Lorenzo Moretta

Lorenzo Moretta at Bambino Gesu has made foundational contributions to NK cell biology — particularly characterizing the receptor systems (KIR and activating receptors including NKG2D) that determine whether NK cells kill target cells. His work on the missing-self hypothesis (NK cells kill cells lacking MHC-I), on KIR/HLA matching in allogeneic transplantation, and on NK cell receptor ligand expression on cancer cells has been foundational for NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.