Prof. Silvio Aime is the head of the Molecular Imaging Centerof the University of Torino. His primary research is focused on the development of new categories of contrast agents for molecular imaging applications.
Fiorella Altruda is Full Professor in Molecular Genetics at the University of Turin. After studying for several years the transcriptional regulation of proteins involved in acute phase response and inflammation both in vivo and in vitro, research in her laboratory has currently focused on isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells. The main aim is to derive germline cell-derived pluripotent stem cells for in vitro differentiation studies and their application at preclinical level in mice models of human diseases.
We characterized morgana/chp-1 as an ubiquitously expressed protein, playing a key role in the control of centrosome cycle and genomic stability. Our research showed that morgana mutations lead to an increased susceptibility to neoplastic transformation and that morgana expression is deregulated in a large fraction of breast and lung human cancers. Our goal is to understand morgana mechanism of action and its role in tumour onset and progression.
Benedetta Bussolati is Associate Professor of Nephrology at the University of Torino. Her main research interests are: 1-the role of different sources of stem cells in renal tissue regeneration; 2-the properties and the mechanisms of plasticity of progenitor cells in normal tissue, polycystic kidney disease and renal carcinomas. 3- the paracrine effect of stem cells and the role of stem cell released factors on tissue regeneration 4- the fate using MRI or fluorescence imaging of in vivo injected stem cells or bio-products.
The focus of our research is to characterize the role of the adaptor molecule p130Cas in the mammary gland under physiologic and pathological conditions. Our main interest is to understand the mechanisms through which p130Cas regulates: (1) the development and differentiation of the mammary gland; (2) stem/progenitor cell population in the mammary gland; (3) transformation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells and (4) resistance to breast cancer.
Stem cells residents of stratified epithelia are one of the few stem cell types currently used in human therapy. However, a better understanding of keratinocyte stem cell biology is needed to overcome our limited ability to (i) identify stem cells from their progenies committed to differentiation; (ii) preserve stem cell functions of self renewal and differentiation at all stages of their therapeutic applications. Our ongoing studies are aimed to test the hypotheses that the PI3K/Akt signaling has a key role in the control of keratinocyte stem cell fate in human stratified epithelia such as the epidermis and the corneal epithelium both in vivo and in vitro, and that the genetic or pharmacological manipulation of this pathway may improve stem cell therapeutic applications.
Giovanni Camussi is full professor of Nephrology at the University of Torino. Main current interests are the role of bone-marrow derived or resident stem cells in renal tissue regeneration as well as in the molecular mechanisms driving stem cell recruitment and differentiation. Moreover, he is working on the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Federica Cavallo, PhD, is Associate Professor of Immunology of the University of Torino. She has a successful experience in basic and translational cancer immunotherapy, and has a considerable expertise in transgenic mouse models of cancer and DNA vaccination, as documented by her numerous highly quoted papers published in high impact journals.
The main interest of our lab is to investigate how integrin-dependent adhesion and growth factor/cytokine stimulation co-ordinately regulate convergent signalling pathways that control cell growth, migration and invasion in normal and transformed cells. Our current research is based on in vitro and in vivo models focused on the following points: a) the cross-talk between beta1 integrin and the EGF receptor; b) the role of the adaptor protein p130Cas in development and tumorigenesis; c) the role of the adaptor protein p140Cap in development and tumorigenesis.
My research group is involved in both experimental and computational biology. On the first side, we are interested in the molecular pathways that control the cross-talk between intracellular membranes and cytoskeleton, in biological processes as different as neuronal differentiation and cytokinesis. On the second side, we are developing new bioinformatic approaches may help experimental biologists in establishing the functions of mammalian genes and also their role in human diseases.
Guido Forni, M.D. is Professor of Immunology at the University of Torino. He takes great pride intraining students and postdoctoral fellows interested in the modulation of immunity in order to impair tumor growth. The findings of ths lab on the role of cytokines in the immune recognition of tumors and the potential of DNA vaccine to prevent cancer progression are recognized world-wide.
