From T-cells to Tracers: A Biologist’s Route into Radiopharma

Dana Piovesan is a cancer biology scientist with a strong background in immuno-oncology and translational research. After obtaining her Master’s degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Melbourne, she moved to San Francisco to begin her biotech career at Arcus Biosciences, a clinical stage company developing innovative cancer immunotherapies and small molecule treatments that target the tumour microenvironment.

At Arcus, she was focused on preclinical pharmacology and biological evaluations of molecules targeting the adenosine pathway (CD73, A2A/B receptors), immune checkpoint receptors (PD-1, TIGIT), and the cancer hypoxic response (HIF-2α) – all of which have progressed into clinical trials spanning Ph 1 to Ph 3.

Upon returning to Melbourne and joining Starpharma in 2024, Dana has applied her molecular and cellular biology expertise to the development of targeted, dendrimer-based chemotherapeutics and radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. She is involved in the DEP-HER2 Radio program and supports early-stage concept development and assay design for new pipeline candidates.

Throughout her career, Dana has drawn on her biological perspective to support the understanding of mechanisms and pharmacology underlying targeted therapies, and their impact on the complex tumour microenvironment— she hopes this approach can continue to inform her contributions to the development of targeted radiopharmaceuticals as the field evolves and continues to grow.