Giorgio Zenere, PhD, MBA
About Giorgio Zenere, PhD, MBA
Giorgio Zenere, PhD, MBA, is a Specialist III and CMC Technical Project Lead at Kite Pharma, where he focuses on global QC technology innovation. He has a strong academic background in biomedical sciences and business administration, complemented by extensive research experience in immunology and CAR T cell therapies.
Work at Kite Pharma
Currently, Giorgio Zenere holds the position of Specialist III & CMC Technical Project Lead within the Global QC Technology Innovation Team at Kite Pharma. He has been with the company since 2024, contributing to the development of novel analytical methods for commercial and late-stage CAR T cell therapies. Prior to his current role, he served as Specialist II & Project Lead in the same team from 2023 to 2024. His work focuses on enhancing quality control processes and innovation in technology related to CAR T cell therapies.
Education and Expertise
Giorgio Zenere has an extensive educational background in the fields of business and biomedical sciences. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University in 2023. Prior to that, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Immunology and Gene Therapy, at Tulane University School of Medicine from 2016 to 2021. His undergraduate studies were completed at American University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Biology from 2012 to 2016.
Background
Giorgio Zenere began his career in research as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at American University from 2014 to 2016. He also engaged in an Independent Study project at the same institution during 2015-2016. In 2014, he gained experience as a Research Intern at Proplast in Rivalta-Scrivia, Italy, for two months. Following his doctoral studies, he worked as a Scientist in Immuno-Oncology at Precigen from 2021 to 2023, focusing on the pre-clinical development of CAR T cell products.
Research and Contributions
During his doctoral studies at Tulane University, Giorgio Zenere conducted research on the cellular immunology of CAR T, NK, and iNKT cells in the context of HIV pathogenesis. He investigated the biochemical function of CAR structural domains, contributing to the understanding of CAR T cell therapies. His work also included mathematical modeling of gene expression data in a squamous cell carcinoma model, which provided insights into gene therapy applications.