Roberto Iacone is a laboratory head at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Stem Cell Platform investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling lineage commitment of human pluripotent stem cells (ESCs and iPSCs) to different cell types (endothelial cells, neural stem cells, adipocytes) to foster in vitro disease modeling and phenotypic screening to identify new active small molecules/targets in regenerative medicine.

Recently with the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) scientists may have the possibility to develop more relevant in vitro models of human diseases, putting patients derived cells into the drug discovery process. Within this frame, Roberto Iacone focus his research activity on the stem cell derived endothelial cells (ECs) as relevant transcriptional and biological state to investigate the ECs contribution to the pathophysiology of vascular complications in a wide spectrum of diseases (such as Type 2 diabetes, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis). The lab is involved in collaborations between Hoffmann-La Roche and the Massachusetts General Hospital – Harvard University  (Boston, USA).

The second major focus of research is the development of phenotypic screening using embryonic stem cell derived neural stem cells as a translational in vitro model to explore the process of neurogenesis. In particular, his work focuses on the establishment of a stem cell based drug discovery platform using image based High Content Analysis (HCA) in combination with genome-wide RNAi approaches as powerful tool to identify new active CNS compounds/targets/pathways modulating adult neurogenesis. The lab closely collaborates with the CNS-Roche scientists.