Fernando is interested in the physiological role of somatic stem cell niches from the perspective of aging and age-related disease, and in particular how extracellular vesicles (and their cargoes) secreted by stem cells regulate cellular senescence. He also is identifying miRNAs that contribute to initiating or maintaining the senescent cell state. Fernando enjoys rediscovering the wonder of the world through his son, Ian's eyes. Fernando is an aficionado of traditional Tango music, collects late 19th- to early 20th-century British and French meerschaum and briar pipes, consumes news voraciously, and enjoys walking and cooking.
Representative Publications:
Dorronsoro A, Santiago FE, Grassi D, Zhang T, Lai RC, McGowan SJ, Angelini L, Lavasani M, Corbo L, Lu A, Brooks RW, Garcia-Contreras M, Stolz DB, Amelio A, Boregowda SV, Fallahi M, Reich A, Ricordi C, Phinney DG, Huard J, Lim SK, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reduce senescence and extend health span in mouse models of aging. Aging Cell. 2021 Apr;20(4):e13337. doi: 10.1111/acel.13337. Epub 2021 Mar 16. PMID: 33728821; PMCID: PMC8045949.
Fuhrmann-Stroissnigg H, Santiago FE, Grassi D, Ling Y, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. SA-β-Galactosidase-Based Screening Assay for the Identification of Senotherapeutic Drugs. J Vis Exp. 2019 Jun 28;(148). doi: 10.3791/58133. PMID: 31305507.
