Massimo Vassalli

Culture enhanced MSCs to boost haematopoietic engraftment in a model of the post-leukaemic bone marrow niche.

This study improves MSCs for HSCT by suppressing senescence and shows enhanced engraftment in an AML niche model.

Viscoelasticity drives EMT in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia

This study shows that viscosity, not just elasticity, drives EMT in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia using hydrogel models.

Cell loss disrupts mechanical homeostasis to drive retinal pigment epithelium ageing-like phenotype in vitro

The paper shows that cell loss in RPE cells leads to mechanical changes that impair function, mimicking age-related decline in an in vitro model.

Nucleoli as drivers of nuclear remodelling in cardiomyocytes during Heart Failure

This study investigates how nucleoli drive nuclear remodelling in cardiomyocytes during heart failure, showing NI loss precedes cytoskeletal stiffening and is linked to DNA damage and nucleolar changes.

Stiffness Drives Endothelial Senescence and Inflammation in Aging and Doxorubicin-Induced Vascular Dysfunction

This study shows that vascular stiffness promotes endothelial senescence and inflammation, identifying extracellular matrix as a therapeutic target for aging and chemotherapy-induced vascular dysfunction.

Bioengineered bone marrows that can support stem cells and remodel to mimic human disease metabolism and chemotherapeutic effects

The paper develops a bioengineered bone marrow model that supports stem cells and mimics disease metabolism and chemotherapy effects, showing enhanced taurine metabolism and chemotherapy response.

Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Proteins are true oocyst wall proteins, with COWP8 functioning to hold the inner and outer layers of the oocyst wall together

The paper identifies and characterizes Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Proteins (COWPs), showing that COWP8 maintains the structural integrity of the oocyst wall without affecting viability or chlorination resistance.

Piezo1 is a mechanosensor of soft matrix viscoelasticity

The paper shows Piezo1 senses viscoelasticity in soft ECMs and identifies transcriptomic changes in MSCs in response to matrix properties and Piezo1 activity.

Biomechanical Compartmentalisation Influences Angiogenesis and Stem Cell Proliferation in the Regenerating Intestine via Vascular Piezo.

This study identifies biomechanical compartmentalization in the regenerating intestine and shows vascular Piezo1 influences angiogenesis and stem cell proliferation across species.