Dr. Vanesa Gregorc

Dr. Vanesa Gregorc graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Perugia and subsequently specialised in Medical Oncology summa cum laude. She is currently Director of Clinical Research and Innovation and Deputy Scientific Director of INOC – Istituto Nazionale Oncologico Candiolo IRCCS. She has more than 25 years of experience in clinical oncology, scientific research and innovation, with a strong focus on promoting access to innovative therapies and advanced treatment approaches.

During her professional training in Italy, Switzerland and the United States, she developed extensive expertise in clinical and translational research. In 2001, she joined San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, where she coordinated the Thoracic Oncology Programme. In 2015, she was appointed Director of the Thoracic, Melanoma and Head and Neck Oncology Unit within the Department of Medical Oncology.

In 2020, she became Director of the Strategic Oncology Diagnostic and Therapeutic Innovation Programme and subsequently served as Medical Area Coordinator and Project Leader for OECI Accreditation. From 2021 to January 2025, she was Director of the Medical Area and Medical Oncology Service, including the Day Hospital and Inpatient Unit, at INOC. She subsequently assumed responsibility for clinical research, networking and the Institute’s internationalisation activities.

Throughout her career, she has held several national and international institutional roles. These include membership of the Board of the European Organisation of Cancer Institutes (OECI), coordination of the National Lung Cancer Research Programme within the Alliance Against Cancer (ACC), and participation in the ACC Working Groups on Lung Cancer, Melanoma, Immunology and Genomics. She was also appointed by the Italian Ministry of Health to committees involved in defining the first National Health Research Programme, allocating funding for Current and Finalised Research, recognising and confirming IRCCS institutions, and appointing Scientific Directors. She also serves on advisory boards of national and international oncology institutions.

Dr. Gregorc is the author and co author of more than 110 peer reviewed scientific publications and has served as Principal Investigator in numerous Phase I, II and III sponsored and investigator initiated clinical trials. Her research focuses predominantly on lung cancer, as well as head and neck cancers, melanoma, breast and gynaecological cancers, across neoadjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic settings. Her work includes the development and evaluation of novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies, as well as precision medicine approaches supported by comprehensive molecular profiling routinely performed at the Institute.

She also collaborates with patient associations and foundations and is actively involved in educational initiatives in schools aimed at promoting cancer prevention and health awareness.