World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Best Scientists
2025
Award Badge
Biology and Biochemistry
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Best Scientists

D-Index
191
Citations
201389
World Ranking
394
National Ranking
262

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
193
Citations
205442
World Ranking
43
National Ranking
36

Medicine

D-Index
193
Citations
205306
World Ranking
228
National Ranking
152

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Best Scientists Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in United States Leader Award
  • 2015 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
  • 2014 - Canada Gairdner International Award
  • 2013 - Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for discoveries in the mechanisms of angiogenesis that led to therapies for cancer and eye diseases.
  • 2011 - Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, Johnson & Johnson
  • 2006 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences

Overview

Napoleone Ferrara is affiliated with the University of California, San Diego in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of Medicine and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, with a focus on Molecular Biology, Ophthalmology, Immunology, Oncology, and Cancer Research.

The scientist's notable topics of study include:

  • Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
  • Retinal Diseases and Treatments
  • Glaucoma and retinal disorders
  • Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
  • Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research
  • Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Retinal Imaging and Analysis

Recent publications illustrate the breadth of their work. These include:

  • "Biology and therapeutic targeting of vascular endothelial growth factor A", 2023, in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
  • "Targeting angiogenesis in oncology, ophthalmology and beyond", 2023, in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
  • "Iron Metabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment: Contributions of Innate Immune Cells", 2021, in Frontiers in Immunology
  • "Inhibition of protein glycosylation is a novel pro-angiogenic strategy that acts via activation of stress pathways", 2020, in Nature Communications
  • "Differential regulation of TNFα and IL-6 expression contributes to immune evasion in prostate cancer", 2022, in Journal of Translational Medicine

Frequent co-authors include Pin Li, Hong Xin, Eric Nudleman, Carlo Piermarocchi, and Jimmy Chen, reflecting collaborative research efforts.

The scientist has published regularly in several academic venues, with multiple contributions to:

  • Nature Communications
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Ophthalmology Science
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Journal of Clinical Oncology

Napoleone Ferrara has received several awards recognizing their contributions to biomedical research. These include membership in the National Academy of Medicine (2015) and the National Academy of Sciences (2006), the Canada Gairdner International Award (2014), the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2013) for discoveries related to angiogenesis mechanisms leading to therapies for cancer and eye diseases, and the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research from Johnson & Johnson in 2011.

Best Publications

  • BEVACIZUMAB PLUS IRINOTECAN, FLUOROURACIL, AND LEUCOVORIN FOR METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER

    Herbert Hurwitz;Louis Fehrenbacher;William Novotny;Thomas Cartwright

  • The biology of VEGF and its receptors.

    Napoleone Ferrara;Hans-Peter Gerber;Jennifer LeCouter

  • Vascular endothelial growth factor is a secreted angiogenic mitogen

    David W. Leung;George Cachianes;Wun-Jing Kuang;David V. Goeddel

  • THE BIOLOGY OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR

    Napoleone Ferrara;Terri Davis-Smyth

  • Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis suppresses tumour growth in vivo

    K J Kim;B. Li;J Winer;M Armanini

  • Vascular endothelial growth factor: basic science and clinical progress.

    Napoleone Ferrara

  • Heterozygous embryonic lethality induced by targeted inactivation of the VEGF gene.

    Napoleone Ferrara;Karen Carver-Moore;Helen Chen;Mary Dowd

  • Pituitary follicular cells secrete a novel heparin-binding growth factor specific for vascular endothelial cells

    Napoleone Ferrara;William J. Henzel

  • Angiogenesis as a therapeutic target

    Napoleone Ferrara;Robert S. Kerbel

  • Discovery and development of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody for treating cancer

    Napoleone Ferrara;Kenneth J. Hillan;Hans-Peter Gerber;William Novotny

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Regulates Endothelial Cell Survival through the Phosphatidylinositol 3′-Kinase/Akt Signal Transduction Pathway REQUIREMENT FOR Flk-1/KDR ACTIVATION

    Hans Peter Gerber;Amy McMurtrey;Joe Kowalski;Minhong Yan

  • The fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase, a Receptor for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

    C de Vries;JA Escobedo;H Ueno;K Houck

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

    Napoleone Ferrara

  • VEGF couples hypertrophic cartilage remodeling, ossification and angiogenesis during endochondral bone formation.

    Hans-Peter Gerber;Thiennu H. Vu;Anne M. Ryan;Joe Kowalski

  • HIF-1α Is Essential for Myeloid Cell-Mediated Inflammation

    Thorsten Cramer;Yuji Yamanishi;Björn E Clausen;Irmgard Förster

  • Humanization of an Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibody for the Therapy of Solid Tumors and Other Disorders

    L G Presta;H Chen;S J O'Connor;V Chisholm

  • Molecular and Biological Properties of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Family of Proteins

    Napoleone Ferrara;Keith Houck;Lyn Jakeman;David W. Leung

  • VEGF and the quest for tumour angiogenesis factors.

    Napoleone Ferrara

  • The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Family: Identification of a Fourth Molecular Species and Characterization of Alternative Splicing of RNA

    Keith A. Houck;Napoleone Ferrara;Jane Winer;George Cachianes

  • VEGF in Signaling and Disease: Beyond Discovery and Development.

    Rajendra S. Apte;Daniel S. Chen;Napoleone Ferrara

Frequent Co-Authors

Hans-Peter Gerber
Hans-Peter Gerber Seattle Genetics (United States)
Audrey Goddard
Audrey Goddard Gilead Sciences
Dan L. Eaton
Dan L. Eaton Genentech
Denis Gospodarowicz
Denis Gospodarowicz University of California, San Francisco
Germaine Fuh
Germaine Fuh Genentech

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring a degree in Biology or Biochemistry opens the door to numerous exciting career pathways—many of which now offer flexible online learning options. For those interested in applying biological knowledge in healthcare, there are several online programs to consider.

Online radiology tech programs provide affordable entry into imaging and diagnostic careers. Meanwhile, if you are interested in nutrition, you might be inspired by dietitian masters programs, preparing students for advanced roles in dietetics and wellness.

For aspiring medical support staff, there are online medical assistant programs that accept financial aid, making it easier to start a healthcare career regardless of financial background. Already working as a Certified Medical Assistant? Explore advancement with cma to lpn bridge programs online and elevate your qualifications.

These related online pathways can be a smart next step for students with a foundation in biology or biochemistry, offering diverse options to align your education with your career goals in the evolving health sciences field.

Best Scientists Citing Napoleone Ferrara

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles