Bertacchini Jessika

MUSCLE-BONE CROSS TALK

- Design and Simulation of microfluidic devices capable of recreating the tissue-tissue interface to mimic the microarchitecture of an organ, focused on the muscle-bone interface
- Study of the biomolecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle cross talk under pathophysiological conditions. 
- Analysis of signaling events mediated by Androgen receptor alterations in primary osteoblast cultures from SBMA mice

Bortolotti Carlo Augusto

DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-(IN)ORGANIC INTERFACES FOR NANOBIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS; ORGANIC BIOELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR HEALTH (SENSORS) AND INVESTIGATION OF BIOLOGIC PROCESSES

Design, fabrication and characterization of bio(in)organic interfaces, with a focus on organic electronic devices, for health and life science applications.
Demonstration of organic electronics biosensor for detection of small compounds, antigens and for monitoring biological processes. structure/function relationship in health-relevant (metallo)proteins

Carnevale Gianluca

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF NEURAL CREST-MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS

– Immunomodulatory properties of dental pulp stem cells;
– Differentiation ability of dental pulp stem cells.

Cavazza Alessia

THERAPEUTIC GENE EDITING 

– Development of gene editing strategies (including base and prime editing)  for the treatment of rare genetic disorders of the hematopoietic system and metabolic diseases
– Development of epigenome editing strategies for the regulation of gene expression
– Development of new gene editing delivery tools to cross the blood brain barrier
– Study of hematopoietic stem cell function through the use of gene and epigenome editing 

NUCLEAR DYNAMICS IN CANCER

– Nuclear envelope dynamics in epigenetic regulation, chromatin organization and gene regulation
– Role of nuclear lamins and their interplay with cell structure, function and localization in bone sarcomas

Corradini Elena 

De Luca Michele

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS REGULATING EPITHELIAL STEM CELL RENEWAL AND PROLIFERATION AND EPIDERMAL STEM CELL-MEDIATED CELL AND GENE THERAPY

– Molecular and functional characterization of human epidermal stem cells;
– studies of molecular mechanisms regulating self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of squamous epithelial stem cells by conventional methods integrated with genomic (genotyping and next generation sequencing), epigenomic and transcriptomic technologies;
– Definition of experimental and clinical protocols for ex-vivo combined cell and gene therapy of Epidermolysis Bullosa and other genodematoses.

Fanelli Francesca

COMPUTATIONAL STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY

Ongoing projects:
- structural characterization of rhodopsin mutants associated with the Autosomal Dominant form of Retinitis Pigmentosa (ADRP); 
- structure-based discovery/development of pharmacological chaperones with therapeutic potential against ADRP caused by rhodopsin mutations; 
- structure-based discovery/development of inhibitors of Lbc-RhoA interaction with therapeutic potential as anticancer agents; 
- structural characterization of vasopressin 2 receptor (V2R) mutants linked to the Nephrogenic Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis (NSIAD) and structure-based discovery of V2R ligands as potential therapeutic agents against NSIAD and cancer;
- structure-based discovery of small ligands of the KDEL receptor;  
unveiling the functional dynamics of RhoA and RhoGEFs of the Dbl family; 
- development and application of the Protein Structure Network (PSN) analysis tool and Web server to unveil the structural communication in biomolecular systems; 
- maintenance and development of the Wordom software for the analysis of molecular structures, trajectories, and free energy surfaces.

Giuggioli Dilia

Grande Alexis

Imbriano Carol

MOLECULAR CANCER GENETICS

The activity of the laboratory is focused on NF-Y, a heterotrimeric transcription factor with a “pioneering” role in the establishment of transcriptional programs. NF-Y regulates several cancer pathways and promotes cancer cell growth and survival, through the transcriptional regulation of genes controlling proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, cell death and invasiveness.

The research is directed towards investigating the transcriptional activity of NF-Y in cancer cells, in particular the function of NF-Y splice variants generated by alternative splicing events. Through in vitro and in vivo genetic, molecular and cellular biology approaches, the team is shedding light on: 

i) the role of NF-Y isoforms produced by alternative splicing in cancer cells and their possible use as novel biomarkers in patients stratification; 
ii) splice-switching strategies as therapeutic approach to alter NF-Y splicing and, consequently, inhibit the metastatic potential of cancer cells;
iii) NF-Y-directed mechanisms in the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment;
iv) the function of NF-Y in epitranscriptomic regulation, particularly in  the modulation of the RNA modification N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A).

Losi Lorena

IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC ALTERATIONS TO SEARCH BIOMOLECULAR MARKERS  IN NEOPLASIAS

Identification of genetic and epigenetic alterations to search biomolecular markers for diagnosis, prognosis and selective therapies in several neoplasias, particularly colorectal and ovarian tumours.

