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For decades, science could not explain how cells distinguished the natural ends of chromosomes from dangerous DNA breaks. Dr. de Lange solved this mystery by identifying shelterin<\/em><\/strong>, a specialized protein complex acting as a protective helmet for chromosome tips<\/strong>. Shelterin prevents the cell from mistakenly triggering a repair process that would fuse chromosomes together and destroy the genetic code.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Her experiments revealed the catastrophic consequences<\/strong> of breaking this protective shield. Without shelterin, exposed chromosome ends trigger massive genetic instability<\/strong>. In cells where tumor suppressor genes are already mutated, this genomic chaos becomes the ultimate engine driving normal cells into aggressive cancers.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Dr. de Lange also demonstrated that shelterin precisely regulates telomere length<\/strong>, preventing them from growing unchecked and granting cancer cells the ability to replicate endlessly. Unraveling this delicate balance has opened unprecedented avenues for early cancer detection and the development of targeted therapies<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Titia de Lange\u2019s revolutionary research answered one of the most essential questions in cell biology. Honoring her extraordinary career at the Teatro Sociale in Trento reinforces our foundation’s commitment to celebrating world-class science that changes the future of medicine.”<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Enzo Galligioni<\/b>, President of the Pezcoller Foundation<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.pezcoller.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/de-lange_titia-official.jpg” title_text=”de-lange_titia-official” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”off|36px|36px|36px|36px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” header_3_font=”Lato|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#951542″ header_3_font_size=”19px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Biography<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong>De Lange is Leon Hess Professor, head of the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Genetics, and Director of the Anderson Center for Cancer Research<\/strong> at The Rockefeller University in New York.<\/span><\/p>\n De Lange was elected as a\u00a0Fellow of the AACR Academy\u00a0in 2014. She received the AACR-G.H.A. Clowes Award for Outstanding Basic Cancer Research in 2010 and the AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship in 2004.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n She earned her PhD in biochemistry at the University of Amsterdam and The Netherlands Cancer Institute.<\/span><\/p>\n De Lange\u2019s award lecture was presented during the AACR Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego.<\/span><\/p>\n Watch here<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>the traditional\u00a0Award Ceremony<\/a><\/strong> was held on Saturday, 11 May 2024 at the Teatro Sociale in Trento.<\/span><\/span> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”15px” background_color=”#83004A” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|25px|20px|25px|true|true” border_radii=”on|36px|36px|36px|36px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nDNA Damage and Tumorigenesis<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
Telomere Regulation and Precision Medicine<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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