Their work has contributed to the understanding of early hepato-pancreatic development by defining transcriptional and signaling signatures underlining the lineage divergence of liver and pancreas (Rodriguez-Seguel et al. Genes Dev 2013; Kofent et al. Development 2016; Escot et al. Nat Comms 2018; Ruzittu et al. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2020).
Lineage decision between liver and pancreas
"Using a combination of genetic lineage tracing, quantitative analysis, and mathematical modeling approaches we unveiled extended cellular plasticity within the hepato-pancreatic pool during lineage segregation (Willnow et al. Nature 2021). Ongoing work is aimed at elucidating the contribution of such cellular plasticity during adult organ homeostasis and diseases."
Lineage Reprogramming to generate pancreatic beta-cells
"We have defined a novel strategy for reprogramming mouse liver cells into pancreas progenitors based on one developmental regulator of this fate decision (Heinrich et al Nat Cell Biol. 2015; Cerda-Esteban et al. Nat Comms. 2017). This represents a powerful platform for investigating mechanistic aspects of cellular identity and plasticity and provides a starting point for production of human pancreatic beta-cells for therapeutic use in patients."
iPSC modelling of human pancreatic development
"Maintenance of cellular identity is required to continuously support adult organ function and prevent diseases. We study molecular defects in human β-cell development and dysfunction and how β-cell de-differentiation might result into disease (Gong et al 2013; Simaite et al. Diabetes 2015; Kofent et al. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2016; Mueller et al. Nat Comms. 2024)."
Ultimately, the long-term goal of the Spagnoli Lab research is to translate these concepts into a better understanding of the pathogenesis as well as treatment options of pancreatic diseases.
Spagnoli Lab is led by Professor of Regenerative Medicine, Francesca M. Spagnoli with funding from Wellcome, King's College London, European Commission, European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, Breakthrough T1D and NC3Rs.
What is the gene regulatory network upstream of this fate decision between liver and pancreas?
Is the establishment of distinct cellular identities and morphogenetic programs interdependent?
How plastic are these cellular states?
Can we harness cell plasticity between liver and pancreas towards novel regenerative therapies for diabetes?
Related Projects
Project Partners
Spagnoli Lab
Digital Scientific Animations
Digital Scientific Illustrations
Web Design & Production
Video Content Production
Content Editing & Design
Understanding the establishment of cellular identity is a major goal in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Led by Professor Francesca Spagnoli, researchers at the Spagnoli Lab are interested in understanding the interplay between extrinsic signals and intrinsic determinants in establishing and maintaining cell identities.
EU H2020 FET-Open Pan3DP
Scientific visual design & content production communicating the multidisciplinary research of experts in developmental biology, computational biology, organ modelling and tissue engineering, from both academia and industry. The Consortium's pioneering work contributed to the emerging field of regenerative medicine by developing the first 3D bioprinting set-up to fabricate pancreatic tissue.
Watt Lab
Led by Professor Fiona Watt FRS, Director of the EMBO, Watt Lab is interested in how the differentiated state of adult tissues is maintained. Their research examines self-renewal and lineage selection by human and mouse epidermal stem cells; the role of stem cells in epidermal and oral tumour formation; and the assembly and function of the epidermal cornified envelope.
Wellcome Image Awards
The Wellcome Image Awards recognises 'the creators of the most informative, striking and technically excellent images in health, medicine and science.' See our winning image 'Delivering Medicine to the Brain' in collaboration with Professor Khuloud T. Al-Jamal, Professor of Drug Delivery & Nanomedicine and Head of Medicines Development at King's College London.
