Eros Lazzerini Denchi, Ph.D.

We study the mechanisms by which telomeres protect chromosome ends, thus ensuring chromosome and genome stability. Our lab focuses on the identification of telomere-associated proteins to define their role in preventing activation of the DNA damage response pathway and suppression of end-to-end chromosomal fusions. We also study how telomere-associated proteins regulate the balance between telomere elongation and telomere erosion, thus controlling the replicative potential of normal as well as cancer cells. Identification of novel factors that play a role in telomere biology is carried out in the lab using proteomics as well as genetic screens.

A complementary study in our lab is focused on the in vivo consequences of telomere dysfunction. Telomere length homeostasis plays a critical role in cellular and organism survival. However, in humans, this process is inefficient and progressive telomere shortening is observed in tissues with a high cellular turnover. In the lab, we probe the role of telomere shortening in aging and tumor onset using mouse models that recapitulate telomere dysfunction in stem cells and other cellular compartments.

The Lazzerini Denchi Lab, March 2022

Dr. Eros Lazzerini Denchi earned his M.S. in biology from the Universita’ Statale di Milano and received his Ph.D. in molecular oncology from the European Institute of Oncology (Milan, Italy) working in the laboratory of Prof. Kristian Helin. He completed his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Prof. Titia de Lange at The Rockefeller University, New York, and worked as an independent researcher at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA. Dr. Lazzerini Denchi became a Senior Investigator in 2021.