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Posts by Ivano Legnini

Senior Research Group Leader in the Genomics Research Centre - Functional Genomics Programme Senior Research Group Leader in the Genomics Research Centre - Functional Genomics Programme

We're looking for a group leader in functional genomics at @humantechnopole.bsky.social
Super exciting science, cutting edge facilities, very competitive package. More info here:
careers.humantechnopole.it/job/Senior-R...

6 days ago 5 5 0 0
MicroRNAs are required within a critical time window to define neural patterning during early human brain development MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of cell state transitions, yet their function in early human brain development is largely unknown. Here, we present a longitudinal analysis of miRNA function in developing human forebrain organoids. We show that mRNAs and miRNAs expression mirrors known developmental gene programs and that miRNA biogenesis peaks at neural commitment. To test the function of miRNAs in regulating commitment, we impaired their biogenesis at defined stages. miRNA disruption during pre-neuronal commitment caused severe patterning defects, whereas post-commitment perturbation had minimal impact on forebrain identity. We show that miRNA loss during pre-commitment increased WNT and BMP signaling, thus shifting cell fates towards non-forebrain identity such as midbrain/hindbrain. These effects could be partially rescued by expressing five miRNAs. Our findings uncover a critical time window where miRNAs regulate morphogen signaling in early human neurodevelopment, establishing them as essential temporal determinants of cell fate and brain regional identity. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

🚨In our new preprint we show that miRNAs act within a precise temporal window to control cell fate decisions in the human forebrain. 🧠
A study of miRNA expression dynamics and functions during early human brain development. @mdc-bimsb.bsky.social ‬
Check it out! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

2 weeks ago 9 4 0 0

Really exciting times at HT!

2 weeks ago 3 0 0 0

Happy 🥲

We're now looking for a postdoc and a technician to work on this super exciting 5 years project on mRNA mtabolism and poly(A) tail length control.

Links to apply here:
Postdoc: careers.humantechnopole.it/job/Postdoc-...
Technician: careers.humantechnopole.it/job/Technici...

1 month ago 9 3 2 0
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Had a great day at Human Technopole - lots of stimulating discussions with students and faculty and also, this should be a new standard, Aperol spritz after the seminar! @humantechnopole.bsky.social

1 month ago 16 4 0 0

Still a few days to apply :)

1 month ago 3 1 0 0
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Single-cell and isoform-specific translational profiling of the mouse brain - Nature Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA translation was explored using Ribo-STAMP and single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal cell-type-specific and isoform-specific translation patterns across hippocampal neuronal and non-neuronal cell types, highlighting functional differences between CA1 and CA3.

Nature research paper: Single-cell and isoform-specific translational profiling of the mouse brain

go.nature.com/4aYPQu7

2 months ago 22 4 0 0
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Thrilled to announce that I’ve just opened my research lab at @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social !
A huge thank you to my mentor Roi Avraham (and lab members!) for the incredible training and support that made this possible.

2 months ago 25 13 2 1
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6/6 Bonus credits: all previous work on this is by our amazing lab chancellor @azappulo.bsky.social, who will co-supervise this project

2 months ago 3 0 0 0
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5/6 Join us at HT, a vibrant international research institute, located in beautiful Milan (food, culture and the nature around are definitely a plus): humantechnopole.it/en/

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
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Ciliopathies - Human Technopole

4/6 we now want to use these models to study neural tube defects, with exciting internal and external collaborations, such as the @gaiapigino.bsky.social group within the Flagship Research Program on Ciliopathies: humantechnopole.it/en/research/...

2 months ago 4 1 1 1
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3/6 We developed new organoid models for studying neural tube patterning, where we use optogenetics to locally perturb morphogen expression

2 months ago 2 1 1 0
Postdoc Legnini Lab - Flagship Research Programme Ciliopathies Postdoc Legnini Lab - Flagship Research Programme Ciliopathies

2/6 If you're passionate about neurodevelopment, organoids, single-cell and spatial omics, please apply here:
careers.humantechnopole.it/job/Postdoc-...

