Simona Chera obtained her PhD from Department of Genetics and Evolution, at the Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, in 2008, with a focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms acting in regeneration. Afterwards, she was a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Pedro Herrera lab, characterizing two age-dependent regenerative mechanisms involved in spontaneous murine pancreatic β-cell regeneration (Thorel et al. 2010, Nature and Chera et al. 2014, Nature). In March 2015, Simona moved to Bergen, as a postdoctoral fellow in Ræder lab, working on a project involving the differentiation of pancreatic β-cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells, derived from fibroblasts donated by patients with Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY). She is now Professor at the Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen and NCMM Associate Investigator. 

The main focus throughout her career has been the characterization of the cellular processes and molecular cues governing the balance between tissue regeneration and homeostasis. This has resulted in numerous publications.

Recently, she received several prestigious grants:

• the Novo Nordisk Foundation Excellence Project for Endocrinology Research, for characterizing and reversing β-cell senescence and proliferation quiescence in monogenic diabetes; and
• Young Talent Research Projects funded by the Research Council of Norway, aiming at characterizing the cellular and molecular basis of the gradual failure of insulin-producing β-cells in diabetes by using a novel in vivo strategy involving transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from monogenic diabetes patients (MODY patients). 
• RONO2019 UEFISCDI collaborative grant with A. M. Vacaru at the Institute of biology and cellular pathology in Bucarest, to investigate therapeutic options to boost stress endurance and regeneration in β-cells.
• Renewal grant (2020) from Research Council of Norway
• In 2021, Simona received the Novo Nordisk Foundation Ascending Investigator Grant to continue her work on monogenic diabetes.

Selected publications:

1. Legøy TA*, Vethe H*, Abadpour S, Strand BL, Scholz H, Paulo JA, Ræder H, Ghila L, Chera S. Encapsulation boosts islet-cell signature in differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells via integrin signaling. Scientific Reports 2020 Jan 15;10(1):414. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-57305-x [BioRxiv 2019 Oct 04, preprint doi: 10.1101/791442]
2. Legøy TA, Mathisen AF, Salim Z, Vethe H, Bjørlykke Y, Abadpour S, Paulo JA, Scholz H, Raeder H, Ghila L, Chera S. In vivo Environment Swiftly Restricts Human Pancreatic Progenitors Toward Mono-Hormonal Identity via a HNF1A/HNF4A Mechanism. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 2020 Feb 25;8:109. eCollection 2020. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00109
3. Legøy TA, Ghila L, Vethe H, Abadpour S, Mathisen AF, Paulo JA, Scholz H, Raeder H, Chera S. In vivo hyperglycemia exposure elicits distinct period-dependent effects on human pancreatic progenitor differentiation, conveyed by oxidative stress. Acta Physiologica (Oxf) 2020 Apr;228(4):e13433. Epub 2020 Jan 8. doi: 10.1111/apha.13433. PMID:31872528