In vivo optical imaging allows the non invasive detection of molecules in the living animal. Reporter gene vectors expressing luciferase or fluorescent proteins are used to analyze the biodistribution of viral vectors potentially useful for gene therapy experiments.
Emilio Hirsch is Full Professor in the Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, at the Molecular Biotechnology Center, School of Medicine, University of Torino. Author of more than 90 publications in international refereed journals including Nature, Science and Cell, his research interests are focused on the in vivo and in vitro analysis of signal transduction mechanisms in inflammation, cancer and cardiac function.
This group aims to define the developmental functions and molecular pathways of the Dlx (distalless-related) genes, essential for the morfogenesis of limb and craniofacial skeleton, for the development of the basal brain. Recently we also focus on p63, a transcription factor essential for self-renewal and proliferation of skin stem cells. Our experimental approaches combine in vivo genetics, organ cultures and stem cell biology, with transcription profiling and bioinformatics tools.
Valeria Poli is full Professor in Molecular Biology at the University of Turin. After studying for many years the signalling and transcriptional regulation by cytokines and growth factors both in vivo and in vitro, the research in her laboratory is now focusing on identifying the core mechanisms through which the transcription factor Stat3 exerts its diverse functions at the crossroad between inflammation, immune response, tumor and stem cell niche and tumor transformation.
Our group applies genome-wide computational approaches to the study of gene regulation in mammals. We use coexpression networks to infer functional annotation and to identify disease genes. We have developed sequence analysis tools for the study of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, and we are currently applying them to study the variation and evolution of human gene regulation.
Saverio Francesco Retta is Associate Professor of Applied Biology at the University of Torino. The major aim of his research unit is to define molecular and cellular functions of genes associated with the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM) disease in the attempt to gain useful insights into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The CCM disease (OMIM 116860) is one of the major categories of cerebrovascular malformations, with a prevalence of 0.1%-0.5% in the population. It may be inherited as autosomal dominant condition, and is characterized by enlarged and leaky brain capillaries that predispose to seizures, focal neurological deficits and intracerebral haemorrhage.
Using a set of new cellular, molecular, and genetic approaches as well as advanced microscopy techniques, we propose to elucidate how endothelial and mural cells cooperate to shape the cardiovascular system and regulate vascular angiogenesis and myogenesis. The long-term goal is to provide additional molecular entry points to further investigate endothelial and mural cells development/differentiation in normal and pathological conditions using the zebrafish vertebrate system.
The major goal of our research is the study and the clinical use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). i.HSC are characterized in normal subjects and in patients undergoing HSC transplant procedures. ii.The pathways of cell senescence are investigated both in normal and malignant stem cells. iii.The therapeutic use of bone-marrow derived stem cells is carried on in study protocols for hematological malignancies. These cells are also characterized and used for regenerative purposes in collaboration with orthopedics (Prof. P. Rossi), gastroenterologists (Prof. M. Rizzetto) and neurologists (Prof. A. Chiņ).
The main goal of our research unit is the identification and molecular characterization of miRNAs directly responsible of breast cancer and melanoma progression. For this purpose we: 1) analyze miRNA expression in human tumors and neoplastic cell lines; 2) study the biological role of some relevant small RNAs by performing miRNA overexpression or downregulation using in vitro and in vivo approaches; 3) identify and validate miRNA target genes by using bioinformatics tools as well as microarray analyses. In the near future the promising miRNAs will be knocked out or overexpressed in mice to generate mouse models to study their role in vivo an their possible use as targets for gene therapy.
The main goal of this research unit is the characterization of mechanisms of heme-iron recovery under physiologic and pathologic conditions. We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms of (1)heme detoxification through the liver, (2)heme absorption by duodenum, (3)heme handling in brain and in understanding (4)how heme controls erythropoiesis and skeletal formation during development. Pathologic conditions considered include Diamond-Blackfan anemia, heme-mediated tissue inflammation and demyelination disorders.
