Divisions
Genetics and cell biology
The mission of Genetics and cell biology Division is the comprehension of biological and pathological phenomena, as this is fundamental to cure disease and create novel biotechnologies. The division hosts curiosity-driven projects of innovative investigators, and structured programs on areas of particular interest and strength. The division tries to balance curiosity driven research and team-networking organization, fostering quality science, and producing knowledge transferable to the Clinics or other thematic Divisions. Recruiting excellent scientists, providing suitable technological platforms, tightening the relationships between basic and clinical scientists and promoting areas of strength are key parts of the division's mission.
Research
Cutting edge areas in the divions are the physiopathology of cell stress and iron metabolism, chromatin dynamics, genetics and epigenetics. Internationally competitive groups are working in cell adhesion, migration and polarity. A program with fertile interdivisional links is bone and cartilage physiopathology (Bonetwork). Molecular mechanism underlying diseases (conformational diseases, cystic kidney disorders, neuromuscular diseases, inflammation, iron-related diseases, disorders of human reproduction, osteoporosis and bone diseases) are being investigated by many groups with robust animal and cellular models and patients’ biological samples.
Organization
The Division of Genetics and Cell Biology (DGCB) hosts many basic research groups, totalling over 100 persons.
DGCB hosts both PhD and Postdoctoral training programs related to Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, where positions are offered on a competitive basis for a minimum of 3 and 2 years, respectively.
Clinical collaborations
These lines of investigation address important medical issues in which existing synergies between basic and clinical sciences are being fostered, increasing our funding potentials and translational outputs. DGCB provides the clinics with concepts and protocols to be tested, at the same time the reverse translation takes place: detailed analysis of cohorts of patients can help unravel physiological mechanisms.
DGCB daily collaborates with the following research groups, affiliated with the clinical departments of the hospital:
Age related diseases
Simone Cenci, Group leader
Biomolecular NMR
Giovanna Musco, Group leader
Biology of myelin
Maurizio D'Antonio, Group leader
Cancer metabolism
Simone Cardaci, Group leader
Chromatin dynamics
Marco Emilio Bianchi, Group leader
Gene expression and muscular dystrophy
Davide Gabellini, Group leader
Cystic Kidney Disorders
Alessandra Boletta, Group leader
Molecular genetics of renal disorders
Luca Rampoldi, Group leader
Protein transport and secretion
Roberto Sitia, Group leader
Regulation of iron metabolism
Antonella Nai, Group leader
Tissue regeneration and homeostasis
Emilie Venereau, Group leader
Marco Bianchi
Group leader, Chromatin dynamics Unit
Alessandra Boletta
Group leader, Molecular basis of cystic kidney disorders Unit
Simone Cenci
Group leader, Age related diseases Unit
Simone Cardaci
Group leader, Cancer metabolism Unit
Maurizio D'Antonio
Group leader, Biology of myelin Unit
Davide Gabellini
Group leader, Gene expression and muscular dystrophy Unit
Giovanna Musco
Group leader, Biomolecular nuclear magnetic resonance Unit
Antonella Nai
Group leader, Regulation of iron metabolism Unit
Luca Rampoldi
Group leader, Molecular genetics of renal disorders Unit
Roberto Sitia
Group leader, Protein transport and secretion Unit
Emilie Venereau
Group leader, Tissue regeneration and homeostasis Unit
Chronic kidney disease: a new variant of the UMOD gene
A team of researchers completed the genetic picture of chronic kidney disease associated with the UMOD gene involved in the diseases’s development
Unmasking cancer cells
A synthetic molecule developed at San Raffaele could help make tumors more visible to the immune system
Muscular Dystrophy: a new possible therapeutic approach
Researchers at San Raffaele succeeded in slowing down skeletal muscle degeneration, in two animal models of muscular dystrophies, by using a protein engineered in laboratory
Discovered two epigenetic regulators of metabolism
The study discovered two enzymes which are able to slow down the body's metabolism and could pave the way for new therapeuthic approaches to obesity
The molecular switch behind muscle formation
Researchers discovered the first molecular switch activating muscle formation, whose malfunction is involved in diseases such as muscular dystrophy
Post-Doctoral Position at Tissue Regeneration and Homeostasis Unit, headed by Emilie Venereau
Two Postdoc positions available at Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, headed by Alessandra Boletta
Post-Doctoral position at Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, headed by Alessandra Boletta