The scientific topics in the Department of Physiology and Cancer span from molecular and integrative physiology to cancer biology. The objective of the Department is to provide basic knowledge on human diseases with high societal impact: neuroendocrine diseases, circadian and cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes and cancer. The Department creates a unique and attractive framework for exchanges between scientists and clinicians. The Department teams, which often integrate clinicians, harbor strong historical background in ion channels, membrane receptors and signal transduction, systems biology and cancer biology. Structural biology of membrane proteins and receptors are also implemented in the department, together with genomics and integrative biology. Multiple aspects of cell functioning and networking are considered. These include signaling processes underlying the organization of cellular networks in the endocrine system, intestine and heart, pathways regulating mucosal immune responses, the cell cycle, stemness and differentiation, regeneration, cell death and apoptosis in several peripheral organs and cancer tissues. A vast array of techniques is employed: outstanding small animal imaging, cellular imaging, crystallography, cryo-EM and omics approaches implemented into world class genomic and proteomic facilities hosted in the institute. Our studies rely on a combination of patient biopsies as well as complementary model organisms: rats, mice and zebra fishes.

Coordinator : Matteo MANGONI