Federico Calegari

Federico Calegari is a Professor for Proliferation of Mammalian Neural Stem Cells at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technical University Dresden. He has led his research group at CRTD since November 2006, following positions as a staff scientist and postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Milano, Italy in 2000.

Professor Calegari's research focuses on neural stem cells and how controlling the cell cycle, particularly the G1 phase, influences neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. His lab has pioneered approaches to expand neural stem cells through molecular manipulation, demonstrating that shortening the cell cycle promotes neural stem cell expansion and increased neuron production. This work has important implications for understanding brain development, evolution, and potential therapeutic applications.

The Calegari Group has published significant research in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, EMBO Journal, and Cell Stem Cell. Their work spans developmental neuroscience, adult neurogenesis, and the relationship between neural stem cells and cognitive functions. Recent publications highlight connections between neurogenesis and olfactory processing, hippocampal function, and cognitive aging.

• EMBO Journal (2023): Research on how adult-born neurons modulate hippocampal learning and memory
• Frontiers in Neuroscience (2022): Investigation of neurogenesis and olfactory function
• Nature Communications (2020): Study on how increased neurogenesis rejuvenates cognitive function throughout life
• EMBO Journal (2019): Research on neural stem cells and odor discrimination

Professor Calegari's lab actively trains graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with team members leading innovative projects that have resulted in significant publications. The lab employs diverse methodologies including transgenic models, viral vector delivery, transcriptomics, and in vivo electrophysiology. Current research directions include understanding how neural stem cells contribute to sensory systems and cognitive functions, with the ultimate goal of improving 'the most sophisticated machine in the universe: the brain.'