Massimiliano Caiazzo's Biography

Massimiliano Caiazzo, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University/University of Naples “Federico II”

Massimiliano Caiazzo started his studies in Naples at the Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, “A. Buzzati-Traverso” and at CE.IN.GE. Biotecnologie Avanzate where he was involved in the study of the role of the transcription factors that drive induction and differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons that are crucial in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). During his PhD he started to be interested in the field of embryonic and neural stem cells that led him to an internship at Montreal Neurological Institute (McGill University, Montreal) and subsequently at hospital San Raffaele in Milano where he performed pioneering studies in the field of cell reprogramming and transdifferentiation. He finally completed his training at EPFL in the Laboratory of Stem Cell and Bioengineering where he combined the use of 3D hydrogels to cell reprogramming and organogenesis. In 2016 he moved to Utrecht University as assistant professor to start his own research lines focused on cell therapies. In 2019 he started a new position at University of Naples “Federico II” focusing on molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.