Professor Marcelo Rivolta

School of Biosciences

Professor of Sensory Stem Cell Biology

Marcelo Rivolta
Profile picture of Marcelo Rivolta
m.n.rivolta@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2385
Firth Court

Full contact details

Professor Marcelo Rivolta
School of Biosciences
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2013-present: Professor of Sensory Stem Cell Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield. UK.
  • 2012-2013: Reader in Sensory Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield. UK.
  • 2003-2011: Senior Research Fellow, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield. UK.
  • 2001-2003: Research Fellow, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield. UK.
  • 1998-2001: Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol. UK.
  • 1995-1998: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol. UK.
  • 1992-1995: Ph.D., NIH. Bethesda, Maryland, USA and University of Córdoba, Argentina.
  • 1992-1995: Visiting Associate at the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, NIDCD, NIH. Bethesda. Maryland. USA.
  • 1992-1991: Visiting Fellow at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDCD, NIH. Bethesda. Maryland. USA.
  • 1989-1991: Visiting Fellow at the Laboratory of Cellular Biology, NIDCD, NIH. Bethesda. Maryland. USA.
  • 1989: M.D. School of Medicine, University of Córdoba. Argentina.
  • 1984-1989: Research Assistant. Institute of Cell Biology and Department of Histology, Embryology and Genetics. School of Medicine, University of Córdoba. Argentina.
Research interests

Deafness is a major public health issue worldwide, with more than 3 million people in the UK alone enduring a moderate to profound hearing loss. The Rivolta laboratory is dedicated to study the biology and behaviour of auditory stem cells (primarily human) and to explore their potential to regenerate the damaged inner ear.

Hearing Research Group

Regenerative therapies for hearing loss: The development and use of human stem cells

Hearing loss has substantial personal, social and economic implications. It is most commonly caused by damage to the sensory hair cells and/or the auditory neurons in the cochlea. One possible therapeutic path would be to use otic progenitors generated in vitro to functionally replace the damaged cells.

Our group has made key advances developing stem cell technologies into a potentially viable therapy. We isolated a population of stem cells from the human fetal cochlea, and we have developed robust protocols to drive otic differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.

We also have established the proof of concept that hESC-derived otic progenitors can repair the damaged cochlea. We demonstrated that transplanted cells can graft into an animal model of auditory neuropathy, and elicit functional recovery as measured by auditory brainstem thresholds.

In an integrative regenerative medicine strategy, we are now exploring the combination of stem cells with cochlear implants, aiming to develop a true bionic implant. This device should conceptually combine stem cells with stimulatory electrodes.

For this we are developing animal models of cell transplantation and implantation. On a parallel strategy, we are also using stem cells to develop in vitro platforms that would facilitate drug discovery and analysis.

