Isabella Altilio serves as Executive Vice President of Communications and Content Strategy at Nucleate, a global biotech organization. She leads content creation across 42+ regions, drives outreach initiatives, and curates a biweekly newsletter reaching 25,000+ members. As Director of Communications for Nucleate Florida, she actively promotes events and builds connections within the regional biotech community. Her leadership reflects a rare blend of scientific expertise and strategic communication, amplifying impact across global biotech networks.
A Scientist’s Journey
Isabella Altilio, a Venezuelan native with Italian heritage, is advancing the fields of science and biotechnology. After earning her honors degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition at the University of Miami, she began a PhD in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, focusing on innovative diabetes treatments. In addition to her research, Isabella leads in strategic science communication, bridging cellular biology and biotech outreach. Her work reflects a commitment to both scientific discovery and global collaboration within the biotechnology community.
Pioneering Beta-Cell Regeneration for Diabetes
As a PhD candidate in Cell Biology at the University of Miami, Isabella Altilio’s research centers on beta-cell regeneration as a therapeutic strategy for type 1 diabetes. Under the guidance of Dr. Juan Domínguez-Bendala at the Diabetes Research Institute, she has dedicated her work to restoring functionality in pancreatic tissue from diabetic donors by regenerating insulin-producing cells. One of her most significant accomplishments includes the publication of a study in Cell Metabolism, where her team identified populations of cells with progenitor-like characteristics in the pancreas, opening exciting new avenues for regenerative therapies. Isabella also contributed to the development of a novel “slice-on-a-chip” technique, featured in Lab on a Chip, which enables real-time visualization of how pancreatic slices respond to regenerative stimuli.
From Healthcare Inequity to Scientific Pioneer
Growing up in Venezuela, Isabella Altilio witnessed firsthand the profound impact of healthcare inequities and diseases like diabetes on families with limited access to care. This experience profoundly shaped her desire to work at the intersection of molecular science and clinical impact, leading her to cellular biology as a means to explore the body’s fundamental regenerative mechanisms. While her path has not been without its challenges—balancing rigorous lab work with global leadership responsibilities and publishing under demanding deadlines—these hurdles have only fortified her resilience and strategic clarity. Every obstacle has reinforced her unwavering commitment to scientific progress and public health.
Nucleate: Powering the Future of Biotech
- Global Reach
- Active in 42+ regions worldwide
- Community of 25,000+ members via newsletter
- Digital Presence
- 40+ global social media accounts
- 60% YoY growth in digital engagement
- Startup Impact
- 100+ early-stage biotech ventures supported through the Activator Program
Core Contributions to Cell and Metabolic Biology
A pivotal achievement for Isabella Altilio was the demonstration of functional insulin-producing cell regeneration in type 1 diabetic pancreatic tissue, published in Cell Metabolism. She also co-authored a Lab on a Chip paper introducing a novel microfluidic platform for observing live pancreatic slices, which significantly advances therapy testing. Earlier in her career, her undergraduate research on endothelial c-Myc’s role in metabolic dysfunction was published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and showcased at national research forums.
A Vision for Translational Research and Inclusive Mentorship
In the long term, Isabella envisions leading a translational research lab dedicated to regenerative therapies, with a particular focus on metabolic and autoimmune diseases. She also aims to remain actively involved in scientific communication, bridging the gap between complex biological research and broader public engagement. Equally important to her is mentorship: she aspires to build inclusive academic spaces that empower women, immigrants, and first-generation scientists to not only thrive in STEM but also to lead with vision, compassion, and purpose.
Driving Biotech Through Strategic Communication
Isabella Altilio’s involvement in the biotech community began with Nucleate Florida, where she understood the impact of strategic communication on scientific advancement. This interest, combined with her scientific training, led her to increasing leadership roles, culminating in her position as Executive Vice President of Communications and Content Strategy at Nucleate HQ. Her career path seamlessly connects her research passion with her drive to support the broader biotech ecosystem.
