Dr. Danilo D’Apolito is Head of the GMP Quality Control Laboratory at the Cell-Factory for advanced therapies of the ISMETT Hospital in Palermo. Dr. D’Apolito graduated in Biomolecular Biology, with honors (110/110 cum laude) from the University of Palermo (Italy), in 2003, discussing an experimental thesis in the field of the development of viral vectors for gene therapy. In 2004, from February to April, he participated in an internship at the Laboratory of the Hematology and Oncology division of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, directed by Prof. Stefano Rivella. Here he studied and learned the theoretical-practical bases for engineering retro and lentiviral vectors used for gene therapy of genetic diseases.

In 2008, Dr. D’Apolito obtained his PhD in Experimental Hematology at the University of Palermo, with an experimental thesis in the field of engineering and use of viral vectors for gene therapy.

Subsequently, he continued his studies at the University of Palermo, obtaining a specialization in Clinical Pathology in 2011.

From 2008 to 2011, Dr. D’Apolito worked as a Biologist Officer at the 7th Regiment for Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Radiological Defense of the Italian Army. In those years he specialized in the field of prevention and protection of environments and the population from CBRNe risks resulting from civil, industrial or military events, training military personnel employed for specialized CBRNe missions in Italy and abroad.

In 2011 he joined the RiMED Foundation as Head of the GMP Quality Control Laboratory of the ISMETT Cell-Factory, used for the production of ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product).

Dr D’Apolito, as head of the GMP Quality Control Laboratory, personally trains and coordinates the staff who work in the classified rooms of the Facility and together with his staff develops, validates and implements the analytical tests for the various ATMPs that will be produced in the Cell Factory, also trying to make the Laboratory a point of reference for Southern Italy.

The Quality Control laboratory aims to combine an increasingly in-depth understanding of the identity, functioning and effectiveness of individual ATMPs with the development of analytical methods intended to characterize pharmaceutical products in compliance with what is required by national and international regulations and guidelines.

Microbiology for research and identification of microbial species present in classified premises;

Molecular Biology for the evaluation by Real-time PCR of the presence of adventitious viruses and mycoplasmas in cellular products;

Flow cytometry for the study of the identity of cellular products; Analysis of specific efficacy by cytotoxicity test with Cr51, Elispot and/or Luminex tests.