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Lab Units


Cell Therapy Unit

Principal Investigator (PI): prof. Massimo Dominici

The Cell Therapy Unit is involved in the development of innovative approaches for cancer therapy based on genetically modified cells. There are two main areas of research that are currently developed:

the first is represented by the engineering of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) to induce the production of molecules characterized by an antitumor effect. MSCs producing anticancer substances have been successfully used in many in vitro and in vivo studies against solid tumours including sarcoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and cervical cancer.

The second field is represented by the development and production of CAR-T cells directed against tumour antigens. The lymphocytes can be genetically modified to selectively recognize and kill cancer cells. Promising results have been obtained against several tumours characterized by poor prognosis such as glioblastoma and neuroblastoma. Future therapeutic steps now focuses on melanoma and lung cancer.


Cell Analyses Unit

Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Giulia Grisendi, PhD

This Unit is focused on the investigation of biological phenomena, including proliferation, apoptosis and activation of specific molecular pathway, in both tumour and healthy cells isolated from different human and animal tissues. Thanks to a Flow Cytometry facility equipped with a FACS ARIA III cell sorter, the Cell Analyses Laboratory provides flow cytometric analyses and cell sorting for the entire Cell Therapy Lab and for other research groups belonging to UNIMORE as well as other research Institutions and Companies. Recently, thanks to the acquisition of the ZETAVIEW Particle Metrix system, this Unit has also acquired competence in the isolation, study and characterization of microvesicles from MSC and tumour cells.

 


Regenerative Medicine Unit

(Tissue engineering ; 3D bioprinting ): Dr. Elena Veronesi

Under construction