Michele Cervellera
Doctoral fellow – Tissue engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of Human Structure and Repair (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - UGent)
Principal investigator: prof. Ruslan Dmitriev (PhD)
Research focus
Our team specializes in developing optical biosensors and imaging strategies for quantitative measurements in complex 3D models, such as tumor spheroids and organoids. We are particularly focused on advancing Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for live cell imaging, enabling the dynamic monitoring of key cancer signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment. By utilizing time-resolved fluorescence imaging, we can map and simultaneously measure critical parameters such as NAD(P)H, FAD, pH, glucose, temperature, oxygen and Ca2+—all of which play vital roles in the tumor's physiological conditions.
Additionally, we produce and test hydrogels to study stem cell differentiation in 3D models, offering a biomimetic environment compatible with our multiplexed fluorescence imaging strategies, enabling us to monitor cellular behaviors in real-time while assessing mechanobiological read-out and various biomarkers detection.
Biography
I obtained an integrated master's degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna.
I conducted my final master's project abroad at the Physical Chemistry Department of the University of Granada, Spain. Alongside probe design, I conducted microwave-assisted synthesis and analytical/photophysical characterizations of novel fluorescent probes with long lifetimes.
Starting in September 2023, I joined Professor Ruslan Dmitriev's laboratory to start MSCA-flIMAGIN3D doctoral studies at the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Lab, Department of Human Structure and Repair at Ghent University. My project focuses on developing FRET sensors for FLIM readouts of mechanobiological sensing in cancer imaging, co-supervised by Prof. Kees Jalink at NKI (Netherlands Cancer Institute) .
Contact & links
- Lab address: Tissue engineering and Biomaterials Lab, Department of Human structure and repair, Ghent University, UZ Gent campus, The Core, entrance 37a, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent, Belgium
- flIMAGIN 3D
- Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Research Group
- Michele Cervellera is involved in the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)
- Michele Cervellera is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks