People
Marco Lunghi
Matteo Migliavacca
Principal Investigator
Alessandra Balduini
Professor University Of Pavia; Tufts University
EIC Women Leadership Programme
Alessandra Balduini, MD, has vast experience in research of stem cell and megakaryocyte biology, as well as in the clinical aspects of the diseases related to platelets and clotting processes.
Before creating her research group in 2007, she was a Staff Physician in the laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy, and Visiting Professor at Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School.
Academic Activities
1. Professor of Clinical Chemistry: Medical School, Biotechnology, University of Pavia
2. Member of the Board of Doctorate in Translational Medicine, University of Pavia
3. Extensive undergraduate student research program, usually 10 students per semester
International Programs for Students
1. International programs with the USA, France, Argentina, and Japan.
2. Exchange referent professor for the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), Reach the world Education Program.
3. Exchange referent professor for the American Society of Haematology (ASH), Visitor Training Program.
4. Host supervisor for the Whitaker International Program.
5. Referent professor for European Hematology Association (EHA)-Japanese Society of Hematology (JSH) Fellowship Exchange Program.
Alessandro Malara
Alessandro Malara, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor whose research focuses on the effects exerted by extracellular matrix components on human and mouse thrombopoiesis.
Currently, he’s involved in the analysis of bone marrow environment in extracellular matrix protein transgenic mouse models.
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Christian Di Buduo
Christian Andrea Di Buduo, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor whose research focuses on the study of the mechanisms that control megakaryocyte differentiation and the signals that initiate and regulate proplatelet formation.
He is involved in different projects trying to understand the pathogenesis of different diseases characterized by impaired platelet production (i.e. inherited thrombocytopenias and myeloproliferative disorders).
Currently, in an effort to try to translate laboratory results to the clinic, he is using silk biomaterial to develop bone marrow tissue models for studying platelet production in diseased states, and as a tool for testing the mechanisms of action of new drugs.
Assistant Professor
Vittorio Abbonante
Vittorio Abbonante, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor, whose researches focus on the study of the microenvironment involvement in controlling bone marrow homeostasis, with particular attention to megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet release.
He studies the expression of collagen receptors and mechanosensors by megakaryocytes and their role in modulating platelet production.
Currently, he is involved in studying the connection of the stromal and megakaryocytic lineages in the pathogenesis of primary myelofibrosis.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Elisabetta Bassi
Elisabetta Bassi, Ph.D., is a Post Doctoral fellow whose research focuses on the effects of iron on thrombopoiesis. In particular, she is interested in evaluating how iron overload affects platelet production, deciphering the molecular mechanisms (i.e. ferroptosis) and pathways that are involved.
Giulia della Rosa
Giulia Della Rosa, Ph.D., is a Post Doctoral fellow whose research contributes to the development of a silk-based 3D model of bone marrow. Her activities focus on scaffold design and physico-mechanical characterization aiming at investigating structure-function relationships.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. Student
Francesca Careddu
Francesca Careddu is a Ph.D. student whose research interest is focused on understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying human erythropoiesis and platelet production in both physiological conditions and hematological disorders.
By using silk fibroin biomaterial, she aims at mimicking specialized cellular, chemical, and physical components of 3D bone marrow niche, to unravel the complexities of lineage commitment and blood cell release. Francesca's goal is to develop innovative approaches facilitating the precise generation of mature erythrocytes and platelets for translational applications.
Ph.D. Student
Carolina Miguel
Carolina Miguel is an Argentinian Ph.D. student who works with Bombyx Mori derived silk fibroin to develop a silk 3D bone marrow model to help the understanding of the bone marrow microenvironment and to produce platelets ex vivo for transfusions to dispense the need of donors.
