Regenerative medicine is a game-changing area of medicine with the potential to fully heal damaged tissues and organs, offering solutions and hope for people who have conditions that today are beyond repair.
Our group is studying the biology of normal stem cells, stem cells in the development of disease, and mechanisms of tissue repair. The group aims to create a translational impact by attaining a deeper understanding of disease processes, developing novel therapies, and translating these to bedside
By understanding what controls liver regeneration in acute and chronic injury our group aims to be able to promote healthy liver regeneration and reduce the formation of hepatic liver failure, liver cirrhosis and cancer. In particular, our main research interests are:
Biology of liver regeneration the hepatic progenitor cell niche
Biology of liver fibrosis and resolution
Cell and gene therapy for liver regeneration and reconstitution

Publications

• Passman AM, Haughey MJ, Carlotti E, Williams MJ, Cereser B, Lin ML, Devkumar S, Gabriel JP, Gringeri E, Cillo U, Russo FP,. Et al . Hepatocytes undergo punctuated expansion dynamics from a periportal stem cell niche in normal human liver. J Hepatol. 2023 Aug;79(2):417-432. Doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.03.044. Epub 2023 Apr 21. PMID: 37088309.
• Sayaf K, Zanotto I, Gabbia D, Alberti D, Pasqual G, Zaramella A, Fantin A, De Martin S, Russo FP. Sex Drives Functional Changes in the Progression and Regression of Liver Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Nov 17;24(22):16452. Doi: 10.3390/ijms242216452. PMID: 38003640; PMCID: PMC10671597.
• Sayaf K, Gabbia D, Russo FP, De Martin S. The Role of Sex in Acute and Chronic Liver Damage. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Sep 13;23(18):10654. Doi: 10.3390/ijms231810654. PMID: 36142565; PMCID: PMC9505609.
• Bizzaro D, Russo FP, Burra P. New Perspectives in Liver Transplantation: From Regeneration to Bioengineering. Bioengineering (Basel). 2019 Sep 11;6(3):81. Doi: 10.3390/bioengineering6030081. PMID: 31514475; PMCID: PMC6783848.
• Gringeri E, Auricchio P, Perin L, D’Amico FE, Bassi D, Boetto R, Polacco M, Di Giunta M, Luisetto R, Cillo U. A Translational Approach to Standardization of Machine Perfusion Adoption in Ex Vivo Liver Resection. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Jun;27(6):1919. Doi: 10.1245/s10434-019-08163-4. Epub 2020 Jan 3. PMID: 31900807.
• Cillo U, Lonati C, Bertacco A, Magnini L, Battistin M; Liver NMP Consortium; Borsetto L, Dazzi F, Al-Adra D, Gringeri E, Bacci ML, Schlegel A, Dondossola D. A proof-of-concept study in small and large animal models for coupling liver normothermic machine perfusion with mesenchymal stromal cell bioreactors. Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 2;16(1):283. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55217-7. PMID: 39746966; PMCID: PMC11697227.
• Cazzagon N, Sarcognato S, Floreani A, Corrà G, De Martin S, Guzzardo V, Russo FP*, Guido M*. Cholangiocyte senescence in primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with disease severity and prognosis. JHEP Rep. 2021 Mar 30;3(3):100286. Doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100286. PMID: 34041468; PMCID: PMC8141934. *Equal contribution
• Sayaf K, Zanotto I, Russo FP, Gabbia D, De Martin S. The Nuclear Receptor PXR in Chronic Liver Disease. Cells. 2021 Dec 27;11(1):61. Doi: 10.3390/cells11010061. PMID: 35011625; PMCID: PMC8750019.
• Adam R, Piedvache C, Chiche L, Adam JP, Salamé E, Bucur P, Cherqui D, Scatton O, Granger V, Ducreux M, Cillo U, et al.Collaborative TransMet group. Liver transplantation plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in patients with permanently unresectable colorectal liver metastases (TransMet): results from a multicentre, open-label, prospective, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2024 Sep 21;404(10458):1107-1118. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01595-2. PMID: 39306468.

Funding

Ordinary Department funding

People involved

Francesco Paolo Russo (Associate Professor)
Patrizia Burra (Full Professors)
Umberto Cillo (Full Professor)
Enrico Gringeri (Associate Professor)
Jacopo Lanari (Assistant Professor)
Alberto Zanetto (Assistant Professor)
Alberto Ferrarese (Assistant Professor)

Group members

Teresa Zappitelli (PhD)
Laura Borsetto, Romilda Cardin, Chiara Carlotto and Milena Minotto (biologists/laboratory technicians)