Alberto Mantovani

Alberto Mantovani established the M1/M2 macrophage polarization paradigm that has guided decades of tumor immunology research, demonstrating that tumor-associated macrophages are predominantly M2-polarized and immunosuppressive. His laboratory has identified macrophage checkpoints and reprogramming strategies to convert immunosuppressive M2 TAMs into anti-tumoral M1 macrophages. He has made foundational contributions to understanding the link between inflammation and cancer through innate immunity. His conceptual frameworks have been essential for developing macrophage-targeted cancer immunotherapy.