Giulio Cossu (GC) is a distinguished researcher renowned for his pioneering work in skeletal myogenesis and stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy. He is credited for unveiling distinct myogenic programs activated by neural tube and dorsal ectoderm through different Wnts, with implications for somitic progenitors' development. Collaborating with M. Buckingham's lab, he deciphered the hierarchy of myogenic regulatory factors, leading to the discovery of circulating myogenic progenitor cells (mesoangioblasts) that can proliferate in vitro and contribute to mesoderm tissues upon transplantation. Notably, these cells have been employed in successful cell therapy protocols for muscular dystrophy in mice and dogs, and a clinical trial with human mesoangioblasts is underway. Giulio's remarkable ability to bridge developmental biology with clinical applications has led to transformative advancements in the field.