We have several collaborations with industry and academia, within the UK as well as worldwide. We are part of Otostem, an international consortium with partners in Stanford, Harvard, Geneva, Uppsala, Tübigen and Marseille.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Boddy SL, Chen W, Romero-Guevara R, Kottam L, Bellantuono I & Rivolta MN (2012) . Regen Med, 7(6), 757-767.
  • Chen W, Jongkamonwiwat N, Abbas L, Eshtan SJ, Johnson SL, Kuhn S, Milo M, Thurlow JK, Andrews PW, Marcotti W , Moore HD et al (2012) . Nature, 490(7419), 278-282.
  • Chen W, Johnson SL, Marcotti W, Andrews PW, Moore HD & Rivolta MN (2009) . Stem Cells, 27(5), 1196-1204.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Li H, Agrawal S, Zhu N, Cacciabue DI, Rivolta MN, Hartley DEH, Jiang D, Ladak HM, O’Donoghue GM & Rask‑Andersen H (2024) . Scientific Reports, 14.
  • Li H, Agrawal S, Rohani SA, Zhu N, Cacciabue DI, Rivolta MN, Hartley DEH, Jiang D, Ladak HM, O’Donoghue GM & Rask-Andersen H (2022) . Scientific Reports, 12, 1-6.
  • Solis-Castro OO, Rivolta MN & Boissonade FM (2022) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5).
  • Solis-Castro OO, Boissonade FM & Rivolta MN (2020) . Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 9(11), 1462-1476.
  • Boddy SL, Romero-Guevara R, Ji A-R, Unger C, Corns L, Marcotti W & Rivolta MN (2020) . Stem Cells International, 2020.
  • de Groot SC, Sliedregt K, van Benthem PPG, Rivolta MN & Huisman MA (2020) . The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 303(3), 408-426.
  • Sponchioni M, O'Brien CT, Borchers C, Wang E, Rivolta MN, Penfold NJW, Canton I & Armes SP (2019) . Chemical Science, 11(1), 232-240.
  • Abbas L & Rivolta MN (2019) . Hearing Research, 377, 72-87.
  • Stacey G, Andrews PW, Asante C, Barbaric I, Barry J, Bisset L, Braybrook J, Buckle R, Chandra A, Coffey P , Crouch S et al (2018) . Regenerative Medicine, 13(8), 935-944.
  • Schomann T, Mezzanotte L, De Groot JCMJ, Rivolta MN, Hendriks SH, Frijns JHM & Huisman MA (2017) . PLoS One, 12(10).
  • Gho CG, Schomann T, de Groot SC, Frijns JHM, Rivolta MN, Neumann MHA & Huisman MA (2016) . Cytotechnology, 68(5), 1849-1858.
  • Rivolta M (2016) . The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 130(S3), S137-S137.
  • Rivolta MN (2016) . Hearing, Balance and Communication, 13(4), 148-152.
  • Abbas L & Rivolta MN (2015) . Hearing Research, 325, 12-26.
  • Rivolta MN (2013) . Br Med Bull, 105, 69-84.
  • Boddy SL, Chen W, Romero-Guevara R, Kottam L, Bellantuono I & Rivolta MN (2012) . Regen Med, 7(6), 757-767.
  • Durán Alonso MB, Feijoo-Redondo A, Conde de Felipe M, Carnicero E, García AS, García-Sancho J, Rivolta MN, Giráldez F & Schimmang T (2012) . Regen Med, 7(6), 769-783.
  • Chen W, Jongkamonwiwat N, Abbas L, Eshtan SJ, Johnson SL, Kuhn S, Milo M, Thurlow JK, Andrews PW, Marcotti W , Moore HD et al (2012) . Nature, 490(7419), 278-282.
  • Huisman MA & Rivolta MN (2012) . Front Biosci (Schol Ed), 4(1), 121-132.
  • Jongkamonwiwat N, Zine A & Rivolta MN (2010) . Curr Drug Targets, 11(7), 888-897.
  • Rivolta MN (2010) . Drug Discov Today, 15(7-8), 283-286.
  • Johnson SL, Franz C, Kuhn S, Furness DN, Rüttiger L, Münkner S, Rivolta MN, Seward EP, Herschman HR, Engel J , Knipper M et al (2010) . Nat Neurosci, 13(1), 45-52.
  • Milo M, Cacciabue-Rivolta D, Kneebone A, Van Doorninck H, Johnson C, Lawoko-Kerali G, Niranjan M, Rivolta M & Holley M (2009) . Plos One , 4(9), Art no.e7144.
  • Chen W, Johnson SL, Marcotti W, Andrews PW, Moore HD & Rivolta MN (2009) . Stem Cells, 27(5), 1196-1204.
  • Chen W, Cacciabue-Rivolta DI, Moore HD & Rivolta MN (2007) . Hear Res, 233(1-2), 23-29.
  • Helyer R, Cacciabue-Rivolta D, Davies D, Rivolta MN, Kros CJ & Holley MC (2007) . Eur J Neurosci, 25(4), 957-973.
  • Nicholl AJ, Kneebone A, Davies D, Cacciabue-Rivolta DI, Rivolta MN, Coffey P & Holley MC (2005) . Eur J Neurosci, 22(2), 343-353.
  • Lawoko-Kerali G, Milo M, Davies D, Halsall A, Helyer R, Johnson CM, Rivolta MN, Tones MA & Holley MC (2004) . Dev Dyn, 231(4), 801-814.
  • Lawoko-Kerali G, Rivolta MN, Lawlor P, Cacciabue-Rivolta DI, Langton-Hewer C, van Doorninck JH & Holley MC (2004) . Mech Dev, 121(3), 287-299.
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC (2002) . J Neurobiol, 53(2), 306-318.
  • Rivolta MN, Halsall A, Johnson CM, Tones MA & Holley MC (2002) . Genome Res, 12(7), 1091-1099.
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC (2002) . Brain Res Dev Brain Res, 133(1), 49-56.
