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Biography
I graduated in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the University of Perugia (Italy) in 1995. I obtained my PharmD (EU-qualified) in 1996 and PhD (Cum Laude) in Biochemistry from the University of Perugia (Italy) in 2001. I spent two years (2001-2003) as Post-doctoral Fellow at the School of Biosciences (University of Nottingham) and was then appointed as Senior Research Fellow at the School of Human Development (University of Nottingham) for the following four years. In 2007 I joined the Institute of Genetics and spin-out company EvoCell Ltd (University of Nottingham) as Senior Research Fellow. In 2009 I started my academic appointment at the University of Nottingham and I am currently Professor in Cancer Cell Biology. I am an executive member of the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre and hold a professional membership with the UK General Pharmaceutical Council.
Expertise Summary
Dr Cinzia Allegrucci is Professor in Cancer Cell Biology
Dr Allegrucci is an executive member of the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre (NBCRC)
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/nottinghambreastcancerresearchcentre/index.aspx
Dr Allegrucci is a member of the Nottingham Centre for Cancer Sciences.
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ccs/
Dr Allegrucci is a pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC reg. number 2206010)
Expertise key words: epigenetics, stem cells, cancer stem cells, germ cells, reprogramming, cancer biology
Teaching Summary
I convene the Oncology module. I teach first, second and third year undergraduate students in the subjects of cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, oncology. I am a coordinator of the School… read more
Research Summary
My research interests are in Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology. We are working to understand how stem cells are epigenetically regulated during normal tissue homeostasis and in disease. The answer to… read more
Recent Publications
GHANNAM, S. F., RUTLAND, C. S., ALLEGRUCCI, C., MATHER, M. L., ALSALEEM, M., BATEMAN-PRICE, T. D., PATKE, R., BALL, G., MONGAN, N. P. and RAKHA, E., 2025. Geometric characteristics of stromal collagen fibres in breast cancer using differential interference contrast microscopy: J Microsc J Microsc. 297(2), 135-152 CROWLEY, D., SIMPSON, L., CHATFIELD, J., FOREY, T., ALLEGRUCCI, C., SANG, F., HOLMES, N., GENIKHOVICH, G., TECHNAU, U., CUNNINGHAM, D., SILVA, E., MULLIN, N., DIXON, J. E., LOOSE, M., ALBERIO, R. and JOHNSON, A. D., 2025. Programming of pluripotency and the germ line co-evolved from a Nanog ancestor: Cell Rep Cell Rep. 44(3), 115396 HARRIS, A. E., LOTHION-ROY, J., THOMPSON, R. L., HAQUE, M., WOODCOCK, C. L., ALSALEEM, M. A., DEAN, A., KARIRI, Y., TOSS, M. S., GUDAS, L. J., GREEN, A. R., ALLEGRUCCI, C., DAVIS, M. B., IRSHAD, S., PARK, K. H., MADHUSUDAN, S., FRAY, R. G., JEYAPALAN, J. N., RUTLAND, C. S., RAKHA, E. A. and MONGAN, N. P., 2025. Functional and clinical significance of the RNA m(6)A methyltransferase complex in breast cancer: NPJ Breast Cancer NPJ breast cancer. BROWN,THOMAS J., RUTLAND,CATRIN S., CHOI,KATIE K., TSE,FENG, PEFFERS,MANDY J., MONGAN,NIGEL P., ARKILL,KENTON P., RITCHIE,ALISON, CLARKE,PHILIP A., RATAN,HARI, ALLEGRUCCI,CINZIA, GRABOWSKA,ANNA M. and JAMES,VICTORIA, 2024. Modulation of the pre-metastatic bone niche: molecular changes mediated by bone-homing prostate cancer extracellular vesicles: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 12,
Applications for a PhD position are invited all year round from exceptional graduates to study epigenetic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and tumour reversion. Our lab is interested in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis. Gene function is regulated by epigenetic remodelling of chromatin via DNA methylation, histone modification and RNA interference. These epigenetic modifications play a fundamental role during development and are altered in cancer. A fundamental question in cancer research is the identification of molecular mechanisms that initiate and sustain tumour growth. We are studying how altered epigenetic regulation of gene function can transform tissue stem cells and/or somatic cells to cancer stem cells. We are also investigating how cancer-associated epigenetic alterations can be reverted by cellular reprogramming. To this end, we use e induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to study how epigenetic alterations can be erased from cancer cells.
Applications for a PhD position are invited all year round from exceptional graduates to study the gene networks involved in germ cell development and cancer.
Our lab is studying the gene networks involved in primordial germ cell (precursors of gametes) specification during embryo development and how these genes become mis-regulated in germ cell tumors. The project uses embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), teratocarcinoma cells and human patient tumours models.
Funding Notes:
Candidates interested in joining our lab to work in these research areas can contact Dr Allegrucci by sending an e-mail to cinzia.allegrucci@nottingham.ac.uk Position are currently available only to self-funded students.
Current Research
My research interests are in Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology. We are working to understand how stem cells are epigenetically regulated during normal tissue homeostasis and in disease. The answer to this biological question is fundamental to understand the basis of human diseases characterised by a stem cell dysfunction and for the development of stem cell therapies.
Epigenetic alterations in carcinogenesis
The epigenetic regulation of DNA function is achieved by chromatin remodelling via DNA methylation and histone modifications and RNA interference. These epigenetic modifications play a fundamental role in development and disease. A fundamental question in cancer research is the identification of molecular mechanisms that initiate and sustain tumour growth. The recent identification of stem cells that initiate and sustain tumour growth (cancer stem cells) is opening a new promise for the understanding of tumorigenesis and for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeted specifically to tumour-initiating cells. My research group is investigating the epigenetic events that initiate breast cancer formation and how they cooperate with genetic alterations in cancer progression.
Epigenetic reprogramming of cancer cells
Altered epigenetic regulation of the genome is associated with tumour initiation and progression. Genome-wide DNA hypomethylation and hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes are hallmark of cancer. Our Lab is focussing on dissecting the epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis by using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies to epigenetically reprogram cancer cells and establish advanced disease organoid models.
Pluripotent stem cells and germ cell tumours
Our laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating pluripotency and primordial germ cell specification. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms regulating germ cell differentiation and the formation off germ cell tumours. We use embryonic stem cells, teratocarcinoma cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to address these questions.
Funding
BBSRC, NC3Rs, Animal Free Research UK
Present Lab Members
Riba Thomas
Tinyiko Modikoane
Nabeelah Almalki
Past Lab Members
Mercedes Vasquez Cantu. Project: Stem cell-derived organoids model of breast cancer. Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, University of Nottingham
Ahmed Alnaeem. Project: Synthetic nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer. Current position: Lecturer, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad Zyoud. Project: PIWI RNA in cancer. Current position: Senior scientist at Wobble Genomics.
Megan Wilde. Project: Novel breast cancer antigens for targeted therapies. Current position: Medical Writer at Porterhouse Medical.
Leong Yeh Chwan. project: Epigentic reprogramming of cancer cells. Current position: Senior Scientistsat Vertex.
Ryan Cardenas. Project: Pluripotency gene networks in germ cell homeostasis. Current position: CS genetics.
Norazalina Saad. Project: Epigenetic reprogramming of breast cancer cells. Current position:Lecturer, Laboratory of Cancer Research, University Putra Malaysia.
Mansi Shah. Project: Role of homeobox genes in breast cancer stem cells. Current position: Senior technical specilist. University College London.
Somsin Petyim. Project: Germ cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells. Current position: Associate Professor, MD, PhD, Mahidol University, Thailand.