Telethon Laboratory, Molecular Biotechnology Center
Università di Torino Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino.
EDUCATION
November 2000Speciality in Clinical Genetic, School of Medicine, University of Genova, Italy
July 1985 Obtains the title of "Doctor in Biological Sciences" Torino University, with score 110/110cum laude.
July 1981 Industrial Chemistry Diploma, from L. Casale Institute, Torino, Italy, score 60/60
PROFESSIONALCURRICULUM
May 2000-PresentAssistant Telethon Scientist, Career Project
Dec 1998-Feb 1999Visiting Scientist at the Weizmann Istitute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
Jan 1996-April 2000 Research Associate at the Advanced Biotechnology CenterCBA-IST, Genova, Italy.
Sept 1995-Jan 1996 Guest Scientist at Ciba LTD, Basel, Switzerland.
Jan 1993-Aug 1995Research contract at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
Jan 1992-Jan 1993 Recipient of a European Community Bursary, Senior Scientist at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
Mar 1989-Dec 1991 Visiting Associate at the NIH, in the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology.
Jan 1986-Mar 1989 Visiting Fellow at the NIH, in the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
2008Attends the course: “Exon Array Data Analysis” at the AIRBB, Dept Clinical and Biological Science, Orbassano Italy
1988 Attends the course: "Gene organization and Control" at the FAES Graduate School, Bethesda MD, USA
1986 Attends the course: "Nucleic Acid Structure and Function Techniques" at the FAES Graduate School, Bethesda MD, USA
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1984 Works at the Department of Animal Biology, University of Torino, Italy, and performs experimental research for the Doctorate thesis in Biology, entitled "Bombesin-like Peptides in Vertebrate Tissue".
1986-1989 Visiting Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, Oncogenetics Section. His research includes 1) detection of oncogene expression in human tumor specimens 2) detection of genetic abnormalities in DNA from human tumors 3) RFLP linkage analysis of pedigrees of familiar breast cancer 4) study the role of TGF-a in normal mammary gland development and in vitro cell transformation.
1989-Dec 1991 Works as Visiting Associate at the National Cancer Institute. Continues research on genetic abnormalities in human breast tumors and their correlation with pathological parameters and patient's prognosis. In particular he focuses on mutations or losses of tumor-suppressor genes. He further investigates the activity of various oncogenes and growth factors in normal mammary tissue and their role in neoplastic transformation.
Jan 1992-Aug 1995 Works at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, as Senior Scientist. Studies the role of the tumor-suppressor gene p53 in growth, differentiation, immortalization and transformation of mammary epithelial cells, in cooperation with other frequently-occurring oncogene mutations in breast cancer. Investigates signals that activate or suppress programmed cell death of mammary cells, in relation to cell-matrix interaction and to p53 function.
Sept 1995-Jan 1996Works at Ciba LTD (now Novartis),Pharmacology Department, on the establishment and validation of apoptosis-based screening systems for drug discovery.
Jan 1996-April 2000 Works at the Advanced Biotechnology Center,CBA-IST, Italy, on the role of specific transcription factors and homeobox genes in the mouse embryonic development. Mutant mice are being generated by homologous recombination and transgenic techniques to provide models of human genetic diseases and congenital defects. This is to test gene transfer approaches, and to elucidate gene function during embryogenesis.
May 2000-present Independent Group Leader for the Italian Telethon Foundation to run an independent research program on congenital malformations. Establishes a laboratory in Milano (CNR) to study mouse models of developmental disorders, in particular those affecting limb and craniofacial skeleton and the forebrain. Recent interests include axon connnectivity in the olfactory system and differentiation of neural progenitor cells. Dr. Merlo has supervised several “Laurea” and Doctorate students.
AWARDS
1986 Fogarty International Fellowship, 3 years award
1989 Fogarty International Associateship, 2years award
1996 Telethon Fellowship for Gene Transfer Research, 1 year award
2000 Assistant Telethon Scientist, 5 years award
2005 Assistant Telethon Scientist, 2 years award
2006 Member of the American Society for Neuroscience
2008 Member of the International Society of Developmental Neuroscience
2008 Teaches General Biology at the Faculty of Psycology