Methods in Medical Cell Biology - BMED320 ECTS credits: 25

Future medicine - ELMED303 ECTS credits: 3

Academic article

• Wang, Chencheng; Abadpour, Shadab; Olsen, Petter Angell et al. (2024). Glucose Concentration in Regulating Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Differentiation Toward Insulin-Producing Cells. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela; Chera, Simona (2024). Targeted Gene Silencing by Using GapmeRs in Differentiating Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC) Toward Pancreatic Progenitors. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Vacaru, Andrei Mircea; Unger, Lucas et al. (2024). Molecular profiling of NOD mouse islets reveals a novel regulator of insulitis onset. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Larsen, Ulrik et al. (2024). The age-dependent regulation of pancreatic islet landscape is fueled by a HNF1a-immune signaling loop. (external link)
• Wang, Chencheng; Abadpour, Shadab; Aizenshtadt, Aleksandra et al. (2024). Cell identity dynamics and insight into insulin secretagogues when employing stem cell-derived islets for disease modeling. (external link)
• Daian, Laura Maria; Tanko, Gabriela; Vacaru, Andrei Mircea et al. (2023). Modulation of Unfolded Protein Response Restores Survival and Function of β-Cells Exposed to the Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A. (external link)
• Sinturel, Flore; Chera, Simona; Brulhart-Meynet, Marie-Claude et al. (2023). Circadian organization of lipid landscape is perturbed in type 2 diabetic patients. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Abadpour, Shadab; Legøy, Thomas Aga et al. (2023). Global proteomics reveals insulin abundance as a marker of human islet homeostasis alterations. (external link)
• Fernandez, Manuel Carrasco; Wang, Chencheng; Søviknes, Anne Mette et al. (2022). Spatial Environment Affects HNF4A Mutation-Specific Proteome Signatures and Cellular Morphology in hiPSC-Derived β-Like Cells. (external link)
• Petrenko, Volodymyr; Sinturel, Flore; Loizides-Mangold, Ursula et al. (2022). Type 2 diabetes disrupts circadian orchestration of lipid metabolism and membrane fluidity in human pancreatic islets. (external link)
• Bhagchandani, Preksha; Chang, Charles A.; Zhao, Weichen et al. (2022). Islet cell replacement and transplantation immunology in a mouse strain with inducible diabetes. (external link)
• Berle, Magnus; Hestetun, Kjersti Elvestad; Vethe, Heidrun et al. (2022). Mapping Proteome Changes in Microsatellite Stable, Recurrent Colon Cancer Reveals a Significant Immune System Signature. (external link)
• Ghila, Luiza; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev et al. (2021). Chronically elevated exogenous glucose elicits antipodal effects on the proteome signature of differentiating human ipsc-derived pancreatic progenitors. (external link)
• Ghila, Luiza; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Chera, Simona (2021). A Method for Encapsulation and Transplantation into Diabetic Mice of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC)-Derived Pancreatic Progenitors. (external link)
• Oropeza, Daniel; Cigliola, Valentina; Romero, Agustín et al. (2021). Stage-specific transcriptomic changes in pancreatic α-cells after massive β-cell loss. (external link)
• Petrenko, Volodymyr; Stolovich-Rain, Miri; Vandereycken, Bart et al. (2020). The core clock transcription factor BMAL1 drives circadian β-cell proliferation during compensatory regeneration of the endocrine pancreas. (external link)
• Legøy, Thomas Aga; Vethe, Heidrun; Abadpour, Shadab et al. (2020). Encapsulation boosts islet-cell signature in differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells via integrin signalling . (external link)
• Ghila, Luiza; Bjørlykke, Yngvild; Legøy, Thomas Aga et al. (2020). Bioinformatic analyses of miRNA-mRNA signature during hiPSC differentiation towards insulin-producing cells upon HNF4α mutation. (external link)
• Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Salim, Zaidon et al. (2020). In vivo environment swiftly restricts human pancreatic progenitors toward mono-hormonal identity via a HNF1A/HNF4A mechanism. (external link)
• Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza; Vethe, Heidrun et al. (2019). In vivo hyperglycemia exposure elicits distinct period-dependent effects on human pancreatic progenitor differentiation, conveyed by oxidative stress. (external link)
• Furuyama, Kenichiro; Chera, Simona; van Gurp, Leon et al. (2019). Diabetes relief in mice by glucose-sensing insulin-secreting human α-cells. (external link)
• Vethe, Heidrun; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Abadpour, Shadab et al. (2019). Encapsulation boosts islet-cell signature in differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells via integrin signalling. (external link)
• Bjørlykke, Yngvild; Søviknes, Anne Mette; Hoareau, Laurence et al. (2019). Reprogrammed cells display distinct proteomic signaturesAssociated with colony morphology variability. (external link)
• Vethe, Heidrun; Ghila, Luiza; Berle, Magnus et al. (2019). The effect of WnT pathway modulators on human iPSC-derived pancreatic beta cell maturation. (external link)
• Berle, Magnus; Ghila, Luiza; Vethe, Heidrun et al. (2018). Novel protein signatures suggest progression to muscular invasiveness in bladder cancer. (external link)
• Cigliola, Valentina; Ghila, Luiza; Thorel, Fabrizio et al. (2018). Pancreatic islet-autonomous insulin and smoothened-mediated signalling modulate identity changes of glucagon+ α-cells. (external link)
• Chakravarthy, Harini; Gu, Xueying; Enge, Martin et al. (2017). Converting adult pancreatic islet α cells into β cells by targeting both Dnmt1 and Arx. (external link)
• Vethe, Heidrun; Bjørlykke, Yngvild; Ghila, Luiza et al. (2017). Probing the missing mature β-cell proteomic landscape in differentiating patient iPSC-derived cells. (external link)

