Dr Roberta La Starza graduated in Medicine cum laude in 1989 at the University of Perugia and specialized in Hematology in 1993 at the University La Sapienza, Rome. She got her PhD in Hematology at the University Tor Vergata, Rome in 1998 and a PhD in Medical Genetics at the University La Sapienza, Rome in 2011. She trained at the Centre for Human Genetics (Prof H Van den Berghe), University of Leuven, Belgium, in the molecular-cytogenetic laboratory with Prof. I. Wlodarska, from 1992 to 1995; participated in the Workshop on Aetiologic Factors in Congenital Leukemia, co-ordinated by Prof. L Casteleyn in 1997; and attended the Clinical genetic counseling service with Prof. E. Legius in 2008.

She is currently a Researchand Clinical Assistant in Hematology, at the Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, University and General Hospital of Perugia. Dr La Starza is responsible for the Molecular-Cytogenetic Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Tumours, Pediatric Tumours and B- and T- acute lymphoblastic leukemias in the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine.

She holds teaching activities, namely, courses in Hematology and Molecular Medicine, at the Degree in Biotechnology, Degree in Nursing, PhD school in Biotechology of Human Bone Marrow Transplantation and Molecular Medicine, and the School of Specialization in Hematology, University of Perugia.

She is a reviewer of BMC Cancer, Cancer Genetics, Leukemia Research and Treatment, Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Oncotarget, PLOSOne, and Oncology Medicine Journals; MIUR (Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Universita' e della Ricerca), and Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, FWO) projects.

She is a Councillor of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology (SIES) (2019-2022), and a Member of theEuropean Hematology Association (EHA), and of the Italian Society of Human Genetics (SIGU).

Dr La Starza has been invited in more than 35 national and international meetings as speaker or moderator, is the author of over 140 abstracts presented in international congresses, and of 104 indexed papers (H-INDEX: 24)