Prof. La Manno Lab – Laboratory of Brain Development and Biological Data Science

We are a computational and developmental biology lab with a focus on understanding the complexities and dynamics of brain development. Our approach combines single-cell genomics, spatial omics technologies, and machine learning tools. Our use of techniques like RNA velocity allow us to trace the future states of individual cells, predicting developmental trajectories and cellular fate decisions in the process of differentiating embryonic stem cells into mature neurons.

A significant aspect of our research is the exploration of lipid heterogeneity at the single-cell level. We believe this emerging field holds the key to understanding how different biochemical drivers, including lipids, influence the dynamic process of brain development.

Our long-term goal is to unravel the intricate gene regulatory programs that drive the formation of cell types in the nervous system. By doing so, we hope to contribute to the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and the improvement of cell replacement therapies.

The people in the lab

Selected Publications

Sphingolipids Control Dermal Fibroblast Heterogeneity

Cell-to-cell lipid heterogeneity affects the determination of cell states, adding a new regulatory component to the self-organization of multicellular systems.

Molecular architecture of the developing mouse brain

We report a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the embryonic mouse brain between gastrulation and birth. We identified almost eight hundred cellular states that describe a developmental program for the functional elements of the brain and its enclosing membranes.

Spatial tissue profiling by imaging-free molecular tomography

We describe an imaging-free framework to localize high-throughput readouts within a tissue by cutting the sample into thin strips in a way that allows subsequent image reconstruction. We applied the technique to the brain of the Australian bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps. Our results reveal the molecular anatomy of the telencephalon of this lizard, providing evidence for a marked regionalization of the reptilian pallium and subpallium.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Meeting our Makers: Uncovering the cis-regulatory activity of transposable elements using statistical learning

C. D. S-T. Pulver / D. Trono (Dir.)  

Lausanne, EPFL, 2024. 

Deconvolution of ex-vivo drug screening data and bulk tissue expression predicts the abundance and viability of cancer cell subpopulations

A. Coudray / D. Trono; G. La Manno (Dir.)  

Lausanne, EPFL, 2024. 

Brain matters: unveiling the distinct contributions of region, age, and sex to glia diversity and CNS function

L. A. Seeker; N. Bestard-Cuche; S. Jaekel; N-L. Kazakou; S. M. K. Bostrand et al. 

Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 2023-05-22. Vol. 11, num. 1, p. 84. DOI : 10.1186/s40478-023-01568-z.

Contact

Head of Laboratory : Gioele La Manno

Office : AAB 241

Phone : +41 21 69 38446

Mail : [email protected]


Administrative Assistant : Silvia Avanzi

Office : AAB017

Phone : +41 21 69 30904

Mail : [email protected]


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Prof. La Manno Lab – Laboratory of Brain Development and Biological Data Science

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LATEST PUBLICATIONS