Barberi

Stem cell biology is a relatively young discipline in biomedical research that offers extraordinary opportunities for finding therapeutic strategies in the treatment of degenerative diseases and cancer. In addition, stem cell differentiation studies are helping to reveal cellular and molecular mechanisms governing cell fate and tissue specification.  

The group is focused on setting up methods to isolate specific stem/precursor cells originating from human embryonic stem cells (ESC) that will eventually have therapeutic applications. Using ESC as a research tool, they also aim to address fundamental questions in development, such as understanding how pluripotent cells undergo lineage restriction and fate specification.

In particular, the group is interested in the development and differentiation of striated skeletal muscle cells, as well as neural crest specification during early neurulation.  Furthermore, they are studying diverse aspects of neural development using mutant mouse ESC lines. Especially, they are interested in studying how misexpression of Wnt-1 could affect the neural differentiation potential of ESCs, and in analysing the role of the transcription factor SCL/Tal1 during neural development using specific gain of-function and lack-of-function SCL/Tal1 mutant ESC lines. Lastly, the group is also interested in studying the specification of the definitive and the extra-embryonic endoderm during mouse ESC differentiation.

For more information on the research undertaken by this group or for enquiries regarding positions for researchers or students please contact Associate Professor Tiziano Barberi.