Manuele Gori

Research areas: Pathophysiology, Tissue Engineering, Liver, Gut, Brain, Skin

Monterotondo Scalo – Roma
manuele.gori@cnr.it
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3D Bioprinting and Bioimaging Lab

Keywords: 3D Bioprinting, Organ-on-Chip, Tissue Engineering, NAFLD, Gastrointestinal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Skin tissue

Research Focus:

The research activity of Dr. Gori’s laboratory is focused on the development and characterization of alternative 3D in vitro organ and tissue models for investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases by leveraging 3D Bioprinting and advanced Imaging technologies.

Main Topics:

Specifically, major research interests are in the field of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, including Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using 3D bioprinting (biofabrication of human hepatic constructs) and microfluidic platforms (human liver-on-a-chip), in vitro models of the intestinal barrier, and human ex-vivo models (e.g., colonic biopsies in the Ussing chamber system). Study of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with a focus on dopaminergic system and the role of neuroinflammation in early phase of AD, using among others advanced imaging systems.
Another research focus of the lab is the 3D bioprinting of a human skin tissue equivalent to be used as a platform for mimicking the development of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and seeking novel potential therapeutic treatments against SSc, in collaboration with the Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.

Research collaborations: 

  • Study of the effects of nanogel-delivered neuroprotective polyphenols on dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease;
  • Study of the role of nanoplastic exposure as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Both projects are in collaboration with the Molecular Neuroscience Unit led by Prof. Marcello D’Amelio at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome.

  • Study of the intestinal barrier function and microbiota composition in IBD patients and the interaction between gut microflora and immune system at the crossroad of the pathogenesis of IBD and IBS.

Projects in collaboration with the: Gastroenterology Unit led by Prof. Michele Cicala at the Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome; Prof. Ricard Farré at the Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Belgium; Dr. Cristiano Pagnini at the Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy.

  • Development and analysis of a new generation of functionalized coatings combined with metal nanoparticles, to be applied on metal substrates in the cultural heritage and healthcare fields, which combine anticorrosion protection with antibacterial activity, biocompatibility and environmental sustainability.

Project in collaboration with Prof. Martina Cappelletti at the Dept. of Pharmacy and Biotechnology – FABIT – University of Bologna (UniBo) in the framework of the PRIN 2022 PNRR.

Other Scientific Activities: 

From 2022, Dr. Manuele Gori is founding member of the ‘Società Italiana Organ-on-Chip’ (SIOoC) – www.siooc.it – the first National Society which promotes the development and scientific dissemination of microfluidic 3D humanized organ and tissue models, as complex biological systems and alternatives to animal testing, for pathophysiological studies, drug screening and personalized therapies, which are at the forefront of research in this ever-growing and rapidly evolving field.

Education and Positions:

2021 – present: Research Collaborator at Molecular Neuroscience Unit, Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2020 – present: Researcher at IBBC-CNR, “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso” International Scientific Campus at Monterotondo Scalo (Rome); 

2019 – 2020: Senior Postdoc and Project Manager in Orthopaedics at Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2018 – 2019: Senior Postdoc in the Gastroenterology Unit, Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2014 – 2018: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Dept. of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2011 – 2013: Research Collaborator in the Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Oncology at the Francesco Balsano Foundation (Sapienza University of Rome), Rome;

2010 – 2011: Research Collaborator in Molecular and Cellular Cardiology at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Dept. of Internal Medicine;

2008 – 2010: Postdoctoral Scholar in Germline and Stem Cell Biology at University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA, Dept. of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center;

2008 – PhD in Sciences and Biotechnology of Reproduction and Development at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Dept. of Public Health and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine;

2004 – MSc in Biological Sciences at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Faculty of Biology.

Other Research Appointments:

2017 – 2018: Fellow of the FIRE Onlus in Hepatology with a “FIRE – Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca in Epatologia Onlus” Fellowship 2017 in the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Dept. of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2015 – 2016: Fellow of the “Fondazione Umberto Veronesi” in the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Dept. of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rom

2017 – 2018: Fellow of the FIRE Onlus in Hepatology with a “FIRE – Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca in Epatologia Onlus” Fellowship 2017 in the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Dept. of    Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

2015 – 2016: Fellow of the “Fondazione Umberto Veronesi” in the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Dept. of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome (UCBM);

November 2015: Visiting Fellow at Nanofabrication Facility at the Molecular Foundry (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. e (UCBM).

  1. Torre M, Giannitelli SM, Mauri E, Gori M. et al. (2023) Printability assessment workflow of thermosensitive photocurable biomaterial ink for microextrusion bioprinting. Bioprinting. 30, April 2023, e00262, doi: 10.1016/j.bprint.2023.e00262.
  2. Gori M, Giannitelli SM, Vadalà G, Papalia R, Zollo L, Sanchez M, Trombetta M, Rainer A, Di Pino G, Denaro V (2022). A soft zwitterionic hydrogel as potential coating on a polyimide surface to reduce foreign body reaction to intraneural electrodes. Molecules, May 13;27(10):3126. ISSN: 1420-3049, doi: 10.3390/molecules27103126.
  3. La Barbera L, Mauri E, D’Amelio M, Gori M(2022). Functionalization strategies of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery in Alzheimer’s disease: current trends and future perspectives.  Frontiers in Neuroscience, Aug 4;16:939855. ISSN: 1662-453X, doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.939855.
  4. Altomare A, Gori M, Cocca S, Carotti S, Ribolsi M, Emerenziani S, Francesconi M, Morini S, Cicala M, Guarino MPL (2021). Impaired colonic contractility and intestinal permeability in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Apr 30;27(2):292-301. ISSN: 2093-0887, doi: 10.5056/jnm20110.
  5. Gori M, Vadalà G, Giannitelli SM, Denaro V, Di Pino G (2021). Biomedical and tissue engineering strategies to control foreign body reaction to invasive neural electrodes. Review. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, May 25;9:659033. ISSN: 2296-4185, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.659033.
  6. Mauri E*, Gori M*, Giannitelli SM, Zancla A, Mozetic P, Abbruzzese F, Merendino N, Gigli G, Rossi F, Trombetta M, Rainer A (2021). Nano-encapsulation of hydroxytyrosol into formulated nanogels improves therapeutic effects against hepatic steatosis: an in vitro study. MaterialsScience and Engineering C Mater Biol Appl., May;124:112080. ISSN: 0928-4931, doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112080.
  7. Gori M*, Giannitelli SM*, Torre M, Mozetic P, Abbruzzese F, Trombetta M, Traversa E, Moroni L, Rainer A (2020). Biofabrication of hepatic constructs by 3D bioprinting of a cell-laden thermogel: an effective tool to assess drug-induced hepatotoxic response. AdvancedHealthcare Materials, Nov;9(21):e2001163. ISSN: 2192-2659, doi: 10.1002/adhm.202001163.
  8. Gori M, Altomare A, Cocca S, Solida E, Ribolsi M, Carotti S, Rainer A, Francesconi M, Morini S, Cicala M, Guarino MPL (2020). Palmitic acid affects intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and permeability in vitro. Antioxidants, May 13;9(5):417. ISSN: 2076-3921, doi: 10.3390/antiox9050417.
  9. Gori M, Giannitelli SM, Zancla A, Mozeric P, Trombetta M, Merendino N, Rainer A (2020). Quercetin and Hydroxytyrosol as modulators of hepatic steatosis: a NAFLD-on-a-chip study. Biotechnologyand Bioengineering, Jan;118(1):142-152. ISSN: 1097-0290, doi: 10.1002/bit.27557.
  10. Mozetic P*, Giannitelli SM*, Gori M, Trombetta M, Rainer A (2017). Engineering muscle cell alignment through 3D bioprinting. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, Sep;105(9):2582-2588. ISSN: 1549-3296, doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.36117.
  11. Gori M, Simonelli MC, Giannitelli SM, Businaro L, Trombetta M, Rainer A (2016). Investigating Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Liver-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device. Plos One, Jul 20;11(7):e0159729. ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159729.
  12. Gori M, Barbaro B, Arciello M, Maggio R, Viscomi C, Longo A, Balsano C (2014). Protective Effect of the Y220C Mutant p53 Against Steatosis: Good News? Journal of Cellular Physiology, Sep;229(9):1182-92. ISSN: 0021-9541, doi: 10.1002/jcp.24550.
  13. Campolo F*, Gori M*,Favaro R, Nicolis S, Pellegrini M, Botti F, Rossi P, Jannini EA, and Dolci S (2013). Essential role of Sox2 for the establishment and maintenance of the germ cell line. Stem Cells, Jul;31(7):1408-21. ISSN: 1066-5099, doi: 10.1002/stem.1392.
  14. Gori M, Barbaro B, Arciello M, Balsano C (2012). Paradoxical pro-steatotic effect of HH-signaling pathway inhibition under conditions of steatosis. Hepatology, Oct;56(4):1587-8. ISSN: 0270-9139, doi: 10.1002/hep.25729.