Translational Medicine
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-1025
ISSN: 2161-1025
Ilaria Bellantuono
AcceptedAbstracts: Transl Med
Stem cells are responsible for tissue repair and maintenance and evidence are gathering that changes in stem cells with age contribute to the decline in tissue function. The ability to intervene and increase even modestly the number of stem cells, delaying tissue dysfunction may have great impact in areas of degenerative diseases. Indeed limited rejuvenation of stem cells has been shown to rescue tissue function, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of targeting this compartment. When thinking about stem cells most people think about cell replacement approaches, which are costly and present with considerable challenges in relation to engraftment, tissue integration and function. Small molecules are an attractive alternative to amplify the endogenous stem cell pool, preserve it from ageing and direct its differentiation by targeting specific signalling pathways. Here we will present data showing how mesenchymal stem cell ageing can be delayed using small molecules such as the newly identified molecule targeting prion protein.
Bellantuono graduated in 1992 with an MD degree from the University of Pavia, Italy and completed a PhD in the department of Experimental Haematology, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester in 1998. She undertook post-doctoral training in the Department of Immunology, Hammersmith Hospital and Imperial College. In 2001, Dr Bellantuono relocated to the Royal Manchester Children?s Hospital as a team leader and was awarded an honorary lectureship in stem cell biology at the University of Manchester in 2002. Ilaria was appointed as a Lecturer in Bone Biology at the University of Sheffield in 2005 and is currently Senior Lecturer. Ilaria?s main research is to determine what changes mesenchymal stem cells undergo with age, what are the molecular players involved and how these impact on bone formation. An understanding of the pathways involved in stem cell ageing will lead to more targeted therapeutic strategies to promote healthier bone ageing. Ilaria is Director of the bone analysis laboratory, at the Mellanby Centre for Bone Research, which provides access to contemporary approaches to analysing bone to the research community. She heads the innovative resource Shared Ageing Research Models (ShARM) funded by Wellcome Trust, which combines web-based information systems with a physical tissue bank of ageing mouse models and is the Director of training of the MRC- Arthritis Research UK Centre of Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)