Structural biology

Coscia Group

JOIN US! Available PostDoc, PhD and internship positions – informal enquiries at francesca.coscia[at]fht.org

2021 ERC starting grant

Our Research

The thyroid gland is a natural bioreactor where rare iodine from the diet is accumulated and used to synthesise thyroid hormones, essential iodinated molecules for the metabolism and development in all vertebrates.

In humans, thyroid disfunction severely impacts cardiovascular homeostasis, metabolism, brain development and function, with increasing incidence Worldwide. Currently, our understanding of molecular events behind thyroid hormone synthesis is far from complete and consequently of major thyroid diseases. At the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, UK) Francesca has worked on the structure of human thyroglobulin by cryoEM, the protein precursor or thyroid hormones. This work is the starting point to answer many questions on thyroid hormone levels and action, which we aim addressing with multiple approaches: structural biology, biochemistry and cell biology. Our research aims to advance our knowledge of thyroid biology and to progress towards the study of specific thyroid diseases, such as auto-immune diseases, congenital hypothyroidism and thyroid cancers. Human Technopole gives us a great opportunity to reach this goal at The Centre for Structural Biology with an excellent, international environment and cutting-edge scientific facilities.

EMAIL CONTACT: francesca.coscia[at]fht.org


Coscia Group 2023

Coscia Group Publications

 

Alumni:

Dario Guerrini: Bachelor Student Bicocca University
Giacomo Palm: Postgraduate Research Assistant
Angelica Critelli: Visiting Scientist Istituto Auxologico Hospital

Group members