Poster

• Hossain, Md Kaykobad; Altankhuyag, Altanchimeg; Legøy, Thomas Aga et al. (2023). Mapping predictive bladder cancer signatures in a mouse model. (external link)
• Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Paulo, Joao et al. (2023). Human induced pluripotent stem cells as a model for environmental impact on diabetes. (external link)
• Sharmine, Shayla; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev et al. (2023). Mapping islet architecture changes upon high fat diet challenge in a HNF1A-MODY mouse model. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev et al. (2023). Investigating the developmental role of HNF1A, HNF1B and HNF4A in human pancreatic islet cell differentiation. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela et al. (2022). Know your background, know your data. (external link)
• Legøy, Thomas Aga; Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Scholz, Hanne et al. (2022). Molecular mechanisms affecting islet like cell fate acquisition in differentiating iPSC derived β-like cells”. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela et al. (2022). Mind your background!. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela et al. (2022). Hnf1a is a key regulator of β-cell identity and function. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela et al. (2022). Investigating the developmental role of HNF1A in human pancreatic islet cell differentiation. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela; Chera, Simona (2022). Investigating the developmental role of HNF1A, HNF1B and HNF4A in human pancreatic islet cell differentiation. (external link)
• Wang, Chencheng; Abadpour, Shadab; Aizenshtadt, Alexandra et al. (2021). Glucose during in vitro pancreatic beta cells regeneration: friends or for?. (external link)

Lecture

• Chera, Simona (2023). Mapping master regulators of regeneration rhythms in the pancreatic islet. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2023). The beta cell in ageing. (external link)
• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Larsen, Ulrik et al. (2023). Hnf1a Is An Important Regulator in Ageing And Maturation Of Pancreatic Islets. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Ghila, Luiza Mihaela et al. (2023). Exploring the role of transcription factors HNF1A, HNF1B, and HNF4A in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cell differentiation. (external link)
• Unger, Lucas; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Chera, Simona et al. (2023). Exploring the role of transcription factors HNF1A, HNF1B, and HNF4A in human pancreatic islet cell differentiation. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Mammalian Regeneration Rhythms. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Beta to alpha cells and back. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Investigating islet cell plasticity dynamics by exploiting monogenic diabetes contexts. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Using patient-derived iPSC multi-omics to demultiplex pancreatic islet cell fate confinement. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Regeneration, Rhythms, Regulators. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Investigating islet cell-fate dynamic during in vitro differentiation. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). And some that die deserve life: in vivo mechanisms regulating cell identity during beta-cell decay and regeneration. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2021). Using patient-derived iPSC to demultiplex cell fate confinement. (external link)

Editorial

• Chera, Simona; Rentzsch, Fabian (2023). Stem cells: The cell that does it all. (external link)
• Ghila, Luiza Mihaela; Furuyama, Kenichiro; Grey, Shane T. et al. (2022). Editorial: Beta-Cell Fate: From Gene Circuits to Disease Mechanisms. (external link)

Academic lecture

• Mathisen, Andreas Frøslev; Legøy, Thomas Aga; Larsen, Ulrik et al. (2023). Islet maturation and ageing is governed by the Hnf1a transcription factor. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2022). Mapping Master Regulators of Regeneration Rhythms. (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2021). Mapping cell identity shifts in the adult pancreatic islet . (external link)
• Chera, Simona (2021). Islet cell identity and diabetes development. (external link)

Abstract

• Wang, Chencheng; Abadpour, Shadab; Aizenshtadt, Alexandra et al. (2021). 402.2: High Glucose Concentration Increases KATP Channel Activity but Suppresses Mitochondrial Respiration Ability in Insulin-producing Cells Regenerated From Stem Cells. (external link)

Popular scientific article

• Bhagchandani, Preksha; Chang, Charles; Zhao, Weichen et al. (2021). Islet transplantation tolerance in animals with defined histocompatibility and diabetes. (external link)

Academic literature review

• Cigliola, Valentina; Ghila, Luiza; Chera, Simona et al. (2019). Tissue repair brakes: A common paradigm in the biology of regeneration: Concise review. (external link)
• Cigliola, Valentina; Thorel, Fabrizio; Chera, Simona et al. (2016). Stress-induced adaptive islet cell identity changes. (external link)
• Chera, Simona; Herrera, Pedro L. (2016). Regeneration of pancreatic insulin-producing cells by in situ adaptive cell conversion. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.