Phone: +39-051-6366549
E-mail address: margherita.cortini@ior.it
Cortini Margherita, MSc, PhD
CV
Date of Birth
05/09/1982
Qualification
Post-doc
Current assignment
Researcher
Title of qualification awarded
2006: MSc in Medical Biotechnology, University Federico II, Naples (cum laude). Title of the thesis: "Development of a DNA vaccine against the feline leucemia virus" (Principal Investigator: Prof. Lucio Pastore).
Other qualifications awarded
2010: PhD in Molecular Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan. Title of the thesis: "Molecular machines in the secretori protein factory: the task of IgM polymerisation" (Principal Investigator: Prof. Roberto Sitia).
Positions held
- 2003: Intern student, Lab. Of Gene Therapy, CEINGE, Naples (Prof. Lucio Pastore).
- 2004-2006: Intern student, Lab. of Gene Therapy, CEINGE, Naples (Prof. Lucio Pastore).
- 2006-2010: PhD student of Lab of Protein quality control, Hospital San Raffaele, Milano (Prof. Roberto Sitia).
- 2010-2011: Post-doctoral fellow in the Lab of Protein quality control, Hospital San Raffaele, Milano (Prof. Roberto Sitia).
- 2011-2014: Post-doctoral fellow in the lab of FSHD, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (prof. Rossella Tupler).
- From 2014: Post-doctoral fellow, Lab. of Orthopaedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, IOR, Bologna, Italy (Prof. Nicola Baldini).
Languages
Excellent English.
Technologies
Office Suite: Windows 98/XP/7 (Word, Excel, Power Point), Adobe (Reader, Photoshop, Illustrator).
Scientific programs: Imagej, Image Quant, End Note, Pageplus, Graphpad.
Scientific activities
Post-doc - Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute (from 2014)
- Study of the interactions between osteosarcoma cancer stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells: the role of IL-6.
- Role of the stroma and acidity in cancer stem cell-induced tumor progression.
- Isolation of cancer stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells from primary sarcoma tissues. 3D coltures in vitro and in vivo (Chorioallantoic Membranes) and assays for the study of tumor development in vivo (mouse xenografts).
Post-doc - University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (2011-2014)
- Study of the pathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of FSHD.
Post-doc - University "Vita-Salute San Raffaele", Milan, Italy (2010-2011)
- Folding and quality control of chaperone proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum: the role of Erp44.
- Transfection assays and molecular and biochemical analyses to evaluate the pH-dependent interactions between Erp44 and substrates. Development of a KO mouse for Erp44; screening of the chimeras and phenotype analysis.
PhD - University "Vita-Salute San Raffaele", Milan, Italy (2007-2011)
- The cell as a molecular factory: the complicated production of IgMs.
- Transfection assays and molecular and biochemical analyses.
Intern student - University of Naples, Federico II, Italy (2004-2006)
- Development of a DNA vaccine against the feline leucemia virus.
- Production of first generation and helper-dependent adenoviral vectors.
I am author in 14 pubblications for peer-reviewed journals. In 8 of the total publications I am first author or corresponding author. My h-index is 11.
IscaM Young Investigator award for best poster presentation. September 16th-19th, 2015, Venice, Italy.
Clinical and/or Scientific interests
Cell colture: Cell transfection or electroporation of eucariotic cells. Isolation of cancer stem cells from sarcoma specimens; fibroblast isolation from tumor biopsies; co-coltures of tumor and mesenchymal stem cells; 3D coltures of hanging drop spheroids and transwells.
Molecular biology: Bacterial coltures and production of first generation and helper-dependent adenoviral vectors; RNA and DNA extraction and analysis; RT-PCR, Syber Green and Taqman Real-Time PCRs; molecular cloning and point mutagenesis.
Biochemical assays: protein extraction and TCA precipitaion; cell fractionation on sucrose and density continous or discontinous gradients; immunoprecipitation and co-immunoprecipitation; Western blots, radioactive pulse and chase.
Microscopy: preparation and staining of cells, immunoflourescent stainings, epifluorescent analysis, deconvolution and confocal microscopy.
Animal handling: mouse colonies; isolation and splenocyte harvesting; embryo isolation; in vivo electroporation; tumor xenografts; subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections.