Cell therapy for myopathies
Giulio Cossu

Email: cossu.giulio@hsr.it
Location: DIBIT2 A4, Floor 3, Room 5
Group leader, Cell therapy for myopathies Unit
Since 2013 Giulio Cossu is Constance Thornley Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Manchester, since 2019, Visiting Professor at Max Delbruck Center-Charitè in Berlin, since 2021 Head Unit at the Institute of Experimental Neurology, and Visiting Scholar at Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele in Milan. He was previously Professor of Human Stem Cell Biology at UCL (2012-13), Director of the Division of Regenerative Medicine at San Raffaele (2000-2011), Professor of Histology at the University of Milan (2005-11) and at Sapienza di Roma (1986-2005). He was also Visiting Professor at Pasteur Institute (1992-94) and USPHS-Fogarty fellow at the University of Pennsylvania (1980-83). He graduated in Medicine at Sapienza University in 1977.
Giulio Cossu is internationally recognized for both his contributions to skeletal muscle development and his pioneering work in regenerative medicine using stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy. To this end, he developed preclinical models and conducted phase I/II clinical studies. He is the author of > 250 publications (H-index 75) and has obtained important funding for his research from European Research Council, European Commission, Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, etc. He thought Histology, Developmental biology, Bioethics and Regenerative Medicine in different Universities. Many of his students are now professors in major European Universities (Trinity College Dublin, UCL, Newcastle, Milan, KU Leuven). He has been and is working in several research grant panels such as the ERC and the Italian Ministry of research.
He is fellow of the Medical Academy, Accademia dei Lincei, European Academy of Science, member of the Advisory Board of the Basel Institute of Biomedicine. He was Italian member at EMA (CAT), member of CNR scientific advisory Board and member of Consiglio Superiore di sanità. He is EMBO member and Senior Editor of EMBO Molecular Medicine.
Current Positions
2013-: Constance Thornley Professor of Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester
2019-2024: BIH Visiting Professor, Charité Medical Faculty, Max Delbrück Centre, Berlin
2021-2026: Head of Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Hospital, and Visiting Scholar, University Vita Salute, Milan
Previous appointments
2012-2013: Professor of Human Stem Cell Biology, University College London
2008-2011: Director, Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Institute, Milan
2005-2011: Professor of Histology and Embryology, University of Milan
2000-2008: Director of the “Stem Cell Research Institute”, San Raffaele, Milan.
2003-2006: Scientific Director of the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park of Rome.
1994-2005: Professor of Histology and Medical Embryology, II° Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
1993-1994: Visiting Professor. Dept. of Molecular Biology, Istitut Pasteur, Paris
1986-1993: Associate Professor, Dept. of Histology and Medical Embryology, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
1983-1986: Researcher, Institute Histology, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
Post-doctoral training
1980-1983: USPHS Fogarty Fellow, Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania
1978-1980: CNR Fellow, Institute Histology, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
2022-2024: Member, Panel LS7, European Research Council
2022-: Member, Bioethics Committee, Accademia dei Lincei
2021-: Member, Health Committee, Accademia dei Lincei
2020: Galileo Prize for scientific dissemination with the book “The frame of life”
2019-2022: Member of the Advisory Council of the Italian Ministry of Health.
2017-: Member (Italian) of the Inter-Academy Partnership.
2016-: Member, Scientific Advisory Board of the Dept. of Biomedicine, Basel University.
2016-2021: Member, Scientific Advisory Board of the Italian National Research Council.
2013: Fellow of the Accademia dei Lincei
2013: Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
2011: Member of the European Academy of Sciences
2011: Feltrinelli prize (Accademia dei Lincei) for medical science,
2011-2014: Member, Committee for Advanced Therapy (CAT), European Medicinal Agency
2008-2014: Chair and Member, Panel LS7, European Research Council
2008-2011: Directory Board, International Society of Differentiation.
2008-: Senior Editor, EMBO Molecular Medicine
2008: ISSCR Task Force for “Clinical Translation of Stem Cell Research”
2008: Jean Brachet Memorial Lecture (ISD) Keystone Symposium “Stem Cells Cancer and Ageing”, Singapore 28.09.2008.
2007: Prize for excellence in Research, Medical Academy of Turin,
2004-: Editorial Board, Journal of Cell Science
2003-2011: Member, TIGEM External Scientific Advisory Board.
2002-2005: Directory Board of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
2003: Galileo Prize for excellence in scientific research, City of Padua
2005: Stella d’oro per la Medicina, Rome
2003-2006: Chairperson, Stem Cell Committee, European Society of Gene Therapy
1998-2001: President, ABCD (Italian Society for Cell Biology and Differentiation)
1998-2001: Secretary, FISV (Italian Federation of Life Sciences)
1997-: EMBO Member
1972-1977: Medical School, University of Rome Sapienza, Laurea: 110/110 lode
1967-1972: Master in Classic Studies, Liceo Dante Alighieri Rome, vote 48/60.