Stefano Da Sacco

~~ About the Lab: Advancing Kidney Regeneration Through Science and Innovation ~~Dr. Stefano Da Sacco is a research scientist, innovator, and educator at the forefront of kidney regenerative medicine. As an Assistant Professor of Research Urology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and an investigator at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on unraveling the biology of the glomerulus—the kidney’s essential filtration unit—and creating bioengineered solutions for chronic kidney disease (CKD).With a PhD from the University of Padua and USC, and advanced postdoctoral training in stem cell biology and pediatric urology, Dr. Da Sacco brings a global perspective and deep expertise to his work. His lab integrates stem cell science, organ-on-chip technologies, and disease modeling to push the boundaries of what’s possible in kidney research.~~ Research Vision ~~ At the heart of Dr. Da Sacco’s research is a fundamental question: How can we protect and repair the kidney’s filtration barrier to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent kidney disease?To answer this, his team develops advanced human-relevant platforms that simulate the structure and function of kidney tissue at the cellular and molecular level. These models serve as living testbeds for exploring disease mechanisms, discovering novel biomarkers, and testing potential therapies.His lab is internationally recognized for its “glomerulus-on-a-chip” platform, a microphysiological system that mimics the specialized architecture and barrier properties of the glomerulus. This innovation allows researchers to observe real-time podocyte behavior, protein leakage, and drug response in a dynamic, patient-relevant context, transforming how we study glomerular diseases such as:- Membranous Nephropathy- Alport Syndrome- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)~~ Wilms Tumor and Cancer Stem Cell Research ~~Dr. Da Sacco’s lab is actively investigating the cellular origins and progression of Wilms tumor, the most common pediatric kidney cancer. His team was among the first to identify and characterize cancer stem-like cells within Wilms tumors, uncovering a rare subpopulation with enhanced self-renewal, tumorigenic potential, and resistance to conventional therapies. By using patient-derived samples and advanced molecular profiling, the lab has delineated key surface markers and transcriptional signatures that distinguish these cells from the tumor bulk. This research provides critical insights into tumor hierarchy and relapse mechanisms, and it paves the way for developing targeted therapies that eliminate cancer stem cells, potentially improving outcomes for children with high-risk or recurrent disease.~~ Scientific Contributions and Impact ~~ Dr. Da Sacco’s lab was among the first to demonstrate how primary renal progenitors and cells can be harnessed to create functional in vitro kidney models. His work has significantly contributed to our understanding of podocyte injury signaling, including the roles of C3a/C3aR signaling pathways. Beyond modeling disease, his team has been actively collaborating with numerous laboratories worldwide to explore regenerative and reparative therapies, including mitochondrial transplantation, engineered extracellular vesicles, and biocompatible scaffolds for cell delivery.~~ Funding ~~ Dr. Da Sacco has received research awards from NIH, ASF, and CIRM and is currently supported by NIH/NIDDK RO1s, a PNRC grant award, and Industry collaborations. Dr. Da Sacco is a member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Nephrology, the International Society of Glomerular Diseases, The Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium, and ISSNAF. He serves as a reviewer for NIH study sections and the Italian Ministry of Health, among others. He has published extensively in leading scientific journals and is a reviewer for several peer-reviewed publications.

