Francisco Ernesto (Tito) Baralle (born 26 October 1943, in Buenos Aires) is an Argentinian geneticist best known for his innovations in molecular biology and in particular the discovery of how genes are processed and mechanisms in mRNA splicing.

In September 1990, he was appointed Director of the Trieste Component of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)[1] an autonomous, intergovernmental organisation originally established under UNIDO.

From 2004-2014 he was the Director-General of the institute, overseeing laboratories in 4 continents, spanning 63 countries championing collaboration, scientific education and dissemination of Science and Biotechnology worldwide.

In 1977, and as a staff scientist at the laboratory of molecular biology, Cambridge, Tito published the sequence of the messenger RNA coding for beta-globin,[4] the first complete primary structure of a eukaryotic[5] mRNA.

He first identified the protein called TDP 43,[1][11] that is now known to play a central role in certain neurodegenerative disorders (Frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer disease).