Leandro Gallo, PhD

A Little About Me

I am a researcher with multidisciplinary training and publications in molecular biology, stem cell biology, cancer biology, cellular transduction pathways, and organ-on-a-chip.

Origin: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Undergraduate work: I began my research career as an undergraduate at Hunter College in New York City, where I participated in the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS). This experience enabled me to volunteer in Dr. David Mootoo's lab, Department of Chemistry, where I learned total synthesis of carbohydrates with anti-HIV activity.

Doctoral work: I pursued a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California San Diego under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel J. Donoghue. There, I received robust training in Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology, focusing on mapping the function of activating mutations in the kinase domain of IKKβ, the central regulatory kinase of the inflammatory NFκB pathway. My research identified that these mutations, initially found in drug-resistant hematological cancers, drive abnormal activation of Lys63-linked ubiquitination, JAK-STAT and MAPK-ERK pathways, promoting tumor proliferation, survival, and resistance to therapy. This doctoral work identified novel inhibitors to treat IKKβ-mutant cancer, such as targeting the ubiquitin pathway with small molecules.

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Postdoctoral work: In the James J Hickman Hybrid Systems lab at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, I developed a pro-gerontic model of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) using human induced-pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cortical neurons. This innovative microphysiology system (MPS), or organ-on-a-chip, models hallmark of AD and features signatures of cortical aging and senescence, allowing for real-time recordings of neuronal long-term potentiation (LTP) in response to pathogenic signals like amyloid-β (Aβ) and tauopathy, as well as therapeutic responses. This platform is now being employed in drug discovery and repurposing programs at Hesperos, Inc. I recently expanded this work by developing a tauopathy model of central and peripheral AD utilizing a neuromuscular junction (NMJ) model composed of hiPSC-derived skeletal muscle and motoneurons. This platform now enables real-time functional recordings of NMJ activity, such as muscle contractile fidelity and muscle fatigue indices. I am applying this functional NMJ system to study other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, I am finalizing some studies about how the human immune system responds to opioid addiction, such as fentanyl and codeine.

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Fun & Hobbies: Exercise, play the violin, bake delicious cheesecake, travel the world, enjoy phenomenal cuisine, read novels, make artisanal candles.