Name:

Fiorella Altruda

-Born in Turin, the 12th of August 1952

- Ph D in Biology , University of Turin, July 1975

-Full Professor of Molecular Genetics

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

From 1987 to 1994: Associate Professor in Genetics

1994-at present: Full Professor in Molecular Genetics, University of Torino, School of Medicine

From 2005: President of the School of Biotechnology, University of Turin

From 2010: Coordinator of the European Master Program in BioHealth Computing for the

University of Torino

From 2002 Scientific member of the Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (CIB) and

member

of the Executive Board from 2014

Director of the Center for in vivo functional Genomics, University of Turin, supported by Telethon

From 2009: University coordinator of the Polo di Innovazione- Biotecnologie (BioPmed), Regione

Piemonte

From 2012: Member of the Director Board of the University Federico II, Naples

From 2013: Director of the Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino

From 2013: in charge of the organization of the Cell Factory, University of Torino

From 2012: member of the Scientific Board of CentroScienza Foundation and from 2014

member of the Executive Board

From 2015: President of the Bioindustry Park S.p.A. Colleretto Giacosa (Torino)

PAST RELEVANT RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN FOREIGN INSTITUTION

November 1976-December 1977

Postdoctoral fellow- Dept. of Molecular Biophysics and

Biochemistry, Yale University, USA

January-April 1981

Visiting fellow- Dept. of Animal Embryology, University of

Geneva, Switzerland

January 1982-December 1982

Postdoctoral fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory,

Heidelberg, Germany

October-December 1984

Visiting fellow- European Molecular Biology Laboratory,

Heidelberg, Germany

July-September 1989

Visiting scientist, Scripps Clinic and Research Laboratory, La

Jolla, USA

CURRENT RESEARCH INTEREST

One of the current research interests is to explore the potentiality of spermatogonial stem cells as a

novel tool for cell therapy, with particular emphasis on liver metabolic diseases. Spermatogonial

stem cells have been isolated from mice and are currently in culture in the laboratory. These stem

cells have been found to convert spontaneously to pluripotent stem cells, termed germ cell-derived

pluripotent stem cells or GPSCs. However, very little is known about the factors responsible for the

conversion of spermatogonial stem cells to pluripotent stem cells. The Unit has developed a system

for differentiating GPSCs into hepatocyte-like cells and renal cells and research on this aspects is

presently under way. The main aims are to:-Develop culture conditions and identify factors

responsible to differentiate GPSCs into hepatocytes as well as renal cells.-Employ a bioinformatics

approach to identify genes that are enhancers of reprogramming.

Patents:

1)      

19 December 2002 (WO2004056176)

“MELUSIN, A MUSCLE SPECIFIC PROTEIN, AS A DRUG TARGET FOR PREVENTION

AND TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF”

Il brevetto è di proprietà dell’Università di Torino e gli inventori sono: Mara Brancaccio, Lorenzo

Silengo, Fiorella Altruda, Giuseppe Lembo, Luigi Fratta, e Guido Tarone.

2)

17 Gennaio 2012 M.G. Faga, A. Bellosi, F. Altruda, S. Carossa, S. Coluccia, G. Martra, F.

Mussano, E. Tolosano (2012). Impianto dentale od osseo, in particolare in nanocomposito

allumina-zirconia. TO2012A000029, 50% Università degli Studi di Torino, 50%