Ferdinando Di Cunto joined the Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi in 2017 as the leader of the Embryonic Neurogenesis group. Prior to joining the Institute, he investigated the relationships between cell proliferation, differentiation and death, in particular during development of the Central Nervous System, as well as the relationships of these processes with genetic microcephaly. As a doctoral student and post-doctoral fellow at Harvard and Turin Universities he identified and characterized the Citron Kinase (CITK) gene, whose mutations lead to a severe form of primary microcephaly (MCPH 17).
His early research experiences include the analysis of molecular and cell biology mechanisms implicated in cell cycle control and in the dynamics of actin cytoskeleton. Ferdinando Di Cunto obtained his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Turin.
Research focus
Research activity in Di Cunto’s lab is focused on the molecular characterization of genes and mechanisms implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular regard to primary microcephaly (MCPH). The severe reduction at birth of neurons and glial cells that characterize this condition may occur in isolation or as part of more complex developmental alterations, with severe functional consequences including intellectual disability, movement disorders and epilepsy.
At the same time, the group is exploring the usage of MCPH genes as targets for drug development in highly malignant brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma. Proof of concept about this possibility has been provided for two genes: CITK and CENPE. To investigate these issues, the laboratory resorts to a combination of advanced molecular and cell biology tools, bioinformatics and computational biology strategies as well as in vitro and in vivo experimental models, recently including the nematode C. elegans.