• The spatially resolved transcriptome signatures of glomeruli in chronic kidney disease. JCI Insight. 2024 03 22; 9(6).. View in PubMed
• C3aR-initiated signaling is a critical mechanism of podocyte injury in membranous nephropathy. JCI Insight. 2024 01 16; 9(4).. View in PubMed
• Mitochondria Transplantation Mitigates Damage in an In Vitro Model of Renal Tubular Injury and in an Ex Vivo Model of DCD Renal Transplantation. Ann Surg. 2023 12 01; 278(6):e1313-e1326.. View in PubMed
• Identification and Characterization of the Wilms Tumor Cancer Stem Cell. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 07; 10(20):e2206787.. View in PubMed
• Intravital imaging reveals glomerular capillary distension and endothelial and immune cell activation early in Alport syndrome. JCI Insight. 2022 01 11; 7(1).. View in PubMed
• Generation of a Glomerular Filtration Barrier on a Glomerulus-on-a-Chip Platform. Methods Mol Biol. 2022; 2373:121-131.. View in PubMed
• Emerging Technologies to Study the Glomerular Filtration Barrier. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021; 8:772883.. View in PubMed
• Loss of decay-accelerating factor triggers podocyte injury and glomerulosclerosis. J Exp Med. 2020 09 07; 217(9).. View in PubMed
• Author Correction: A glomerulus-on-a-chip to recapitulate the human glomerular filtration barrier. Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 21; 10(1):4791.. View in PubMed
• Circulating B Cells With Memory and Antibody-Secreting Phenotypes Are Detectable in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients Before the Development of Antibody-Mediated Rejection. Transplant Direct. 2019 Sep; 5(9):e481.. View in PubMed
• A glomerulus-on-a-chip to recapitulate the human glomerular filtration barrier. Nat Commun. 2019 08 13; 10(1):3656.. View in PubMed
• Amniotic fluid cells: current progress and emerging challenges in renal regeneration. Pediatr Nephrol. 2018 06; 33(6):935-945.. View in PubMed
• Amniotic fluid stem cell-derived vesicles protect from VEGF-induced endothelial damage. Sci Rep. 2017 12 04; 7(1):16875.. View in PubMed
• Direct Isolation and Characterization of Human Nephron Progenitors. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017 02; 6(2):419-433.. View in PubMed
• A step towards clinical application of acellular matrix: A clue from macrophage polarization. Matrix Biol. 2017 01; 57-58:334-346.. View in PubMed
• Decellularized Renal Matrix and Regenerative Medicine of the Kidney: A Different Point of View. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2016 06; 22(3):183-92.. View in PubMed
• Renal Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds From Discarded Kidneys Maintain Glomerular Morphometry and Vascular Resilience and Retains Critical Growth Factors. Transplantation. 2015 Sep; 99(9):1807-16.. View in PubMed
• Prolonged fasting reduces IGF-1/PKA to promote hematopoietic-stem-cell-based regeneration and reverse immunosuppression. Cell Stem Cell. 2014 Jun 05; 14(6):810-23.. View in PubMed
• Amniotic fluid stem cells prevent β-cell injury. Cytotherapy. 2014 Jan; 16(1):41-55.. View in PubMed
• A novel source of cultured podocytes. PLoS One. 2013; 8(12):e81812.. View in PubMed
• Injection of amniotic fluid stem cells delays progression of renal fibrosis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 Apr; 23(4):661-73.. View in PubMed
• β-Cell regeneration mediated by human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e42177.. View in PubMed
• The milieu of damaged alveolar epithelial type 2 cells stimulates alveolar wound repair by endogenous and exogenous progenitors. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Dec; 45(6):1212-21.. View in PubMed
• Regenerative medicine of the kidney. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2011 Apr 30; 63(4-5):379-87.. View in PubMed
• Amniotic fluid as a source of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells for organ regeneration. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2011 Feb; 16(1):101-5.. View in PubMed
• Human amniotic fluid as a potential new source of organ specific precursor cells for future regenerative medicine applications. J Urol. 2010 Mar; 183(3):1193-200.. View in PubMed
• Protective effect of human amniotic fluid stem cells in an immunodeficient mouse model of acute tubular necrosis. PLoS One. 2010 Feb 24; 5(2):e9357.. View in PubMed
• Stem cell and regenerative science applications in the development of bioengineering of renal tissue. Pediatr Res. 2008 May; 63(5):467-71.. View in PubMed
• Characterization of human amniotic fluid stem cells and their pluripotential capability. Methods Cell Biol. 2008; 86:85-99.. View in PubMed

• McMahon, Andrew
• Lemley, Kevin
• Sedrakyan, Sargis
• Chuong, Cheng-Ming
• Warburton, David
• Petrosyan, Astgik
• Grubbs, Brendan
• Murry, Charles
• Peti Peterdi, Janos
• Gyarmati, Georgina
• McCain, Megan
• Perin Gallandt, Laura