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Leonardo Salmena

Associate Professor

Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Orcid identifier0000-0003-4023-658X
  • Associate Professor
    Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • (416) 978-3341 (Work)
  • University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 4th Floor Rm 4306 (Lab) 4308 (Office)​, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2A8, Canada

BIO

Dr. Leonardo Salmena, Canada Reseach Chair in Signal Transduction and Gene Regulation in Cancer, is studying cell signaling to better understand the molecular basis of cancer. Signals transmitted from outside a cell send messages sparking biochemical reactions inside the cell. Salmena and his research team are focusing on how these signals are transmitted, and what happens when the messaging goes awry.

Salmena’s research program aims to identify novel vulnerabilities in cancer, including fatal leukemia and pancreatic cancer, that can be targeted with existing or new drugs. Better understanding the molecular basis of these cancers may lead to better prevention and treatment strategies.

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Assistant Professor
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada2014 - 2019
  • Instructor in Medicine
    Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States2010 - 2012

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Affiliate Scientist
    Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada2012 - present
  • Adjunct Scientist
    Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada2011 - present

DEGREES

  • Ph.D. Medical Biophysics, Cancer Biology, Cancer Genetics, T-cell Immunology
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada2000 - 2005
  • M.Sc. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology, Cancer Therapeutics, Drug Resistance Mechanisms
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada1997 - 1999
  • H. B.Sc. (graduated with distinction), Toxicology Specialist
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada1992 - 1997

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States2007 - 2010
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States2005 - 2007
    Cancer Researcher

INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

  • PRiME (Precision Medicine Initiative)
  • Data Sciences Institute (DSI)