My research focuses on the study of a blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome. In this disease bone marrow cells, called stem cells stop producing blood cells, acquire genetic defects and can initiate more aggressive diseases. There are very few drugs to treat myelodysplastic syndrome and there is an urgent need to find new effective therapies. In the latest years many specific defects to DNA, called mutations, were discovered in this disease. Such mutations affect genes which carry information for important functions of the body, in the case of myelodysplastic syndrome, the bone marrow is not able to produce blood cells properly. I am a PhD scientist and the major goal of my research is to understand the genetic basis of myelodysplastic syndrome in order to develop new cures for patients with these disorders. New therapies are needed to give patients more options for treatment. My current research focuses to integrate many genetic aspects of the disease to better identify precise targets for treatment.
Valeria Visconte, PhD, is Project Staff in the Department of Translational Hematology & Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Visconte's research focuses on the elucidation of genetic mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of bone marrow failure disorders, specifically myelodysplastic syndrome and integrates genetics with experimental therapeutics. Her research has been extensively involved in the investigation of the functional consequences of somatic mutations in a gene called splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1) in myelodysplastic syndromes and has spanned several aspects of disorders related to myelodysplastic syndrome. Dr. Visconte is also an assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and a problem based learning educator at the same institution.
Dr. Visconte received awards specific for her line of research. She received the American Society of Hematology Scholar Award (Basic/translational research), the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation Research Grant and the Vera & Joseph Dresner Foundation for MDS research. She is currently a recipient of a multi-PI R21 aiming to target defective spliceosomal pathways in myeloid malignancies, a Fast Track & Multi-Omics Funding from Lerner Research Institute and a VeloSano 9 Pilot Award.
Dr. Visconte completed a bachelor in Biology with summa cum laude at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy. After that she pursued a PhD in Molecular Genetics at the same institution. She completed two fellowship trainings: one at the NHLBI, NIH and one at Cleveland Clinic to pursue genomic studies of bone marrow failures, specifically myelodysplastic syndromes. Her scientific contributions in bone marrow failure disorders have led to 112 peer-reviewed articles and three book chapters.
Dr. Visconte is a scientific reviewer of a number of hematology journals and funding agencies. Her work was featured in article cover pages, plenary paper, commentary and podcasts in Blood journal and other hematology journals. She is an academic editor of Cancers journal. She is a former member of the American Society of Hematology, Scientific Committee, Iron and Heme and has served as conference moderator at several American Society of Hematology meetings.
Appointed
2010
Education & Fellowship
Fellowship- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD
Pre-Doctoral Visiting Fellow
2006-2007
Post-Doctoral Visiting Fellow
2007-2010
Fellowship-Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
2010-2014
Faculty appointment
Research associate, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
2014-2015
Project Staff, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
2015-present
Assistant professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
2017-present
Problem based learning eductator
2022-present
Certification
Board-certified in Biology, “Federico II’’ University of Naples, Italy.
Awards & Honors
American Society of Hematology, Scientific Committee, Iron and Heme
American Society of Hematology Scholar Award
Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology
Active Memberships
American Society of Hematology
International PNH Interest Group (IPIG)
Research Interests:
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