Ph.D. Student
Francesca Rossella Calledda
Francesca Rossella Calledda is a Ph.D. Student whose research focuses on targeting Fibronectin (FN) - an extracellular matrix component - in Primary Myelofibrosis neoplasm (PMF), by taking advantage of mouse model
Alumni
Post-doc
Alicia Aguilar, Ph.D. Post-doc 2020-2022
Paolo Maria Soprano, Ph.D. 2013-2022 (Product Specialist, Immucor, Milano Italy)
Serge Cedrick Mbiandjeu Toya, Ph.D. 2019-2020 (Clinical Research Associate Intern, IQVIA, Milano, Italy)
Pierre-Alexandre Laurent, Ph.D. 2016-2019 (Senior Application Specialist CELLINK, Région de Lyon, France)
Lorenzo Tozzi, Ph.D. 2013-2018 (Scientist, Bluebird Bio, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)
Cristian Gruppi, Ph.D. 2005-2017 (Postdoctoral Scholar/Lab Manager, UCLA, Los Angeles California, USA)
Isabella Pallotta, Ph.D. 2005-2013 (Research Scientist, TARA Biosystems Inc, New York, New York, USA)
Manuela Currao, Ph.D. 2008-2014 (Clinical Study Coordinator, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy)
Graduate Students
Ana Marin Quilez, Ph.D. student 2021 (Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain)
Flavio Burgazzi, M.D. (Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy)
Giovanna Mantica, M.D. (MPhil student of Medical Sciences (Haematology), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK)
Lindsay Wray, Ph.D. Whitaker International Award Recipient 2012-2013 (Chief Science Officer at Eighteen B, Emeryville, CA, USA)
Stefania Badalucco, Ph.D. 2006-2011 (QC Supervisor at Bieffe Medical, Baxter International Inc., Italy)
Visiting Scientists
Daniel Howard Ph.D. (Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK)
Kazuya Hashimoto M.D. (Center for iPS cell research and application, Kyoto University, Japan)
Matías Grodzielski Ph.D.(National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires)
Lily Ong, Ph.D. (Cell Therapy Application Scientist (APAC) Terumo BCT, Singapore)
Yumiko Matsubara Ph.D. (Center for Translational Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan)
Paola D'Atri Ph.D. (CONICET-National Academy of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Under-graduate students
Luca Martinalli (Medicina e Chirurgia)
Francesca Rosso (Biologia Applicata e Sperimentale)
Valentina Calabrese (Biotecnologie Mediche e Farmaceutiche)
Randa Abu Sweimeh (Biotecnologie Mediche e Farmaceutiche)
Luca Maruzza (Biotecnologie Mediche e Farmaceutiche)
Luca Martinalli (Medicina e Chirurgia)
Giovanni Goggi (Medicina e Chirurgia)
Alexandru Caragata (Medicina e Chirurgia)
Alice Conti (Medicina e Chirurgia)
Rosangela Yamarte (Biologia sperimentale e applicata)
Matteo Migliavacca (Biologia sperimentale e applicata)
Maria Carmen Masiello (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Laura Trombetta (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Anita Toso (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Luca Griguoli (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Marta Calzolari (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Chiara Pollorsi (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Daisy Lenea (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Mariateresa Frascino (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Giorgia Mammano (Biotecnologie mediche e farmaceutiche)
Ismail El Ainain (Biotecnologie triennale)
Luisa Marinoni (Biotecnologie triennale)
Aurora Pozzi (Biotecnologie triennale)
Silvia Bergognini (Biotecnologie triennale)
Ludovica Pantusa (Biotecnologie triennale)
Nicola Santo (Biotecnologie triennale)
Chiara Dimitri (Biotecnologie triennale)
Sofia Perrone (Biotecnologie triennale)
Patrizia Bosco (Biotecnologie triennale)
Yvonne Kong (VISITING - The University of Sydney)
Ana Marin Quilez (VISITING - PhD student at the University of Salamanca)
Kato Ramaekers (VISITING - Kato Ramaekers. PhD Student at Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology. Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology KU Leuven)