Researcher Profile: Angelo Iulianella
Angelo Iulianella was born in Montreal to immigrant parents. He is fluently bilingual and proficient in Italian. Biology has been his passion since he was in school. He attended McGill University to pursue his BSc degree in Biology, specializing in molecular genetics.
He then pursued doctoral training to explore the role of the vitamin A derivative retinoic acid in the formation of the embryo. This research was conducted at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal (IRCM; affiliated with the University of Montreal) and led to several key findings on the molecular and cellular basis of axial elongation. This then led to a postdoctoral fellowship at Stowers Institute in Kansas City, where his research contributed to the discovery of the regulatory proteins (Cux1 and Cux2) that promote the formation of neurons. Another new finding was the identification of mouse mutants affecting the Sonic Hedgehog pathway that led to insights of how the craniofacial region and nervous system are formed during development.
Angelo Iulianella, Professor
Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie
Angelo’s research concerns how neurological disorders arise as a consequence of abnormal development of the brain during gestation. In order to find treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, it is imperative that we seek to understand the underlying cellular and molecular causes for these illnesses. The main focus of Angelo's research is to uncover the mechanisms that regulate the formation and connection of neurons during development and how this is linked with the regulation of growth during the development. He is also examining the mechanisms that underlie the stability of the neural phenotype throughout life and the effects of cellular stress on neuronal aging.
In order to find treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, it is imperative that we seek to understand the underlying cellular and molecular causes for these illnesses.
More specifically, in an effort to identify novel regulators of neural development, his lab has begun characterizing the role of MLLT11 in neurons; a gene previously implicated in pediatric leukemias. Specifically, his lab discovered that MLLT11 is actually normally onlyexpressed in the developing nervous system, and the its function is required for the proper migration of neurons and wiring up of the fetal nervous system. They also discovered that in the mouse MLLT11 interacts with the neuronal cytoskeleton, thereby linking the cellular migration and axon defects observed in MLLT11 mutant brains. This phenotype was reminiscent of certain neurodevelopmental disorders collectively called tubulinopathies. These in turn are caused by defects in cellular processes, such as cellular migration, and growth of axons and dendrites, which are the cellular extensions that connect different neurons together. This is important as we investigate neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Angelo's lab is currently exploring what MLLT11 interacts with, and how these proteins collectively act to regulate neuronal migration, axonogenesis, and synaptogenesis during development and learning. The important thing to remember is that both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases involve, at some point, abnormal regulation of protein activity leading to a disruption of basic neuronal function. Angelo thinks that the abnormal regulation of the neuronal cytoskeleton, and its interacting proteins like MLLT11, may underlie many disease mechanisms in both neurodevelopmental disorders like autisms and schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative conditions like ALS and Alzheimer's disease.
Angelo has been active member of the American Association of Anatomy and Society for Developmental Biology, attesting to his interest in scientific and educational outreach activities.
When not teaching or in the lab, Angelo and his wife are raising two active boys, taking advantage of the wonderful outdoor activities Nova Scotia has to offer, like camping and hiking in the summer and fall, and downhill skiing in the winter. Weather permiting, Angelo enjoys biking to work and hopes that Halifax will improve its biking infrastructure so more can enjoy commuting by bike. Another of Angelo's interest is the guitar and he is self taught on both electric and acoustic instruments.
You can also read about some of Dr Iulianella’s current and past trainees - Danielle Stanton-Turcotte, Marley Blommers and Mohsen Hedari - at Our Trainees page.