Distribution and held the role of European Trading Manager Kartogroup Spa. He was appointed board member of the Spanish and Benelux international subsidiaries. In 2010, he left Kartogroup to start his own business as founder and managing director of JMG srl, a manufacturing and import company in the disposable party sector, which became a leader in Italy and was sold in May 2021. He is currently export consultant for Italian manufacturing companies and paper mills in the European markets.
Michele Garufi
Board member
Mr Garufi is a Co-Founder of Nicox SA and he served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since the creation in March 1996 until June 1 and July 28, 2022 respectively. Prior to co-founding Nicox, his last position was as Vice President of the International Division and Director of Licensing at Recordati Spa and Chief Executive Officer of its Spanish subsidiary . In his career he was a co-founder and board member of several R&D start-up Companies and Pharma Specialty Companies . In addition to his role in Golgenia Srl , he is currently as well the co-founder and Board member of LaMed Pharma Srl , a Services Company to the Pharma Industry , and of NanoRetinal Inc., a US-based research ophthalmic Company. He is also Advisor to the Italian Venture Fund BIO Indaco. Mr Garufi earned a degree with honors in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Milan in 1977 and a pharmacist degree in 1989 from the University of Padova.
Fiorentino Izzo
BOARD MEMBER
Fiorentino Izzo is a medical doctor specialized in haematology and oncology. He has been in the last 20 years a first level medical director, for the Italian national healthcare system, in the medical oncology department of Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in the Hospital Physiotherapy Institutes (IFO). He has also been vice chairman of the Oncological Patients Association (AMO) by taking care of 1033 patients in 10 years. He has been assistant professor for 6 years at the medical oncology department of Regina Elena National Cancer Institute. He began his career as an in-house physician in the Chair of Haematology at the Sapienza University in Rome, where he spent 5 years. He published several scientific papers in international journals and attended national and international conferences.
Gianni Luini
Chief Operating Officer
Gianni Luini, after obtaining his high school leaving diploma in classical studies, studied political science at the Statale University in Milan for two years before deciding to take up a professional opportunity offered in the sales and commercial area of the tissue and cellulose sector, in the world of Italian large-scale distribution until 1990. From 1990 to 2010 he oversaw the commercial development of exports of Kartogroup spa in Lucca (cellulose products for household use) in the South West Europe Large-scale Distribution and held the role of European Trading Manager Kartogroup Spa. He was appointed board member of the Spanish and Benelux international subsidiaries. In 2010, he left Kartogroup to start his own business as founder and managing director of JMG srl, a manufacturing and import company in the disposable party sector, which became a leader in Italy and was sold in May 2021. He is currently export consultant for Italian manufacturing companies and paper mills in the European markets.
Fiorentino Izzo
BOARD MEMBER
Fiorentino Izzo is a medical doctor specialized in haematology and oncology. He has been in the last 20 years a first level medical director, for the Italian national healthcare system, in the medical oncology department of Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in the Hospital Physiotherapy Institutes (IFO). He has also been vice chairman of the Oncological Patients Association (AMO) by taking care of 1033 patients in 10 years. He has been assistant professor for 6 years at the medical oncology department of Regina Elena National Cancer Institute. He began his career as an in-house physician in the Chair of Haematology at the Sapienza University in Rome, where he spent 5 years. He published several scientific papers in international journals and attended national and international conferences.
Michele Garufi
Board member
Mr Garufi is a Co-Founder of Nicox SA and he served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since the creation in March 1996 until June 1 and July 28, 2022 respectively. Prior to co-founding Nicox, his last position was as Vice President of the International Division and Director of Licensing at Recordati Spa and Chief Executive Officer of its Spanish subsidiary . In his career he was a co-founder and board member of several R&D start-up Companies and Pharma Specialty Companies . In addition to his role in Golgenia Srl , he is currently as well the co-founder and Board member of LaMed Pharma Srl , a Services Company to the Pharma Industry , and of NanoRetinal Inc., a US-based research ophthalmic Company. He is also Advisor to the Italian Venture Fund BIO Indaco. Mr Garufi earned a degree with honors in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Milan in 1977 and a pharmacist degree in 1989 from the University of Padova.
