Harvard Catalyst Profiles

University of Catania, Catania	Ph.D.	2008	Andrological Science and Human Reproduction
University of Catania, Catania	MS	2002	Molecular Biology
University of Catania, Catania	BS	2000	Biology
Medical University of South Carolina/Clemson University, South Carolina	Postdoctoral Fellow	2012	Bioengineering of materials
Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia	Research Associate	2015	Medical Bioengineering

As a biologist and embryologist who has received his training in bioengineering, my major research focus is to study the fundamental basis underlying cell biology, with a particular interest in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by following the in vivo developmental cues that drive these cells to become liver and pancreatic organoids. These organoids can be used as a drug screening model in vitro, or in regenerative medicine to treat liver and pancreatic degenerative diseases through cell transplantation therapy. My current research focuses on the development of HLA-Knockout hiPSCs liver and pancreatic organoids.
A recent new endeavor in my research is the generation of free-floating human intestinal and colonic organoids to be used as Inflammatory Bowel Disease in vitro models. These new organoids hold great promise of being able to predict fibrotic events in Crohn's disease patients even before the development of clinical evidence. This will potentially allow for future screenings of patients' own factors to determine their risks of developing intestinal strictures in the presence of IBD.

• Stem Cells
• Organoids
• Liver Regeneration
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Transplantation
• Pancreatic Differentiation