Francesco Lescai

Associate Professor of Bioinformatics

I am leading a lab of Computational Genomics, at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology. My lab is focused on developing methods and open-source bioinformatics pipelines to unmask and better understand patterns of genomic variation associated with complex phenotypes.

Section Leader, Head of Bioinformatics

I led the bioinformatics team responsible for the analysis of the Institute’s next generation sequencing data. This includes support and coordination of genomics and statistical analysis projects, in a wide range of areas spanning from Human genetics to immunology, microbiology and metagenomics. I contributed to the planning and development of biocomputing facilities, both on premises and on the cloud, and I represented the institute externally with the relevant stakeholders.

Senior Scientist, Biomedical Genomics

I was part of the Global Product Management team for the CLC Genomics Workbench and Genomics Server; I was responsible for the development of scientific content related to QIAGEN bioinformatics portfolio in the biomedical sector, and for leading scientific collaborations with other institutions and key opinion leaders.

Associate Professor, Human Genomics and Bioinformatics

My work has been focused on large-scale data analysis of next  generation sequencing in psychiatric  disorders (schizophrenia, depression,  bipolar  disorder,  autism).

I have been responsible of the development of data analysis pipelines for genome sequences of large cohorts  of patients and  healthy individuals, and for the deployment of the analyses on different high performance computing infrastructures.

Senior Research Associate in Genome Analysis

Leader of Bioinformatics at the Centre for Translational Genomics “GOSgene".   Leader of the NGS Consortium at the University High Performance Computing cluster  “Legion”.

Research Associate in Genome Analysis

Development of the analysis pipeline for exome sequencing,  SNPs and INDELs calling, annotation and statistics.

As part  of UCL Genomics, I have collaborated  with several research groups to provide the expertise in statistical and bioinformatic analysis of NGS data. I have participated to the Wellcome Trust  Case Control  Consortium for the analysis of one of the WTCC2  genome-wide association  studies.

Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology

PhD thesis entitled: Genetic determinants of human longevity: hypothesis-driven investigation through new technologies.
Supervisor: Prof. Claudio Franceschi
External reviewers: Professor Eline Slagboom (NL) and Professor Stefan Schreiber (D)

European Doctorate in Biotechnology (EDBT)

Laurea in Medical Biotechnology

First class honours, cum laude.
Thesis in Immunology II, on "Genetic Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease: studies on polymorphisms of interleukin 6 gene".

Scientific School Leaving Certificate

School Diploma with score of 60/60

Member, Regional Forum for Research and Innovation

The Forum is an advisory body to the Regional Government on Research and Innovation policies.

As member, I am contributing in particular on the topics of Genomics, large scale data analysis and computing, population-scale screening and how the concept of “responsible research and innovation” applies to public policies on these subjects, especially when involving industry.

President, Collegio dei Probiviri

Chair of the body regulating the code of conduct and bioethics for the national Association.

Executive Board Member

Rapporteur, Expert Group on Revision of the Bieconomy Strategy

Member of the Advisory Committee on Skills for Bioeconomy 2020

Chairman

President

Member, Expert Group on Education

Member, Regional Forum for Research and Innovation

The Forum is an advisory body to the Regional Government on Research and Innovation policies.

As member, I am contributing in particular on the topics of Genomics, large scale data analysis and computing, population-scale screening and how the concept of “responsible research and innovation” applies to public policies on these subjects, especially when involving industry.