Natalia Riobo-Del Galdo

Dr. Natalia Riobo-Del Galdo is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology within the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in vertebrate systems, with significant implications for cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders.

Research Interests: Her work spans several interconnected areas including canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signaling, regulation of PTCH1 and PTCH2 receptors, crosstalk with G proteins and β-arrestins, posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitylation, and the role of the primary cilium in signal transduction. She also investigates the involvement of Hh signaling in fibrotic diseases like scleroderma and its interplay with autophagy and Niemann-Pick disease proteins.

Using advanced techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, RNA-seq, luciferase reporter assays, confocal microscopy, and biochemical interaction studies, her lab dissects signaling pathways in normal and cancer cells, patient-derived samples, and animal models through active collaborations.

Collaborations:

• Dr. Amer (Leeds) – mechanobiology of Hh signaling in osteogenic differentiation using 3D culture systems
• Prof. Canettieri (Italy) – transcriptional changes and growth factor signaling in colon cancer models
• Prof. Del Galdo (Leeds) – cell-type-specific Hh signaling in skin stromal cells and myofibroblast activation in fibrosis
• Prof. Goldman (Finland) – structural and functional analysis of PTCHD1 in autism spectrum disorders and cholesterol transport via cryo-EM

Scientific Expertise and Techniques:

• Protein-protein interaction assays
• Posttranslational modification analysis (phosphorylation, ubiquitylation)
• Second messenger activation assays
• Transcriptional profiling (qPCR, RNA-seq)
• Genome engineering (CRISPR/Cas9)
• Fluorescence resonance energy transfer recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)
• Autophagic flux studies
• Confocal microscopy
• 3D cell culture on microparticles
• Xenograft mouse models

While no formal list of advisees or scientific awards is provided, her leadership of an active research group suggests involvement in training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Her work bridges fundamental molecular biology with translational applications in oncology and fibrotic diseases.