Manfredini Marco

GENETIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC PATHOGENESIS OF INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASES

– Molecular and functional characterization of keratinocytes in different pathologic conditions
– Identification and modulation of different inflammatory pathways in immune-mediated skin diseases
– Role of IL-13R in the inflammatory response of atopic dermatitis

Manfredini Rossella

MOLECULAR AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NORMAL AND CANCER STEM CELLS

– Identification of the deranged regulatory non coding RNA in Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) of blood neoplasms (Acute leukemias and myeloproliferative diseases);
– Identification of novel therapeutic targets in Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) of blood neoplasms;
– Molecular and functional characterization of the hematopoietic stem cell niche;
– Genomic and trascriptomic characterizaztion at single cell level of normal and Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) of blood neoplasms
– Characterization of the immune landscape in haematopoietic cancers

Marasca Roberto

GENETIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC PATHOGENESIS OF HEMATOLOGIC DISEASES

 Special areas of research activity:
– Role of microenvironment in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia;
– Acquired or inherited resistance to new agent in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia;
– The immunologic assessment of CLL and the role of new drugs as immunomodulator agents;
– Role of B-Cell Receptor Pathway in pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative disorders

Marconi Alessandra

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF STEM CELL NICHE AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN

Development of 3D skin models for mimic physiological condition of human skin
Development of 3D in vitro models that mimic the hyperproliferative and inflammatory characteristics of skin diseases for investigation of pathological mechanisms 
Study of the mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchimal transition in SCC and melanoma
Translational approaches to treat skin cancer and hyperproliferative diseases

Marigo Valeria

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF RETINAL DEGENERATION

– basic and preclinical research on rare diseases affecting vision and causing retinal degeneration, i.e. Retinitis Pigmentosa and Leber Congenital Amaourosis
– transcriptomic studies in the degenerating retina of murine models of retinal degeneration
– development of neuroprotective approaches for inherited retinal degeneration
– development of AAV based gene therapy to deliver neuroprotective agents, such as PEDF, in the degenerating retina
– development of RNA-based therapies for the delivery of neuroprotective factors to the degenerating retina

Palumbo Carla

MUSCLE-BONE CROSS TALK

– Muscle-bone cross talk and related signaling during bone regeneration.

– Peripheral neurodegeneration and correlated alterations of the bone-muscle cross-talk

– Interactions between biophysical energy and biological tissues: use of Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Fields (PEMFs) in neurodegenerative recovery after peripheral lesions

HISTO-PHYSIO-PATHOLOGY OF SKELETAL TISSUES AND REGENERATIVE STRATEGIES FOR THE RECOVERY OF OSTEOCHONDRAL LESIONS

– CAM assay: ethical in ovo model in alternative to animal experimentation/tests

– PAL-OS® - Scleral Ossicles (SO): development of “naturally decellularized new biomaterials” in defining novel strategies for regenerative medicine – Engineered 3D constructs

– Interaction between skeletal tissues and biomaterials, for the recovery of locomotor apparatus defects

– PLC family: up/down-regulation in bone cells involved in bone turnover during physiological/pathological conditions

Pellegrini Graziella

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS REGULATING EPITHELIAL STEM CELL RENEWAL AND PROLIFERATION AND EPITHELIAL STEM CELL-MEDIATED CELL THERAPY

– Molecular and functional characterization of human epithelial stem cells (epidermis, cornea, conjunctiva, urethra, oral mucosa and airway epithelia);
– Studies of molecular mechanisms regulating self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of squamous epithelial stem cells by conventional methods integrated with genomic (genotyping and next generation sequencing), epigenomic and transcriptomic technologies;
– Definition of experimental and clinical protocols aimed at clinical application of: limbal stem cells in different pathologies of the ocular surface; genetic modification of corneal distrophies; stem cells of conjunctival, urethral and buccal epithelia in traumatic destruction of the conjunctival epithelium, posterior hypospadias, corneal endothelium, reconstructive surgery of oral cavity; stem cells of respiratory epithelia for the reconstruction of upper respiratory tract. 

Pietrangelo Antonello

GENETIC AND MOLECULAR BASIS OF IRON DISORDERS

Ongoing research projects: 
– Transcriptional studies on hepcidin regulation in physiology and pathophysiology ;
– The pathogenic basis for hereditary hemochromatosis and the ferroportin disease;
– The role of iron in the metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; 
– Pre-clinical and phase 1 clinical studies with small molecules to cure hereditary metal transporter diseases.
– Next-generation sequencing in iron-related disorders

Quaglino Daniela

BIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY OF THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

Ongoing research projects: 
- Pathogenesis of ectopic calcification in aging and in disease
- Modifier genes in Pseudoxanthoma elasticumV
- Elastin assembly and degradation in aging and diseases
- Mesenchymal cells and biomaterials
- Study of the Matrisome in different experimental models

Recchia Alessandra

GENE TRANSFER AND GENE EDITING

Recchia’s lab is focused on the design, development and validation of CRISPR gene editing systems for gene correction/engineering.  The ongoing research projects are: editing of the TCR of T lymphocytes for cancer immunotherapy, CRISPR correction of  laminopathic mutations in patients’ cells to generate  in vitro models to identify biomarkers for Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy and unravel pathogenic pathways in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria; develop non viral  systems (VLP and LNP) to deliver CRISPR base editor in engineered retianl cell in vitro.