Vladimir Katanaev is Scientific Director of the Translational Oncology Research Center at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) and Professor at the University of Geneva. His work connects fundamental cell biology with translational oncology and anticancer drug discovery.

Katanaev’s research focuses on signalling pathways that are essential in normal development but become hijacked in cancer, particularly Wnt/Frizzled signalling and related G-protein pathways. His laboratory combines mechanistic biology, screening, medicinal chemistry and preclinical models to identify new therapeutic opportunities, including approaches for difficult-to-treat cancers.

Across his academic and translational roles in Geneva and Qatar, he has developed programmes designed to move discoveries from molecular mechanisms toward therapeutic candidates, while building multidisciplinary collaborations in precision oncology