Molecular Biology Laboratory

Research areas:

• Characterization of patients at the time of diagnosis with acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic and chronic myeloproliferative syndromes; diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers are identified. The identified markers are used to assess the minimum remaining disease during follow-up in order to guide the therapeutic treatment;

• Characterization of patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome through the use of high-resolution technology to identify markers that are useful for stratifying risk and defining the therapeutic approach; the study of the clonal evolution throughout the various phases of the disease;

• Characterization of the mechanisms of drug resistance and genetic instability in acute and chronic leukemias (acute and chronic myeloid leukemia);

• Molecular characterization of the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis and disease progression in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and systemic mastocytosis;

• Development of targeted therapeutic approaches, with particular attention to the eradication of leukemic stem cells;

• Genomic characterization of patients with multiple myeloma at diagnosis and relapse; study of the dynamics of clonal evolution during treatment and the correlation with therapy resistance;

• Monitoring of the dynamics of minimum remaining disease during therapy with high-resolution technology; IgH-NGS on bone marrow aspirate, ULP-WGS on liquid biopsy (ctDNA), FC on liquid biopsy (CMMCs, Circulating Multiple Myeloma Cells);

• Creation of an Italian network for the co-ordination of methods for molecular evaluation of minimum remaining disease with NGS in the daily clinical practice of multiple myeloma;

• Design and inter-laboratory validation of a targeted panel for the accurate diagnosing of multiple myeloma patients, by evaluating the translocations, numerical alterations and point mutations (panel AIO; All-In-One);

• Study of of clonal hematopoiesis with indeterminate potential (CHIP) in multiple myeloma patients who have received autologous stem cell transplants from peripheral blood using single-cell technology.

Teaching activity:

• Lessons for the School of Medicine and Surgery, the School of Specialization in Hematology and the School of Specialization in Medical Genetics (Dr. Soverini);

• Internships for undergraduate courses in Biotechnology and Health Biology; tutoring for PhD students in Oncology, Hematology, and Pathology (Dr. Ottaviani, Dr. Soverini, Dr. Terragna);

• Internships for undergraduate courses in laboratory technology (Mrs. Ignazia Pistis).

Instrumentation available:

• New-generation sequencer Illumina MiSseq

• Digital platform PCR Fluidigm Biomark

• Digital platform PCR Biorad QX200

• Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM 7900 real time PCR instrument

• Roche LightCycler real time PCR instrument

• Piattaforma Affimetrix

• Fluid power

• Semi-automatic magnetic separator of cell fractionsMiltenyi AutoMacs pro, located inside a laminar flow hood

• Semi-automatic nucleic acid extractor: Promega Maxwell

• System Agilent TapeStation

• ThermoFisher Qubit

Collaborators

Dott.ssa Silvia Armuzzi, Biologist, UNIBO study grant holder

Dott.ssa Lorenza Bandini, Biologist, AOSP study grant holder

Dott.ssa Enrica Borsi, Biologist, holder of a professional contract

Sandra Guastadini, Laboratory technician, holder of a professional contract

Dott.ssa Manuela Mancini, Biotechnologist, holder of a professional contract

Dott.ssa Marina Martello, Biotechnologist, holder of a professional contract

Dott.ssa Gaia Mazzocchetti, Biotechnologist, UNIBO study grant holder

Dott.ssa Agnese Patuelli, Biotechnologist, AOSP study grant holder

Ignazia Pistis, Laboratory technician

Dott.ssa Valentina Robustelli, Biologist, UNIBO study grant holder

Dott.ssa Barbara Taurisano, Biologist, AOSP study grant holder

Dott.ssa Ilaria Vigliotta, Biotechnologist, AOSP study grant holder