2 months ago 2 1 1 0
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Legnini Group - Human Technopole Laboratory for Molecular and Systems Biology of RNA   The Legnini Group at Human Technopole combines molecular and systems biology approaches to study gene regulation. We use synthetic biology and opt...

1/6 We're hiring! Fully funded postdoc position in my group
humantechnopole.it/en/research-...

2 months ago 6 7 1 1
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Exosome secretion is required for sonic hedgehog dispersal and signal gradient formation in the embryonic limb mesenchyme Carrier-assisted diffusion and cytoneme transport have been postulated to disperse Hedgehog across diverse embryonic tissues, yet their relative contributions to patterning mesenchymal tissues remains...

SHH exosomes surfing along the OUTSIDE of mesenchymal cell cytonemes - check it out!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

4 months ago 9 4 0 1
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Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures - Nature Cell Biology Makwana, Tilley et al. generate human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumbar trunk.

Lovely little pre-Christmas present to see this out @natcellbio.nature.com! Some 🔥 new results in here since the biorvix incl (1) a new RARE-GFP reporter ✳️🙌, (2) additional NMP quantification 🔢, (3) no neural tube patterning on RA inhibition 🙅 etc. Enjoy! 😍 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

4 months ago 88 33 5 0
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Investigating morphogen and patterning dynamics with optogenetic control of morphogen production Benzinger et al. develop a chemo-optogenetic system for precise spatiotemporal control of morphogen production in vitro. Using light-controlled Sonic hedgehog expression, they recapitulate neural tube...

Good to see the peer reviewed version of this published

A chemo-optogenetic system for spatiotemporal control of gene expression

We use it to:

- Reconstruct SHH mediated neural tube patterning in vitro

- Measure extracellular half-life of Shh

www.cell.com/developmenta...

4 months ago 71 24 3 0

😵‍💫

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Still a couple of weeks to apply for a fully funded PhD position in #AI and #RNA biology!!!

4 months ago 4 3 0 0
Postdoc in Molecular Systems Biology Postdoc in Molecular Systems Biology

🔬 Join Human Technopole!

🧠 Our @ilegnini.bsky.social Group seeks a #Postdoc in Molecular Systems Biology to study genetic–environmental interactions in early neurodevelopment.

Apply by 30 Nov 2025 👉 careers.humantechnopole.it/job/Postdoc-...

4 months ago 4 3 1 0

And in addition to the postdoc position (1 week left to apply!), just opened a PhD position in AI and RNA biology 🤩

4 months ago 3 2 0 1

PhD position in my lab in #AI #RNA, in co-supervision with superstar @florianjug.bsky.social

www.polimi.it/dottorato/fu...

4 months ago 12 9 1 0

One more week to apply 🐣

4 months ago 2 0 0 0

🥹

5 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Bonus 2. Apparently we do wonderful lab retreats, and the Alps are a stone's throw away 🧡

5 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Bonus credits: all work in thread is by our incredible lab chancellor @azappulo.bsky.social, who will co-supervise this project

5 months ago 6 0 1 1
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6/6 located in beautiful Milan, incredibly exciting city with its amazing culture and food scene, and wonderful nature around. Write me if you're interested or for any questions, and please repost ❤️

5 months ago 2 0 1 0
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Human Technopole Human Technopole is Italy’s new research institute for life sciences that aims to increase public and private investments towards scientific research and to be actively involved in the promotion of sc...

5/6 Join our group @humantechnopole.bsky.social, a vibrant and international environment humantechnopole.it/en/

5 months ago 2 1 1 0
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Pigino Group - Human Technopole Cells need to be able to sense different types of signals, such as chemical and mechanical signals, from the extracellular environment to properly function. Most eukaryotic cells perform these functio...

4/6 we now want to use these models to study neural tube defects, with exciting internal and external collaborations, including the Pigino group humantechnopole.it/en/research-...

5 months ago 1 0 1 0
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3/6 We developed new organoid models for studying neural tube patterning, where we use optogenetics to locally perturb morphogen expression

5 months ago 2 0 1 0