Associate Professor
University of Washington
Dr. Lorenzo Giacani earned his BS in Molecular Biology magna cum laude at the University of Bologna (Italy) in 1998. His interest in STIs and syphilis began after being drafted into the Italian Army, where he was tasked with testing recruits for syphilis and other STIs. Following his service, Dr. Giacani enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Medical Biotechnology also at the University of Bologna, graduating in 2005. As a graduate student, Dr. Giacani focused primarily on the study of the virulence factors of the syphilis agent. In 2002, he accepted a position as an exchange scholar and moved to the University of Washington, where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and in the Department of Global Health. Dr. Giacani is also a part-time employee in the CDC syphilis team. His research interests revolve around studying syphilis pathogenesis and evaluating new therapies and vaccine candidates for syphilis. Throughout his career, he has received the ASTDA Developmental Award and the Vallesina Award for his scientific achievements. His lab is the first to have developed a technique to genetically engineer the syphilis agent.