  • Hackett L, Davies D, Helyer R, Kennedy H, Kros C, Lawlor P, Rivolta MN & Holley M (2002) . Exp Cell Res, 278(1), 19-30.
  • Lawoko-Kerali G, Rivolta MN & Holley M (2002) . J Comp Neurol, 442(4), 378-391.
  • Weir J, Rivolta MN & Holley MC (2000) . Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 126(10), 1244-1248.
  • Jagger DJ, Griesinger CB, Rivolta MN, Holley MC & Ashmore JF (2000) . J Physiol, 527(Pt 1), 49-54.
  • Jagger DJ, Griesinger CB, Rivolta MN, Holley MC & Ashmore JF (2000) Calcium signalling mediated by the 9 acetylcholine receptor in a cochlear cell line from the immortomouse.. J Physiol, 527 Pt 1, 49-54.
  • WEIR J, RIVOLTA M & HOLLEY M (2000) . American Journal of Otolaryngology, 21(1), 130-134.
  • Rivolta MN & Holiey MC (2000) Asymmetric segregation of m-numb may play a role in the generation of different cell types in the mammalian inner ear. EUR J NEUROSCI, 12, 492-492.
  • Helyer RJ, Lawoko G, Rivolta MN, Holley MC & Kros CJ (2000) Expression of membrane currents during conditional differentiation of cell lines from the mouse embryonic cochlea. EUR J NEUROSCI, 12, 493-493.
  • Lawoko GK, Rivolta MN & Holley MC (2000) GATA3 and Pax2 expression in the mammalian inner ear during early development.. EUR J NEUROSCI, 12, 132-132.
  • Lawlor P, Marcotti W, Rivolta MN, Kros CJ & Holley MC (1999) . J Neurosci, 19(21), 9445-9458.
  • Nishida Y, Rivolta MN & Holley MC (1998) Timed markers for the differentiation of the cuticular plate and stereocilia in hair cells from the mouse inner ear.. J Comp Neurol, 395(1), 18-28.
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC (1998) . J Neurocytol, 27(9), 637-647.
  • Rivolta MN, Grix N, Lawlor P, Ashmore JF, Jagger DJ & Holley MC (1998) . Proc Biol Sci, 265(1406), 1595-1603.
  • Jagger DJ, Rivolta MN, Holley MC & Ashmore JF (1998) Cholinergic and voltage-activated currents expressed in a cochlear cell line derived from the Immortomouse (TM). J PHYSIOL-LONDON, 509P, 189P-190P.
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC (1998) GATA3 is downregulated during hair cell differentiation in the mouse cochlea. Brain Cell Biology, 27(9), 637-647.
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC (1998) GATA-3 is down regulated during hair cell differentiation in the mouse cochlea. British Journal of Audiology, 32(2), 74-75.
  • Holley MC & Rivolta MN (1997) . Audiology and Neuro Otology, 2(1-2), 1-2.
  • Holley MC & Rivolta MN (1997) . Audiol Neurootol, 2(1-2), 1-2.
  • Rivolta MN (1997) . Audiol Neurootol, 2(1-2), 36-49.
  • Rivolta MN, Grix N, Lawlor P & Holley MC (1997) Conditional expression of the alpha 9 acetylcholine receptor subunit in immortalized cell lines from the mouse cochlea.. J PHYSIOL-LONDON, 504P, P126-P126.
  • Lawlor P, Rivolta MN & Holley MC (1997) Conditional immortalization of supporting cells from mammalian vestibular sensory epithelia.. J PHYSIOL-LONDON, 504P, P128-P129.
  • Rivolta MN, Negrini C & Wilcox ER (1996) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1306(2-3), 127-132.
  • Rivolta MN, Urrutia R & Kachar B (1995) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1232(1-2), 1-4.
  • Rivolta MN & Wilcox ER (1995) . Nucleic Acids Res, 23(13), 2565-2566.
  • Negrini C, Rivolta MN, Kalinec F & Kachar B (1995) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1236(1), 207-211.
  • Tachibana M, Asano T, Wilcox E, Yokotani N, Rivolta MN & Fex J (1994) . Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 21(3-4), 355-358.
  • Kachar B, Urrutia R, Rivolta MN & McNiven MA (1993) . Methods Cell Biol, 39, 179-190.
  • URRUTIA R, RIVOLTA MN, NEGRINI C, MCNIVEN MA & KACHAR B (1992) GENERATION OF EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAGS FOR MOUSE-LIVER GENES USING UNFRACTIONATED CDNA PRIMARY LIBRARIES CONSTRUCTED IN M13. HEPATOLOGY, 16(4), A189-A189.
  • RIVOLTA MN, FEX J, SLEPECKY N & WILCOX E (1992) A NOVEL ZINC FINGER ENCODING GENE IS EXPRESSED IN THE ORGAN OF CORTI. MOL BIOL CELL, 3, A202-A202.
  • Wilcox ER, Rivolta MN, Ploplis B, Potterf SB & Fex J (1992) . Hum Mol Genet, 1(3), 215.
  • Mortis B, Valentich MA, Urrutia R & Rivolta M (1991) . International journal of pancreatology, 8(2).
  • Urrutia RA, Rivolta CM, Valentich MA & Monis B (1990) A Feulgen microspectrophotometric study of the DNA content of essential fatty acid-deficient rat pancreas treated with nitrosomethylurea.. Cell Mol Biol, 36(5), 547-555.
  • RIVOLTA MN, URRUTIA R, SELLERS J & KACHAR B (1990) PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACTIN BASED ORGANELLE TRANSLOCATOR FROM NITELLA. BIOPHYS J, 57(2), A535-A535.

