Dr Pietro Taverna, PhD is Senior Director, Translational Pharmacology at Astex Pharmaceuticals, Pleasanton, CA, USA. Pietro obtained his doctoral training in Milan, Italy at State University (Biological Sciences, 1987) and at Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (1990). In 1992 he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK working in the Cellular Chemotherapy laboratory with Dr Bridget Hilland in the Mutagenesis Laboratorywith Drs. Tomas Lindahl and Barbara Sedgwick. In 1997 he moved to Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA to work as Research Associate Scientist in the Hematology Oncology Division directed by Dr Stan Gerson and in the Department of Radiation Oncology directed by Dr Tim Kinsella. In 2001 Pietro started his industry professional experience as Scientist at Pangene Corporation; he then served as Principal Scientist at Chiron Corporation, Emeryville, CA and as Senior Scientist at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA. Pietro joined SuperGen, Dublin, CA (predecessor to Astex) as Associated Director, Translational Pharmacologyin 2008 until present. Pietro has authored 42 publications in peer-reviewed journals and multiple abstracts at international scientific meetings.

DNA damage and repair; mechanisms of resistance to anticancer agents; early development of anticancer agents; development of pharmacodynamics markers and assays for drug development; development of biomarkers for patient selection; development of epigenetic therapy for cancer (DNA hypo-methylating agents); oncology translational research.