Fiorella Altruda University of Turin, Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry Germline cell-derived pluripotent stem cells: factors controlling transdifferentiation and potential applications in animal models of disease Molecular Biotechnology Center, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Turin, Italy Telephone: 011-6706414 Fax: 011-6706432 E-mail: fiorella.altruda@unito.it

Short CV Name: Fiorella Altruda Date of Birth: 12.08.1952 Degree: Ph.D in Biology at the University of Torino in 1975 Position: Full Professor of Molecular Genetics, University of Torino School of Medicine From 2004: Director of the Doctorate Program in Molecular Biotechnology From 2005: President of the School of Biotechnology, University of TurinMember of the scientific committee of the Biotechnology Foundation Scientific member of the Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (CIB) Director of the Center for in vivo functional Genomics, University of Turin, supported by Telethon Past relevant research experience November 1976-December 1977 Postdoctoral fellow- Dept. of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, USA January-April 1981 Visiting fellow- Dept. of Animal Embryology, University of Geneva, Switzerland January 1982-December 1982 Postdoctoral fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany October-December 1984 Visiting fellow- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany July-September 1989 Visiting scientist, Scripps Clinic and Research Laboratory, La Jolla, USA Summary of research activity Fiorella Altruda has worked for several years on proteins involved in acute phase response and inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. Until recently, her lab studied the biological functions of Hemopexin and Haptoglobin. Hemopexin-null mice were generated and diverse aspects of heme and iron metabolism were analysed in several models of diseases: hemolysis, neuroinflammation, autoimmunity. The laboratory is now focusing on culture of adult stem cells, more specifically, spermatogonial stem cells and germline cell-derived pluripotent stem cells (GPSCs). The unit has already developed a system for differentiating GPSCs into functional hepatocytes with high efficiency through embryoid body formation with the aim of using these GPSC-derived hepatocytes to try to restore hepatic function in disease models. Other ongoing projects include develop conditions for the isolation and culture of murine and human spermatogonial stem cells for the derivation of germline-derived pluripotent stem cells (GPSCs); develop culture conditions and identify factors responsible for differentiating GPSCs into cell types, other than hepatocytes, in vitro; use the differentiated and functional cells obtained from GPSCs in cell-based therapies at a preclinical level and then extend the research to human; and, employ a bioinformatics approach to identify genes that are enhancers of reprogramming. Research in this field is currently under way.