Unifying Global Biotech Communication
Isabella Altilio has successfully established unified, yet culturally resonant, platforms to elevate Nucleate’s voice worldwide. Under her leadership, the team introduced data-driven approaches to social media, scaled their newsletter reach to over a wide number of community members, and optimized content operations using a variety of tools and acquired skillsets for global consistency and performance analytics. Her strategic vision shifted storytelling from mere announcements to empowering narratives about the founders, researchers, and mentors who are fundamentally transforming biotech.
The Transformative Initiatives of Isabella Altilio at Nucleate
A significant milestone for Isabella Altilio was the successful launch of the Activator program within Nucleate Florida, which fostered early-stage biotech teams and concluded with a pitch showcase. Another key achievement is the system-wide implementation of their weekly global newsletter, now a crucial channel for outreach, funding, and community expansion. She firmly believes that seeing founders featured or events lead to strategic partnerships underscores why communication is fundamental to innovation.
Purpose-Driven Leadership for Scientific Empowerment
For Isabella Altilio, authenticity, accountability, and accessibility are foundational to her leadership, whether in the lab or managing global campaigns. She strives to cultivate environments that encourage others to speak, experiment, and grow. Valuing both mentorship and sponsorship, Isabella is committed to building systems that train and elevate the next generation of scientists.
Architecting Global Biotech Collaboration
Isabella Altilio builds trust and shared ownership by treating each regional chapter as a unique entity, promoting autonomy while reinforcing collective goals. She implements collaborative tools, shared editorial calendars, and open feedback loops to empower regional leads to innovate in storytelling and community engagement. By establishing flexible platforms instead of rigid policies, she creates an environment for diverse ideas and agile execution.
Awards & Honors
- 2025 — USTAAR Recipient
- 🔹 Awarded for advancing Smart Door Solutions
- 2024 — Rothberg Catalyzer Award
- 🔹 AI Chatbot for Preventing Type 3 Diabetes
- 2023 — Rothberg Catalyzer Award
- 🔹 Prototype: Non-Contact Automatic Door Operator System
- 2020 — CABRI Research Grant
- 🔹 $2,500 awarded for excellence in undergraduate innovation & inquiry
- 2018–Present — University of Miami
- 📜 Honor Roll & Dean’s List
More than a Network
Nucleate is not merely a network; it functions as a comprehensive ecosystem. It extends beyond traditional mentorship, providing tangible launchpads through programs such as Activator, and establishing clear pathways to funding, validation, and global visibility. Its model is highly adaptable and impactful, thanks to a strong emphasis on open access, community building, and regional customization.
An Open Letter from Isabella Altilio
Dear Future Leaders,
As you embark on your journey, I want to offer a concise piece of advice: stay incredibly open-minded and proactive in developing new skills, even those seemingly outside your immediate focus. The future is rarely linear, and the most exciting opportunities often appear unexpectedly. By building a broad, adaptable skill set early, you’ll be ready to say “yes” without regret.
Beyond technical expertise, learn to communicate your science in ways that genuinely connect with others, not just convince them. And crucially, surround yourselves with mentors who recognize your potential and sponsors who champion it. Above all, never lose sight of the spark of curiosity that first drew you to science; it’s your most powerful asset.
This approach will prepare you to seize opportunities and lead a truly fulfilling career.
Warmly,
Isabella Altilio
5 Key Takeaways to learn From the Cover Story of Isabella Atilio
- Isabella’s early experiences with healthcare inequity in Venezuela inspired her to pursue a career at the intersection of molecular science and clinical impact.
- Her groundbreaking research, under Dr. Juan Domínguez-Bendala, has:
- ✅ Restored insulin-producing function in diabetic pancreatic tissue (Cell Metabolism, 2023)
- ✅ Introduced the “slice-on-a-chip” technique for real-time tissue monitoring (Lab on a Chip, 2024)
- Global Leadership in Biotech Communication: As EVP of Communications at Nucleate, Isabella Altilio builds regional and global biotech narratives that resonate.
- She launched and scaled initiatives including:
- The Activator program in Nucleate Florida, supporting 100+ biotech ventures
- A global newsletter system that powers outreach, funding, and storytelling
- Tools like Loomly to unify content operations and performance analytics across regions.
- Isabella Altilio envisions a future of:
- Translational research labs
- Community-led scientific mentorship & leadership
- Open, collaborative biotech platforms rooted in authenticity, equity, and purpose