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Name | Fiorella Altruda |
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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%