Book chapters

  • Jongkamonwiwat N, Abbas L, Barrott D, Boddy SL, Mallick AS & Rivolta MN (2016) , Regenerative Medicine - from Protocol to Patient (pp. 247-281). Springer International Publishing
  • Jongkamonwiwat N & Rivolta MN (2013) , Regenerative Medicine (pp. 793-821). Springer Netherlands
  • Atala A, Davis J, Ilic D, Stevenson D, Patel H, Braude P, Sidhu K, Hollands P, Kumar A, Verfaillie C , Hammersla AM et al (2012) , Progenitor and Stem Cell Technologies and Therapies (pp. xv-xix). Elsevier
  • Abbas L & Rivolta MN (2012) , Progenitor and Stem Cell Technologies and Therapies (pp. 282-308). Elsevier
  • Jongkamonwiwat N & Rivolta MN (2011) , Regenerative Medicine (pp. 647-673). Springer Netherlands
  • Trachoo O & Rivolta MN (2009) , Trends in Stem Cell Biology and Technology (pp. 261-282).
  • (2007) , Genes, Hearing, and Deafness (pp. 289-298). CRC Press
  • Rivolta M (2007) , Genes, Hearing, and Deafness (pp. 279-287). CRC Press
  • Rivolta MN (2007) Stem cells in the inner ear: Advancing towards a new therapy for hearing impairment, Genes Hearing and Deafness from Molecular Biology to Clinical Practice (pp. 279-287).
  • Rivolta MN, Li H & Heller S (2006) (pp. 71-92).
  • Rivolta MN & Holley MC () , Springer Handbook of Auditory Research (pp. 257-307). Springer New York

