Director-General

Lawrence Banks received his Degree in Science in 1981 and his PhD in Microbiology from Leeds University, UK in 1984. His term as Director-General of the ICGEB commenced on 1 July, 2019. Scientific Coordinator of the ICGEB from 2016 – June 2019 he has been Group Leader of the Tumour Virology Laboratory at ICGEB Trieste, Italy since 1990. From 1988-1990 he was an independent Research Scientist at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London, UK and from 1984-1988, Post-doctoral Fellow at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, UK.

He is Editor of the Journal of Virology, FEBS Journal, Papillomavirus Research, PLoS One, Frontiers Cellular Infection and Microbiology and is on the Editorial Boards of Antiviral Therapy, Virus Research and Biological Chemistry. Since 2017 he has been running Awareness Workshops in Academic Institutions across the ICGEB constituency and has organised over 15 major international workshops on Human Papillomavirus, Molecular Biology of Leishmania and DNA Tumor Viruses.

He has served on Grant Review and PhD Examination Committees of numerous scientific organisations in Italy and abroad, including the Human Frontiers Science Program, DKFZ, and WHO IARC, and is Research Degree Coordinator in Italy for the Open University UK. His current research interest focuses on Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs), the causative agents of a number of human tumours, including cervical cancer, which is a major cause of cancer-related death in women in many parts of the developing world.

His research activity is funded internationally through grants from public and private bodies, including the “Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro” AIRC and the Wellcome Trust. He has published over 220 papers in peer-reviewed, international journals. 

During his mandate he will focus on continuing to drive the Organisation’s transparent managerial structure, expanding interaction in the biotech sector in ICGEB Member States, advancing scientific research of the laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town and contributing to advanced education of young scientists to promote science and technology-intensive solutions to improve the quality of life.

Research Activity

Molecular biology of Human Papillomaviruses: virus entry pathways and induction of malignancy

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Biographical information

Learn more about the Director-General’s career, activities and publications.

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Tumor Virology Lab

Link to the Tumor Virology lab on Twitter

‎@GroupTumour

Updates from the DG:

Lawrence Banks – Twelve months into his mandate

Whilst COVID has impacted on many of us, much has also been achieved over the last six months; not least the successful completion of several PhDs, including the first by videoconference.

ICGEB Activities in the Covid19 Crisis

Last December, no one thought that Covid19 would be a major global crisis. By late January however, the picture was beginning to change and ICGEB scientists had the foresight to recognise the danger looming and began to prepare for research on coronaviruses.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated and the full genome sequenced at ICGEB Trieste – Italy

Alessandro Marcello, Group Leader, Molecular Virology lab, together with a task force team established by the Region, has reached a first, major goal in the battle against coronavirus.

Lawrence Banks: Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future

In the past two months, ICGEB’s presence across Asia has been particularly significant, with the establishment of the first-ever ICGEB Regional Research Centre in China being officially sealed on 6 January 2020, and with the Ministry confirming its commitment to expand interactions with ICGEB.

Lawrence Banks from ICGEB Headquarters, Italy

The ICGEB is an integral part of the Italy and Trieste System. It is grateful for the support provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which spans over 30 years and for establishing a major international Organisation in the sphere of research and biotechnology with a global reach. The ICGEB is a perfect example of Scientific Diplomacy, reflecting the effective interaction between Government and Science.

ICGEB’s Host Agreement with South Africa

ICGEB Cape Town was officially established in 2008. In July 2019, the Host Agreement with the Government of South Africa was signed, thereby renewing the commitment and expression of continuing support for bilateral and international relations with the ICGEB.

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