Ricardo Pastori, PhD
Education
Post-Doctoral Training: USUHS, Bethesda
Post-Doctoral Training: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
PhD: University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Sciences (Biological Chemistry)
BS: University of Buenos Aires , Faculty of Sciences
BIOGRAPHY
Ricardo Pastori, Ph.D., is Research Professor of Medicine, Immunology, and Microbiology and the Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His laboratory has developed novel molecular tools and applied them to study β-cell biology and to improve the outcome of islet transplantation. Among them is the development and utilization of protein transduction (PT) technology and the study of microRNA expression in pancreatic islets. Protein transduction is a powerful tool that utilizes small cell penetrating peptides, or protein transduction domains (PTDs), to deliver proteins into cells. Dr. Pastori’s group generated and characterized numerous PTD recombinant proteins bearing cytoprotective properties to improve islet performance and survival.
Regarding microRNAs, his team has identified miRNAs specific for adult pancreatic islet cells and determined microRNA expression profile in pancreatic development. Dr. Pastori is collaborating with the DRI Immunogenetics Program to identify novel microRNA biomarkers for prediction of type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Pastori is also collaborating with the DRI Stem Cell Group to develop strategies to reprogram human non-endocrine pancreatic tissue into insulin producing cells to be used as surrogate beta-cells in diabetes therapies.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- β-cell function and inflammatory responses in the context of pancreatic islet transplantation and advancement in treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D).
- Developing strategies for the targeting of human pancreatic beta cell progenitors (collaboration with the Stem Cell & Translational Research Laboratory at the Diabetes Research Institute).