Placenta ─ The Tree of Life

The placenta is a source of non-embryonic (i.e. not from the embryo or fetus) stem cells that can be used for research and potentially for a variety of therapies. Stem cells can be harvested following birth, thus avoiding some of the ethical/moral concerns. This book is devoted to the therapeutic and research potential uses for stem cells. It also provides a review of the development, structure and function of the placenta and its hybrid (mother plus fetus) or chimaeric nature.

Ornella Parolini is founder and Director of Centro di Ricerca E.Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza, a research center focused on placental stem cells and their potential therapeutic applications. Dr. Parolini and her team have pioneered the concept that the placenta harbors stem cells with unique immunomodulatory properties that are at the basis of the mechanisms promoting tissue regeneration after their transplantation. In 2009, Dr. Parolini was nominated as the first President of the International Placenta Stem Cell Society for her scholarly contributions and networking efforts in this field and was re-elected in 2014. She is author of over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has several patents in the placenta stem cell field.

Antonietta R. Silini obtained her bachelor of science in microbiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and PhD degree in life sciences from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy, in collaboration with the Open University of London, UK. Her past research interests include cancer biology. Her current research interests include investigating placental stem cells and their potential therapeutic effects on different diseases, including cancer. Dr. Silini works at the Centro di Ricerca E.Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy, which is internationally recognized for its research and contributions in this field.