The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research

More information about the Mario Negri Institute is available at http://www.marionegri.it

The group of the Negri Bergamo Laboratories has been involved since many years in studying mechanisms and mediators responsible for acute and chronic renal injury. The final goal of the research is to find out novel therapeutic approaches to prevent or cure renal damage. In this context the recent interest of the participating centre is focussed on cellular therapy with an eye to the regenerating potential of stem cells. The scientists in Bergamo have recently documented in a mouse model of acute renal failure the protective effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the regeneration of the damaged kidney and are currently investigating the potential mediators produced by MSCs that are responsible for this repair in the in vivo and in vitro model. The Institute is equipped with all necessary instruments to carry out routine work on the field of biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics and basic immunology. Basic instruments required to conduct a full range of biochemical and molecular analysis and tissue culture (spectrophotometers, FACs analyzer and cell sorter, liquid chromatography, radioactivity counters, apparatus for cell and tissue culture, PCR machines, real time PCR, apparatus for gel electrophoresis, ELISA 96-well plate reader and light, confocal and electron microscopes) are available. The Institute has animal care facilities for models of renal diseases and organ and cell transplant in mice and rats.

The following staff are involved:-