We are an interdisciplinary team dedicated to Glycoimmunology. Our mission is to decipher how lectin-glycan interactions regulate the immune response, with a focus on the discovery of glyco-checkpoints.
We work with a translational vision to turn science into novel therapeutic strategies against cancer, autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation, driven by a deep sense of social responsibility and the ultimate goal of improving patients' quality of life.
Our work focuses on the study of the tumor microenvironment across different types of cancer, with a particular emphasis on how interactions between tumor cells and the immune system shape the outcome of the metastatic process. In this context, we have recently demonstrated that galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a key factor in promoting lung metastasis. Accordingly, blocking galectin-1-glycan interactions within the tumor microenvironment may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of metastatic cancer.
Deciphering the glyco-codes underlying carbohydrate-galectin interactions, particularly galectin-1 (Gal-1), is a key principle for maintaining homeostasis, promoting the resolution of inflammation, and preventing autoimmune phenomena. Our laboratory has demonstrated that Gal-1 functions as an immune checkpoint by shaping the fate of myeloid and lymphoid cells. In preclinical models, its administration through gene or protein therapy mitigated the clinical manifestations of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and uveitis, and prevented the development of age-associated inflammation, positioning Gal-1 as a promising therapeutic target.
We're happy to help with any questions
