human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)

RNA Lab – Decoding Non-Coding RNAs in Development and Disease

RNA Lab – Decoding Non-Coding RNAs in Development and Disease

We are molecular biologists investigating RNA biology and gene regulation in physiological and pathological contexts. The group is led by Prof. Monica Ballarino and includes Dr. Giulia Buonaiuto, postdoctoral researcher Sara Capurso, Master’s student in Genetics and Molecular Biology; and Marco Simula and Dr. Daniele Durante, PhD students in Genetics and Molecular Biology. Our overarching research goals include to understand RNA-mediated mechanisms in health and disease, and designing new early diagnostic and tools for human diseases such as muscular, neuromuscular and cancer biology.

Neuro_iPSC Lab

Neuro_iPSC Lab

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play multiple roles in RNA metabolism and their mutation, delocalization and/or altered expression have been proposed to cause familial and sporadic amyotrophic latrla sclerosis (ALS). In our lab, human iPSC-derived motor neurons, skeletal muscle cells and neuromuscular organoids are used as in vitro model systems to study the role of the RBPs FUS, HuD/ELAVL4 and TDP-43 in ALS. To this aim, we have developed protocols for rapid and efficient conversion of human iPSCs into motor neurons and skeletal muscle cells.

Inflammatory Responses and Barrier Function of Endothelial Cells Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Several studies have reported endothelial cell (EC) derivation from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). However, few have explored their functional properties in depth with respect to line-to-line and batch-to-batch variability and how they relate to primary ECs.

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