Conference proceedings

  • Farr MRB, Abbas L, Ray J & Rivolta MN (2019) Modelling vestibular hypofunction for the assessment of cell based therapies. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A23-A23)
  • Ji A & Rivolta MN (2019) Inner ear hair cell differentiation of hESC-derived otic epithelial progenitor cells in 3D and 2D cultures. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A24-A24)
  • Abbas L, Wu W, Mallick AS & Rivolta MN (2019) Defining the immunological properties of hESC-derived otic neural progenitors in the context of the gerbil auditory neuropathy model. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A13-A13)
  • Abbas L, Rivolta DIC, Smyth D & Rivolta MN (2017) Combining stem cells and cochlear electrode arrays: towards a true 'bionic' ear. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 28(8) (pp A17-A17)
  • Shaw AC, Farr MRB & Rivolta MN (2017) Advances in the generation of GMP-compliant protocols for the differentiation of otic progenitors from clinical-grade human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 28(8) (pp A27-A27)
  • Boddy SL, Gokhale PJ, Barrott DM & Rivolta MN (2017) Purification of hESC-derived otic progenitors from heterogeneous cell populations. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 28(8) (pp A27-A27)
  • Barrott D & Rivolta M (2017) Manipulating Wnt signalling to improve the generation of otic progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 28(8) (pp A27-A27)
  • Castro OOS, Boissonade F & Rivolta M (2017) Identification and characterisation of a neural crest-related stem cell (NCSC) population from DPCs for auditory and peripheral nerve regeneration. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 28(8) (pp A26-A26)
  • Romero-Guevara R & Rivolta MN (2013) The role of FGF signalling during otic differentiation in human embryonic stem cells. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 24(5) (pp A22-A23)
  • Boddy S, Romero-Guevara R, Unger C, Andrews P & Rivolta M (2013) Generation of otic lineages from human induced pluripotent stem cells. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 24(5) (pp A26-A27)
  • Jongkamonwiwat N, Chen W & Rivolta MN (2010) TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN ESCS-DERIVED OTIC NEUROPROGENITOR CELLS (ONPS) INTO THE DEAFENED GERBIL COCHLEA: SURVIVAL, DIFFERENTIATION AND FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY. J NEUROCHEM, Vol. 115 (pp 35-35)
  • Holley MC, Lawlor P, Lawoko G & Rivolta MN (2000) An ear in a test tube. BRITISH JOURNAL OF AUDIOLOGY, Vol. 34(2) (pp 77-77)
  • Lawoko G, Petrich-Marquesini LG, Cacciabue-Rivolta D, Rivolta MN & Holley MC (2000) GATA3 is expressed in progenitors of supporting cells, hair cells and spiral ganglion cells during cochlear development in the mouse. BRITISH JOURNAL OF AUDIOLOGY, Vol. 34(2) (pp 78-79)

Preprints

  • Ngamkham K, Rivolta MN & Battaglia G (2017) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Postgraduate PhD opportunities

We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on FindAPhD.com

Grants
  • Medical Research Council
  • European Union
Teaching activities

Undergraduate:

  • BMS382 Stem Cell Biology  (Co-ordinator)
  • Level 3 Practical and Dissertation Modules

Masters (Msc):

  • BMS6051 - Retrieval and Evaluation of Research Information  (Co-ordinator)
  • BMS6056 Stem Cell Biology  (Co-ordinator)
Professional activities and memberships
  • Reviewer for leading scientific journals.
  • Reviewer for research proposals submitted to Action on Hearing Loss, Deafness Research UK, The Wellcome Trust, MRC, BBSRC and other funding bodies.
  • Invited speaker at several national and international meetings.
  • Trustee of the charity ‘The Ear Foundation’

Invited to give numerous seminars, opening and plenary lectures.

In the media

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