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Basics

Name Luca Sala
Label PhD
Summary Scientist with expertise in cardiac cellular electrophysiology, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology, and precision medicine. Research activity focuses on disease modelling of inherited cardiac diseases, development of advanced electrophysiological technologies for phenotypic screening, and identification of novel therapeutic strategies for congenital and acquired arrhythmias, with a commitment to new approach methodologies (NAMs) as complementary methods to animal models.

Work

  • 2025 - Present

    Milan, Italy

    Junior PI, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics
    Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS
    Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin, Director: Peter J. Schwartz
    • Leading cellular electrophysiology and drug screening on iPSCs
    • Investigating genotype-phenotype relationships in cardiac channelopathies
  • 2022 - 2025

    Milan, Italy

    Assistant Professor of Physiology (RTD-A)
    University of Milano - Bicocca
    Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences
    • Investigating the reasons behind incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in congenital Long QT Syndrome
  • 2018 - 2025

    Milan, Italy

    Affiliated Researcher
    Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS
    Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin, Director: Peter J. Schwartz
    • Patient-specific disease model for congenital and acquired cardiac disorders
  • 2015 - 2017

    Leiden, The Netherlands

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)
    Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Supervisor: Prof. Christine L. Mummery
    • Development of MUSCLEMOTION software for cardiac contraction analysis
    • hERG allosteric modulator for Long QT Syndrome rescue

Education

  • 2011 - 2014

    Milan, Italy

    PhD
    University of Milano - Bicocca
    Molecular and Translational Medicine
    • Thesis: Cardiac arrhythmias of genetic origin modelled with human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)
    • Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Zaza
  • 2009 - 2011

    Milan, Italy

    Master Degree (cum laude)
    University of Milano - Bicocca
    Industrial Biotechnology
  • 2006 - 2009

    Milan, Italy

    Bachelor Degree
    University of Milano - Bicocca
    Biotechnology

Awards

Skills

Stem Cell Biology
Human induced pluripotent stem cells
Cardiac Differentiation
Disease Modelling
Cellular Electrophysiology
Patch Clamp
MultiElectrode Arrays
Dynamic Clamp
Ion Imaging
Cardiology
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Channelopathies
Cardiomyopathies
Sudden Cardiac Death
Software tools
MUSCLEMOTION
BAPTA
Python scripts
R scripts

Languages

Italian
Native speaker
English
Fluent