Associate Professor Orazio Vittorio

A/Prof Orazio Vittorio is an internationally recognised leader in cancer biology, whose groundbreaking discoveries are transforming our understanding of copper metabolism in cancer progression and therapy resistance.

A Scientia Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Team Leader at the Children's Cancer Institute, A/Prof Vittorio has made world-first discoveries that have catalysed new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies, particularly for aggressive neuronal cancers and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

A/Prof Vittorio’s career trajectory exemplifies excellence, leadership, and potential for future impact in breast cancer research. His body of work (>110 publications, 6 patents, >4300 citations, H-index 37) includes landmark discoveries, such as the first demonstration that copper accumulation in tumour cells promotes immune evasion via PD-L1 upregulation (Cancer Research 2020) and myeloid cell reprogramming (Nature Communications 2024). These breakthroughs directly inspired new clinical approaches, notably collaborations with Prof Linda Vahdat at Memorial Sloan Kettering, leading to clinical trials testing copper chelation therapy in TNBC patients (NCT00195091; NCT06134375).

His leadership is further evidenced by his success in securing >$7 million in competitive research funding as sole CI and >$10 million as co-CI over the past five years. He has also contributed to two clinical trials: a European study using radiolabelled copper PET imaging (EudraCT: 2018-004667-30) and an Australian clinical trial investigating GD2-CAR T cell therapy in diffuse midline gliomas (LEVI'S CATCH). His strategic roles at UNSW, the Kids Cancer Alliance, and in international consortia (COGNO, SIOPEN) have expanded his translational research capabilities and fostered strong academic–clinical–industry partnerships. Awarded the Cancer Institute NSW Outstanding Career Development Fellowship (2020), the Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2021), and Cure Cancer Australia Research Award (2022), A/Prof Vittorio has firmly established himself as an emerging global leader.