A research project on neural stem cells against sclerosis

July 13, 2017 - Where do Ucbm graduates end up? Who have they become and what are they doing? Giulio Volpe, twenty-seven years old, originally from Atripalda (AV), after a degree in Medicine and Surgery obtained with full marks at Ucbm, flew to Cambridge also thanks to a scholarship offered by the Alumni Association to carry out research on multiple sclerosis.

Let's talk about your project that recently appeared on the Journal of Neuroimmunology.

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system destroys myelin, a substance that coats nerve fibers. The succession of these attacks causes lesions to the central nervous system and determines in the patient a progressive loss of motor and cognitive abilities. Since treatments capable of stopping the disease are not currently available, it is necessary to develop new therapies to oppose the persistent inflammatory state in the progressive stages of the disease and promote myelin regeneration. One possible route is that of neural stem cells (NSC), which can modulate the inflammatory response and functionally reintegrate into the damaged tissue. However, these cells are obtained from embryonic or fetal tissues. To overcome these obstacles, new techniques are being explored to obtain neural stem cells directly from patient skin cells (“fibroblasts”) (directly “induced” NSCs or iNSCs). In my project I investigated the therapeutic effect of iNSCs on the inflammatory state of the disease and on the remyelination processes in a model of chronic multiple sclerosis.

What studies are you undertaking in England?

Two years ago, after passing the lengthy admissions process at the University of Cambridge and being accepted into Queens' College, I had the opportunity to work in the Clinical Neurosciences Department of the Cambridge Biosciences Campus. Here I carried out a thesis on the remyelinating potential of iNSCs and last February I obtained the title of Master of Philosophy in Clinical Neurosciences.

How did you experience the relationship with the Alumni Association?

Being a member of the Association has allowed me to still feel part of a community of friends and professionals who play an important role in my life. The Campus Bio-Medico University, for those who have been students of it, is like a second home. The Alumni Association is a valid support to promote the growth of ex-students over the years. At the same time, I also believe that it is up to us Alumni to work to increase its reputation and in some way reciprocate the trust we have received from the University over the years.

Future perspectives?

I do not preclude myself from anything both in academic and professional terms. I will continue to look for new stimuli thanks to the skills gained and the knowledge of several languages. In the short term, I would like to complete my specialist medical training in the field of neuroscience, without giving up my research activity, in order to always be at the forefront of scientific and professional development.