Khalid Islam
ADVISOR
Dr. Khalid Islam has over 35 years of experience in Biotech & Pharma and a decade in academia. He has been the Chairman of Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Gentium S.p.A. (2009-2014; GENT; sold to Jazz Pharma 1b$). Previously he was President & CEO of Arpida (1999-2008; ARPN, SWX) and earlier had various roles at Hoechst Marion Rousell. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharma Inc. (FENC; North Carolina), Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX; Maryland) and Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. (Barcelona). He has been a member of the Board of Directors of listed companies including Immunomedics (IMMU; sold to Gilead for 21b$), Processa Pharma (PCSA; Maryland), Karolinska Development (KDEV; Stockholm) Arpida AG (ARPN; Basel) and Molmed SpA (MLM.MI; Milano) and several private companies in the Nordics. He is an Advisor to the Venture Capital Groups Kurma BioFund (Paris) and Indaco (Milan).
He graduated in Biochemistry (Kings College, Univ. of London) and obtained his Dipl. I.C. and Ph.D. from Imperial College (Univ. of London).
Franco Luini
ADVISOR
Franco Luini is founder and director of Tucano Srl, since 1984.
His company opened subsidiary company throughout the world, such as in the US (2004), in China (2007), in Switzerland (2015) and in India (2023). Previously, He worked in Brazil gaining expertise in import/export (1983).
He is former partner and director of the company Griffies (1982/82); employee at D&C in Bologna, large customer area (1980); sales agent for Also spa, large distribution area (1978/79); employee at ICS company, export sales area Europe and Middle East (1976/77); and employee by soc. Luigi CLIVIO company, commercial area (1975). Franco Luini graduated in Business Administration in 1974, at Università Bocconi, Milan, Italy.
Guido Rasi
ADVISOR
Full professor of Microbiology at Tor Vergata University of Rome; Advisor to the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci as expert in field of pharmaceuticals;
Member of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Former Executive Director of European Medicines Agency (EMA), (2011-2020).
Former Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities, (ICMRA), (2019-2021).Former Director-General of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), (2008-2011) and member of the Management Board.Former Director of Research at the Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine of the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome (2005-2008).He is author of more hundreds publication.
Franco Luini
ADVISOR
Franco Luini is founder and director of Tucano Srl, since 1984.
His company opened subsidiary company throughout the world, such as in the US (2004), in China (2007), in Switzerland (2015) and in India (2023). Previously, He worked in Brazil gaining expertise in import/export (1983).
He is former partner and director of the company Griffies (1982/82); employee at D&C in Bologna, large customer area (1980); sales agent for Also spa, large distribution area (1978/79); employee at ICS company, export sales area Europe and Middle East (1976/77); and employee by soc. Luigi CLIVIO company, commercial area (1975). Franco Luini graduated in Business Administration in 1974, at Università Bocconi, Milan, Italy.
Guido Rasi
ADVISOR
Full professor of Microbiology at Tor Vergata University of Rome; Advisor to the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci as expert in field of pharmaceuticals;
Member of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Former Executive Director of European Medicines Agency (EMA), (2011-2020).
Former Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities, (ICMRA), (2019-2021).Former Director-General of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), (2008-2011) and member of the Management Board.Former Director of Research at the Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine of the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome (2005-2008).He is author of more hundreds publication.
Collaborators
Silvia Soddu
PhD
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena
Director of UOSD Cellular Network and Molecular Therapeutic Targets
Research and Advanced Technologies Department
IRCCS – Regina Elena National Cancer Institute (IRE)
Pasquale Zizza
PhD
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena
Senior Scientist Translational Oncology Research Unit
Giovanni Blandino
PhD
Instituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena
Research and Advanced Technologies Department, Director
Translational Oncology Research Unit, Head
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