The Stem Cell Research Laboratory is dedicated to the study of adult stem cell biology from different origin.
Currently, ongoing projects concern:
a) mesenchymal stromal/stem cells: investigation of differentiation potential and role in regenerative medicine, inflammation, transplant-related immune reactions following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, tumor-specific immune responses and stromal support to cancer development through cell contact, soluble molecules and extracellular vesicles
b) hematopoietic stem cells: bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell niche, in vitro expansion and in vivo transplantation
c) leukemia and cancer stem cells: study of the mechanisms of leukemia self-renewal and stromal support to neoplastic growth; monitoring of the development of minimal residual clones in hematological malignancies; epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transition in cancer development
Completed projects was about:
a) neural stem cells: study of in vivo niches of neurogenesis
b) cardiac and lung stem cells: study of the mechanisms of regeneration in infarcted myocardium and degenerative pulmonary diseases
c) epithelial stem cells: study of the mechanism of wound healing and epithelial regeneration (skin and cornea).