What we do

Our Research Centre deals with studying the properties of cells derived from placenta for their application in the regenerative medicine.

Publications

See the list of all CREM scientific publications since 2002

Certifications

Eugenia Menni Research Centre aims to maintain high levels of quality in the scientific design and production as well as  in staff training.
In order to maintain professional, organizational and design quality, the Research Centre has been inspired by  Total Quality Management, aimed at Ongoing Quality Improvement.

 

The Research Centre is certified according to UNI EN ISO 9001:2015  for the following application field:  “Experimental Research Laboratory in the Biomedical sector and for Regenerative Medicine”   (IAF 34).

 

 Since 2005 CREM has been recognized among the Research and Technology Transfer Centers  (CRTT) by Lombardy Region. 
 

Research lines 

Our history …. to this day 
Since its constitution in 2002, Eugenia Menni Research Centre (CREM) has focused its activity on the study of human placenta at term as an alternative resource of adult stem cells. CREM boasts of being among the pioneers of such research and has not only contributed to the foundation of this innovative research line in a frontier sector such as the regenerative medicine, but has also contributed to the founding of an international company, International Placenta Stem Cell Society (IPLASS, www.iplassociety.org). IPLASS  is aimed at creating an international network of researchers to discuss jointly the results and to spread, promote, improve and let the basic and clinical research go ahead. In 2014, Professor Ornella Parolini, Director and Founder of CREM,  was renamed for the second time, as sign of her commitment to enhance the knowledge of therapeutic potential of cells and placental derivatives.  
To date, Eugenia Menni Research Centre of Fondazione Poliambulanza is recognized  worldwide for its contributions within this line of research, thus continuing being a promoter. 

Innovative approaches within the regenerative medicine by using cells isolated from human placenta 
Within the research on new resources of adult stem cells, human placenta at term turns out to be particulary interesting,  since placental tissues originate in the early stages of embryonic development  and may contain cells with a still unripe phenotype; its immunological characteristics are therefore crucial in maintaining  maternal-fetal tolerance.  This aspect makes placenta cells an ideal candidate for utilization in cell therapy approaches. Being a waste material, the recovery of cells from placenta does not involve any invasive procedure for the donor and their utilization does not result in any ethical issues. 
Our studies are focused on different activities aimed at identifying the potential of human placenta in the regenerative medicine.


I) In Vitro studies on placenta derivatives and cells’ properties
Among which:
i) Optimizing protocols regarding human placenta’s isolation, culture and cryopreservation, among which, for instance, the cell culture medium. 
ii) Studying the basic characterisation of placental cells and derivatives, including, for example, the analysis of the placental tissues’ cellular subpopulations’ phenotype and cells’ capability of cellular differentiation; 
iii) Studying the immunomodulating activity of placental cells and derivatives by evaluating their effect on different cell populations such as T lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages and testing the soluble factors secreted; 
iv)   Estimating the placental cells and derivatives’ effect on the proliferation of cancer cells. 

 

II) Therapy approaches by using placental cells and derivatives in pre-clinic models 
These studies provide for the transplantation of amniotic cells and/or their derivatives, such as the media collected after culture of these cells, in pathological animal models in order to estimate their capacity to reduce the progress  of  the disease or even “repair” the damage induced by the disease itself.  
Based on the characteristics reported by placental cells, different pathological models are being studied. For example, based on their immunomodulatory properties, placental cells are used as treatment in preclinical models of various  inflammatory-related pathologies, such as pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis and also autoimmune diseases.  

CREM Report Activity 

Download the activity report: 


10 years of CREM

 

20 years of CREM

 

Work at CREM 

Do you aspire to a particular job opportunity at Eugenia Menni Research Centre ? 

  • Experimental Degree Thesis 
  • Postgraduate scholarships 
  • Postdoctoral position
  • Researcher
  • Editorial - Scientific writing

 

Please send your request to: 
crem@poliambulanza.it
Describe your scientific interests, please attach your CV and any reference letters.