Who we are
Scientific Officer: Prof. Gaetano Caramori - Full Professor of Diseases of the Respiratory System
Info and contacts: email: gaetano.caramori@unipr.it
Security Officer: Annalisa Frizzelli (annalisa.frizzelli@unipr.it)
Staff:
Teaching Staff:
Technical Staff:
Research Scholars:
Specialists:
Research Scholars:
Where we are
1st floor, Rasori Pavilion (number 25), AOU Parma, recommended entrance for pedestrians the one on Via Rasori 10, (couriers must enter only from the hospital entrance on Via dell'Abbeveratoia)
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What we do
Main lines of research:
The main field of research is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In particular, the evaluation of inflammatory and immunological mechanisms (with emphasis on autoimmune responses) in COPD, including molecular mechanisms and correlations with elements of respiratory function and disease stages (stability/relapse). Numerous inflammatory mediators and intracellular signal transduction pathways, with a focus on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), pro-inflammatory transcription factors (e.g., NF-B, AP-1), and kinases/phosphatases, are studied both in primary cells and in tissues obtained from the hub of disease in COPD patients. Molecular mechanisms regulating lung carcinogenesis in patients with COPD and stem cells present in the human lower airways are also being studied.
Techniques in use:
Processing of biological specimen collections for research [peripheral venous blood, nasosorption, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pleural fluid, histo-pathological pieces obtained from bronchial biopsies and lung surgical resections]. Molecular Biology analysis of proteins by histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, singleplex ELISA and Western blotting.
Main instrumentation provided:
Distiller for distilled water; refrigerated microcentrifuge (+4°C) for eppendorfs; refrigerated centrifuge (+4°C) for 15 and 50 mls falcons tubes; refrigerated cytocentrifuge (+4°C) to prepare slides of cytocentrifugates; microtome; complete equipment for protein electrophoresis in vertical for Western blotting; digital acquisition and measurement system (with related Software) for chemiluminescence to measure Western results (http://www.cleaverscientific.com/electrophoresis-products/uvitec-gel documentation-systems-software/); ELISA reader for blotting Varioskan monochromator microplates connected to 1 computer (PC) with screen where software for use of ELISA reader is installed; optical microscope (without fluorescence) connected to CCD digital camera connected to PC with software for automated analysis in immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry installed.
Biosafety class (Laboratory biosafety manual, 4th edition WHO 2020; Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories 6th edition, CDC, 2020):
BSL-2.
Keywords for Laboratory description:
Lung Immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting lungs, Pulmonary Research, COPD
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