Our research focuses on noncoding RNAs in neurogenesis.

Neurogenesis is the process of new neuron (and glia) generation from Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs). NPCs self-renew and generate committed offspring in a regulated fashion. The balance between quiescence, proliferation, differentiation and fate decision guarantees brain formation, lifelong neurogenesis and prevents tumour formation. Understanding the molecular control of NPCs fate has implications for comprehending brain malformations and age-related disorders. Over the last three decades, signaling pathways and transcriptional cascades regulating NSCs fate have been elucidated. However, the field has been mostly dominated by a gene-centric view, hence the understanding of NSCs fate remains partial.

MicroRNAs and other noncoding RNAs control NSCs fate by regulating gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Current understanding of noncoding RNA functions in NSCs fate is just at the beginning.

Our research activities are divided into two branches:

• Brain science: The overarching goal of our research is to understand the role played by microRNAs and other noncoding RNAs in the control of NSCs fate, in mammals.
• Health: Our aim is to use noncoding RNAs as RNA-based drugs for therapy of Brain cancer and other neural diseases.

Mol.biol. lab; cell cultures facilities (primary neural cells, immortalized lines); induced pluripotent human stem cells lab; histology lab. Access to IIT core facilities: Virus, Nikon center, Animal facility (SPF, individually ventilated cages; Surgery: electroporation, virus injection; behaviour rooms; black cages in collaboration with Tecniplast (Italy)). Deep RNA/DNA seq. and RNAi screening facility.