Michael Lisanti, MD-PhD, FRSA, FRSB, FRSC

President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Lunella Biotech, Inc.

Manchester Area, United Kingdom

About

PUBLICATIONS & METRICS: I have been an active research scientist for over 35 years. Currently, I have >590 publications in peer-reviewed journals, with an H-index of 188, and > 127,000 citations, according to Google Scholar. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=R_7BALYAAAAJ&hl=en For the fields of Biology & Biochemistry, my laboratory is currently ranked number 1 in England, number 1 in the UK, and number 44 word-wide. https://research.com/scientists-rankings/biology-and-biochemistry/gb https://research.com/scientists-rankings/biology-and-biochemistry EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: I began my education at New York University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Chemistry. I obtained my MD-PhD degrees at Cornell University Medical College in Medicine, Cell Biology & Genetics. From 1992-97, I was a Fellow at the Whitehead Institute at MIT. After several distinguished appointments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Kimmel Cancer Center, I joined the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit in 2012 as Professor of Cancer Biology, at The University of Manchester, in the United Kingdom (UK). Following my appointment to the Kimmel Cancer Center in 2006, I was selected for the leadership of the Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics of Cancer. In 2009, I became the Chair of the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. I also served as the former Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Pathology. I have lectured in various MD and PhD level graduate courses in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Pharmacology, Pathology and Clinical Medicine. RECENT ADVANCES: In 2015, my laboratory discovered a new therapeutic approach for eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs), with simple FDA-approved antibiotics. More recently, in 2021, we identified high mitochondrial ATP production as a biomarker of "stemness" and metastatic potential, in aggressive cancer cells. Related Review Articles: 1. Caveolae and signalling in cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer. 2015 Apr; 15(4): 225-37. 2. Cancer metabolism: a therapeutic perspective. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology. 2017 Jan; 14: 11-31. 3. Cancer stem cell metabolism. Breast Cancer Res. 2016 May 24;18(1):55. 4. High ATP Production Fuels Cancer Drug Resistance and Metastasis: Implications for Mitochondrial ATP Depletion Therapy. Front Oncol. 2021 Oct 15;11:740720

Experience

  • President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lunella Biotech, an affiliate of CBN (Full-Time) at Lunella Biotech, Inc.
    Jun 2026 - Present · 1 mo

    LUNELLA Biotech, Inc., and its Translational Research Programme are fully-funded by an Angel Investor. LUNELLA's Goal(s) are the Prevention of Ageing and Cancer, as follows: 1. Identification and Optimisation of Senolytic Drugs for Extending Healthspan and Lifespan. 2. Discovery of Drugs and Supplements for Novel Rejuvenation Therapies. 3. Development of New Therapies for the Prevention of Cancer Metastasis.

  • Adjunct Scientist, Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), The Royal Ottawa Hospital (ROH) at The Royal
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

    This honorary appointment is an academic affiliation.

  • President of Lunella Biotech, Inc., an affiliate of the Canadian Bank Note Company (Full-Time) at Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited
    Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

    LUNELLA Biotech, Inc., and its Translational Research Programme are fully-funded by an Angel Investor. LUNELLA's Goal(s) are the Prevention of Ageing and Cancer, as follows: 1. Identification and Optimisation of Senolytic Drugs for Extending Healthspan and Lifespan. 2. Discovery of Drugs and Supplements for Novel Rejuvenation Therapies. 3. Development of New Therapies for the Prevention of Cancer Metastasis. For further details, please see: https://www.lunellabiotech.com/ https://www.healtheuropa.eu/michael-lisanti-antibiotics/88900/ https://sciencebeta.com/azithromycin-roxithromycin-senolytic/ https://goodip.io/iq/assignee/lunella-biotech-inc

  • Research.com (Salford, England, United Kingdom)
    • Ranked Top 45 in the UK (across all Scientific Disciplines)
      Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      My research laboratory is currently ranked number 45 in the UK, across all scientific disciplines. https://research.com/u/michael-p-lisanti

    • Ranked Top 5 in England and the UK (in Biology & Biochemistry)
      Mar 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

      Highly-Cited Scientist, for Impact in Biology & Biochemistry, in England, the UK and World-Wide. Professor Lisanti's laboratory is currently ranked number 1 in England, number 1 in the UK, and number 44 world-wide, in the fields of Biology & Biochemistry. https://research.com/scientists-rankings/biology-and-biochemistry/gb https://research.com/scientists-rankings/biology-and-biochemistry

  • The University of Salford (9 yrs 11 mos)
    • Honorary Professor, University of Salford
      Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

    • Professor and Chair of Translational Medicine; 0.6 FTE
      Aug 2016 - Jul 2024 · 8 yrs

      Raised > 6 million GBP in Research Funding since 2016. 60 Publications, During this Period: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=lisanti+mp+salford Accomplishments: Cancer metabolism: a therapeutic perspective - Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology https://www.nature.com/articles/nrclinonc.2016.60 Pioneered Myristoylated Doxycycline (Doxy-Myr) as a new Drug for Selectively Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Preventing Metastasis, without any residual Antibiotic Activity. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33042796/ First Clinical Trial Showing that Doxycycline Effectively Reduces Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Vivo. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30364293/ First Clinical Trial Demonstrating that N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) Targets Stromal MCT4 in Breast Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29248134/ Use of Mitochondrial Inhibitors for Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Prevention of Metastasis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32452826/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33042796/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34395247/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33986463/ Identification of Azithromycin as a Senolytic Drug for the Removal of Senescent Cells. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30428454/ Identification of High ATP Levels as a Functional Biomarker for Cancer Stem Cells. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34722292/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33986463/