Dr Michelangelo Certo MSc, PharmD, PhD, ScD

Advanced Research Fellow in Immunometabolism & Inflammation

• Sc.D. in Pharmacology
• Ph.D. in Cellular Biochemistry and Pharmacology
• M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology (cum laude)

Dr. Michelangelo Certo earned his MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology with honors in 2010, followed by a PhD in Cellular Biochemistry and Pharmacology in 2013, both from the University of Calabria, Italy. He pursued postdoctoral research at the Centre of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, where he focused on elucidating the interactions between the immune system and the brain during ischemic injury, aiming to identify novel immunotherapeutic strategies for stroke.

In 2015, Dr. Certo was recognised as an expert in Pharmacology (BIO/14) by the Department Council at the School of Pharmacy, University of Calabria. The following year, he was awarded a prestigious Research Fellowship by the Italian Society of Pharmacology, which led him to join University College London, where he applied his expertise to the field of chronic pain.

Dr. Certo's research has consistently centered on the inflammatory mechanisms that govern immunity, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic innovation. His work spans cell trafficking, target identification, therapeutic exploitation, and the development of reparative and regenerative therapies. In 2017, he transitioned to Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, where his research delved into the metabolic regulation of immune cell functions and how specific metabolites, such as lactate and fatty acids, act as signaling molecules modulating immune-inflammatory responses.

In 2018, Dr. Certo joined the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham as a Senior Research Fellow in Metabolism and Inflammation. His current research focuses on the intricate connections between metabolic and inflammatory pathways, investigating how these processes contribute to stroke (funded by the University of Birmingham), and chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis (funded by the British Heart Foundation) and Sjögren's syndrome (funded by the Medical Research Council).

• Supervision of graduate students on their research projects.
• Mentorship and guidance in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• Assisting students in the development of their theses and preparation for presentations.

Research interests

His research delves into the intricate relationship between metabolic and inflammatory pathways, particularly examining how metabolic alterations in diseases characterised by inflammation drive aberrant immune cell responses. These disruptions are crucial not only in initiating inflammation but also in sustaining and propagating it. He focuses on the metabolic control of T cell-mediated immune responses, including aspects such as cell migration, differentiation, and cytokine production, both under normal physiological conditions and within the context of disease.

A key area of his work investigates the impact of lactate accumulation, which can occur locally in inflamed tissues or systemically during acute and chronic inflammation. His research has uncovered how lactate induces intracellular metabolic rewiring, influencing the immune-inflammatory response across various human diseases, with significant implications for disease outcomes.

In addition to these areas, he also explores the role of lactate in post-stroke inflammation. Ischemic stroke, caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain, leads to a cascade of inflammatory responses that can exacerbate damage and hinder recovery. His aim is to block the import of lactate into T cells, thereby reducing the detrimental impact of inflammation following a stroke. By targeting lactate transport, his research seeks to mitigate the inflammatory aftermath of ischemic stroke, offering potential therapeutic avenues to improve patient outcomes.

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Scientific Illustration

As a science illustrator, Dr Certo help scientists disseminate their research – to both an academic and lay audience – opening conversations that revert in better science (https://certo-michelangelo.jimdofree.com).