Overview
Background
Dr Giovanni Pietrogrande obtained his PhD from the University of Newcastle. Here he explored how different brain processes are affected by the activation of microglia, the immune cells resident within our brain. In particular his work shows that microglia mediated inflammation has a pivotal role in neuronal loss following brain ischemic injury. He has developed an entirely new method to recreate the human brain in vitro using organoid technology and is utilizing these advanced organoids to gain novel insights into the pathophysiology of neuroinflammatory diseases.
In late 2019 he joined the Stem Cell Engineering lab at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Queensland. Now he uses and improves cutting-edge techniques for CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing to modify the genome of induced pluripotent stem cells and generate brain and spinal cord organoids to model neurological diseases and evaluate potential treatments.
Dr. Pietrogrande has also established collaborations with biotechs and startups, employing genetic engineering to modify cells for product development and organoid-based compound screening. Additionally, he provides consultancy services for Stemcore and Phenomics Australia, both UQ-based facilities, driving advancements in stem cell research.
Availability
- Dr Giovanni Pietrogrande is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Works
Search Professor Giovanni Pietrogrande’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Valproic acid-induced teratogenicity is driven by senescence and prevented by Rapamycin in human spinal cord and animal models
Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Shaker, Mohammed R., Stednitz, Sarah J., Soheilmoghaddam, Farhad, Aguado, Julio, Morrison, Sean D., Zambrano, Samuel, Tabassum, Tahmina, Javed, Ibrahim, Cooper-White, Justin, Davis, Thomas P., O’Brien, Terence J., Scott, Ethan K. and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2024). Valproic acid-induced teratogenicity is driven by senescence and prevented by Rapamycin in human spinal cord and animal models. Molecular Psychiatry, 30 (3) 200, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02732-0
2023
Journal Article
Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology
Aguado, Julio, Amarilla, Alberto A., Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Tyshkovskiy, Alexander, Schwabenland, Marius, Chaggar, Harman K., Modhiran, Naphak, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Javed, Ibrahim, Baradar, Alireza A., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Lianli, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Freney, Morgan E., Parry, Rhys, Sng, Julian D. J., Isaacs, Ariel, Khromykh, Alexander A., Valenzuela Nieto, Guillermo, Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Davis, Thomas P., Prinz, Marco, Bengsch, Bertram, Gladyshev, Vadim N., Woodruff, Trent M., Mar, Jessica C. ... Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2023). Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology. Nature Aging, 3 (12), 1561-1575. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6
Featured
2023
Journal Article
CRISPR-Cas9 direct fusions for improved genome editing via enhanced homologous recombination
Tabassum, Tahmina, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Healy, Michael and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2023). CRISPR-Cas9 direct fusions for improved genome editing via enhanced homologous recombination. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (19) 14701, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijms241914701
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Rapid and efficient generation of myelinating human oligodendrocytes in organoids
Shaker, Mohammed R., Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Martin, Sally, Lee, Ju-Hyun, Woong, Sun and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2021). Rapid and efficient generation of myelinating human oligodendrocytes in organoids. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 15 631548, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.631548
2023
Conference Publication
Chemogenetic modulation of human in vitro motoneuron development accelerates maturation trajectory and electrophysical properties
Morrison, Sean, Shaker, Mohammed, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Wolvetang, Ernst and Noakes, Peter (2023). Chemogenetic modulation of human in vitro motoneuron development accelerates maturation trajectory and electrophysical properties. ISN‐ESN 2023 Meeting, Porto, Portugal, 8‐11 August 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2023
Journal Article
Deconstructing heterogeneity of replicative senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells at single cell resolution
Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Leeson, Hannah C., Aguado, Julio, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Power, Dominique, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Zheng, Huiwen, Nelson, Christopher B., Soheilmoghaddam, Farhad, Glass, Nick, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Watson, Ebony R., Lu, Jennifer, Martin, Sally, Pickett, Hilda A., Cooper-White, Justin, Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Mar, Jessica C. (2023). Deconstructing heterogeneity of replicative senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells at single cell resolution. GeroScience, 46 (1), 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00829-y
2022
Journal Article
Neural epidermal growth factor-like like protein 2 is expressed in human oligodendroglial cell types
Shaker, Mohammed R., Kahtan, Amna, Prasad, Renuka, Lee, Ju-Hyun, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Leeson, Hannah C., Sun, Woong, Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Slonchak, Andrii (2022). Neural epidermal growth factor-like like protein 2 is expressed in human oligodendroglial cell types. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10 803061, 803061. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.803061
2021
Journal Article
Corticosterone administration alters white matter tract structure and reduces gliosis in the sub-acute phase of experimental stroke
Zalewska, Katarzyna, Hood, Rebecca J., Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Sanchez-Bezanilla, Sonia, Ong, Lin Kooi, Johnson, Sarah J., Young, Kaylene M., Nilsson, Michael and Walker, Frederick R. (2021). Corticosterone administration alters white matter tract structure and reduces gliosis in the sub-acute phase of experimental stroke. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (13) 6693, 6693. doi: 10.3390/ijms22136693
2021
Journal Article
Exploring how low oxygen post conditioning improves stroke-induced cognitive impairment: a consideration of amyloid-beta loading and other mechanisms
Zhao, Zidan, Hood, Rebecca J., Ong, Lin Kooi, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Sanchez Bezanilla, Sonia, Warren, Kirby E., Ilicic, Marina, Kluge, Murielle G., TeBay, Clifford, Ottersen, Ole P., Johnson, Sarah J., Nilsson, Michael and Walker, Frederick R. (2021). Exploring how low oxygen post conditioning improves stroke-induced cognitive impairment: a consideration of amyloid-beta loading and other mechanisms. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 585189, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.585189
