Bellinzona – June 11 2024 – The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has recently awarded SNSF grants to four researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB, affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana): Valentina Cecchinato, Greta Guarda, Maurizio Molinari, and Silvia Monticelli.
Valentina Cecchinato, research associate hosted in the group of Mariagrazia Uguccioni, focuses on cell trafficking in human physiology and pathology, with an emphasis on the mechanisms governing the fine-tuning of chemokine expression and activity, to identify novel therapeutic targets for pharmacological intervention. The project named “Natural Autoantibodies Targeting Chemokines in HIV-1 infection and pathogenesis” aims at gaining novel insights into the development and evolution of natural autoantibodies targeting the chemokine system upon HIV-1 infection and an understanding of the biological relevance of this phenomenon for the disease.
Greta Guarda, leader of the Immune Mechanisms group, studies new molecular pathways controlling function and metabolic fitness of lymphocytes in health and disease. The project named “Role of the transcription factor RFX7 in B cell responses” aims at investigating the poorly studied transcription factor RFX7 in B cells. Guarda’ s group previously showed that, by limiting activation and metabolic status, this transcription factor is required for maintaining the homeostasis of important immune cells called natural killer cells. To date, the role of RFX7 in B cells, another subset of key immune cells, remains unknown. Notably, mutations of this transcription factor have been reported in B cell malignancies, indicating that RFX7 must be relevant in these cells. Greta Guarda’ s group will investigate this thanks to this important SNSF funding.
Maurizio Molinari is leader of the Protein Folding and Quality Control group. The work in Molinari’s lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the function of the endoplasmic reticulum, the organelle that produces lipids, sugars, and proteins in our cells. Last year, the SNSF awarded a 4-year grant to support research on the mechanisms devised by our cells to produce functional proteins and to efficiently destroy mutant proteins linked to rare diseases such as lysosomal storage disorders and alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency, says Molinari. This year, the SNSF awarded a second grant, which will allow Molinari’s group to establish the principles that govern the autophagic control of the endoplasmic reticulum size and function, which may decline upon aging or disease conditions.
Silvia Monticelli, leader of the Molecular Immunology lab, studies mechanisms of regulation of immune responses. With her financed project “Bridging T Cell Receptor and Integrin Signaling Pathways”, she now aims at understanding the role of specific signaling molecules in modulating the activation and function of T lymphocytes of the immune system. Gioacchino Natoli (IEO, Milan, Italy) is a key project partner for this study on aspects of genomics.
The overall amount of the grants corresponds to more than 3 Million CHF. This funding will sustain the laboratory activities and the salaries of 3 Postdocs, 2 PhD students and 1 Research technician for the next 4 years.
The IRB congratulates Valentina, Greta, Maurizio, and Silvia and wishes them a lot of success in their studies.
Photo (from left to right): Silvia Monticelli. Maurizio Molinari, Greta Guarda, Valentina Cecchinato.
