Biography

Ciro Menale graduated in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology at University of Naples “Federico II” in 2010, working in the field of Enzyme Biotechnology. Ciro received his PhD in Biomedical and Biotechnological Science – “Food and Health” at University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” in 2013, in Naples, Italy. During his PhD he was focused on gene expression regulation of the adipose tissue in pathological conditions, and he deepened his studies in murine models at YALE University School of Medicine, working on hypothalamic regulation of glucose homeostasis and whole body energy balance. In that context he started to be familiar also with immunology. In parallel he was interested in nanotechnology for cancer treatment.
As a PostDoc he moved to the bone field. His research was mainly focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and iPSC-derived MSC Transplantation by exploiting 3D culture models as novel approach for RANKL-dependent Osteopetrosis. At the same time, taking advantage of the osteopetrotic Rankl-/- mouse model, he contributed to investigate a novel anabolic role of RANKL in bone. Ciro also investigated the interaction of bone and immune cells focusing on bone loss and immune system defects driven by oxidative stress in bone cells. Today he is RTD at University of Naples "Federico II", Italy, working on bone cell metabolism, glucose and energy balance

List of 5 Best Publications

• Absence of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 increases oxidative stress and causes bone lossMenale C, Robinson LJ, Palagano E, Rigoni R, Erreni M, Almarza AJ, Strina D, Mantero S, Lizier M, Forlino A, Besio R, Monari M, Vezzoni P, Cassani B, Blair HC, Villa A, Sobacchi Chttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31295380
• 3D Bone Biomimetic Scaffolds for Basic and Translational Studies with Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Sobacchi C, Erreni M, Strina D, Palagano E, Villa A, Menale C.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30322134
• Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Seeded Biomimetic Scaffolds as a Factory of Soluble RANKL in Rankl-Deficient Osteopetrosis.Menale C, Campodoni E, Palagano E, Mantero S, Erreni M, Inforzato A, Fontana E, Schena F, Van't Hof R, Sandri M, Tampieri A, Villa A, Sobacchi Chttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30184340
• Soluble Factors on Stage to Direct Mesenchymal Stem Cells Fate.Sobacchi C, Palagano E, Villa A, Menale Chttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28567372
• Murine Rankl-/- Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Display an Osteogenic Differentiation Defect Improved by a RANKL-Expressing Lentiviral Vector.Schena F*, Menale C*, Caci E, Diomede L, Palagano E, Recordati C, Sandri M, Tampieri A, Bortolomai I, Capo V, Pastorino C, Bertoni A, Gattorno M, Martini A, Villa A, Traggiai E, Sobacchi C.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28100034

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES AT WORK

- Areas Of Expertise: Ageing, Histology, Histomorphometry, In Vivo Models, Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Pathology, Physiology, Rare Bone Diseases, Translational Medicine, and Energy Metabolism

- Favorite Cell: Mesenchymal Stromal Cell

- Favorite Protein: RANKL

- Best technical skill: qPCR

- Best knowledge: MSC multilineage differentiation

- Hated technique: Western Blot

- Research goal: To find an effective treatment for RANKL-dependent osteopetrosis and to identify novel molecular players in bone metabolism.

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PERSONAL STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES

- Favorite dish: Pizza

- Favorite place to live: South of Italy

- Best sport skill: Salsa dancing

- Worst performance: Playing football

- Free time activity: Reading, traveling and salsa dancing

- Favorite quote: Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I have really worked, is mine. (Nikola Tesla)