2018
Journal Article
Low oxygen post conditioning as an efficient non-pharmacological strategy to promote motor function after stroke
Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Zalewska, Katarzyna, Zhao, Zidan, Johnson, Sarah J., Nilsson, Michael and Walker, Frederick R. (2018). Low oxygen post conditioning as an efficient non-pharmacological strategy to promote motor function after stroke. Translational Stroke Research, 10 (4), 402-412. doi: 10.1007/s12975-018-0656-5
2018
Journal Article
Growth hormone improves cognitive function after experimental stroke
Ong, Lin Kooi, Chow, Wei Zhen, TeBay, Clifford, Kluge, Murielle, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Zalewska, Katarzyna, Crock, Patricia, Åberg, N. David, Bivard, Andrew, Johnson, Sarah J., Walker, Frederick R., Nilsson, Michael and Isgaard, Jörgen (2018). Growth hormone improves cognitive function after experimental stroke. Stroke, 49 (5), 1257-1266. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.020557
2015
Journal Article
Urokinase receptor promotes skin tumor formation by preventing epithelial cell activation of Notch1
Mazzieri, Roberta, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Gerasi, Laura, Gandelli, Alessandro, Colombo, Piergiuseppe, Moi, Davide, Brombin, Chiara, Ambrosi, Alessandro, Danese, Silvio, Mignatti, Paolo, Blasi, Francesco and D'Alessio, Silvia (2015). Urokinase receptor promotes skin tumor formation by preventing epithelial cell activation of Notch1. Cancer Research, 75 (22), 4895-4909. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-0378
2014
Journal Article
VEGF-C-dependent stimulation of lymphatic function ameliorates experimental inflammatory bowel disease
D'Alessio, Silvia, Correale, Carmen, Tacconi, Carlotta, Gandelli, Alessandro, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Vetrano, Stefania, Genua, Marco, Arena, Vincenzo, Spinelli, Antonino, Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent, Fiocchi, Claudio and Danese, Silvio (2014). VEGF-C-dependent stimulation of lymphatic function ameliorates experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124 (9), 3863-3878. doi: 10.1172/JCI72189
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Giovanni Pietrogrande is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Development of a new CRISPR-Cas9 platform for safe gene editing
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Development of a new CRISPR-Cas9 platform for safe gene editing
We are at the forefront of developing and validating an innovative technology that aims to make gene editing both safer and more cost-effective. This cutting-edge approach has the potential to revolutionize not only medical research and treatments but also industrial applications. By leveraging this breakthrough, we hope to open new doors in personalized medicine, synthetic biology, and beyond.
If you are passionate about transformative science and wish to contribute to this exciting endeavor, we would love to have you join our team. Whether you’re interested in experimental research, computational analysis, or technology development, there are plenty of ways to get involved!
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Pioneering an Immunocompetent, Myelinated Brain Organoid model for studying neuroinflammation and diseases
We are the only group worldwide that has developed a groundbreaking brain organoid model that integrates myelinated axons and immune cells (microglia) within the same system. This unique model offers unprecedented opportunities to study complex neurological and immunological interactions. While we are currently leveraging this model to explore the mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis, its potential applications extend far beyond, opening avenues to investigate a wide range of diseases.
We are seeking passionate and curious students to join our team and contribute to this transformative research. This project sits at the exciting intersection of stem cell biology, brain organoids, immunology, virology, and synthetic biology. Together, we aim to tackle critical health challenges and develop innovative approaches to understanding and treating diseases that significantly impact people’s lives.
If you are ready to make a difference through cutting-edge science, we would love to have you on board!
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Creating a Novel Brain Organoid Model for Personalized Medicine
Our team is recognized as a leader in brain organoid technology, both in Australia and internationally. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and we are now at the forefront of developing a groundbreaking organoid model using patient-derived cells to give them a personalized immune system. While our current focus is on Parkinson’s disease, this approach aims to evolve into a versatile platform for high-throughput drug screening, catering to the needs of pharmaceutical companies and hospitals while expanding to address other critical conditions in the future.
This interdisciplinary project, in collaboration with the School of Biomedical Sciences and other expert partners, provides an exceptional opportunity for students to acquire cutting-edge skills and expertise. You will gain hands-on experience in immunology, stem cell technology, and advanced organoid modeling, all while contributing to research that could revolutionize patient care and truly make a difference in people’s lives.
If you are excited by the idea of working at the intersection of innovation and impact, join us in shaping the future of personalized medicine!
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Multiomics and AI for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Biomarker and Treatment Discovery with Human Brain Organoids
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jessica Mar, Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding neuromuscular synaptic loss in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang, Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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Doctor Philosophy
Myelinating Spinal Cord Organoids to understand White Matter Pathology and Neural Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang, Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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Doctor Philosophy
Identifying the mechanism of regeneration in early brain development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Selin Pars, Professor Ernst Wolvetang
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Doctor Philosophy
'Safer gene editing tools in human stem cell models'
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Stem Cell Derived Models to Investigate Age-Related Diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo, Professor Ernst Wolvetang
Media
Enquiries
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