Search you project: |
||
|---|---|---|
|
◉ |
Innovative compounds in plant protection to reduce food loss and waste of fresh fruit and vegetables Gianfranco Romanazzi (D3A) Project area AGRICULTURE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Central Bank Independence from what? Inequality, financial fragility, and monetary policy Alberto Russo (DISES) Project area ECONOMICS Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Modern central banking is rooted in the principle of Central Bank Independence (CBI) to insulate monetary policy from political pr...essures. This is aimed at countering the inflationary bias, thus proposing a solution to the time-inconsistency problem, perhaps through appointing a conservative central banker. Our hypothesis is that, though de jure independence may be assured, the same political dimension of economic analysis and policy makes it impossible for central banks to be de facto independent. The project explores a different interpretation of CBI as an ideology that enforced a tendency to control inflation under declining workers bargaining power and deregulated finance. Indeed, the conservative turn in central banking, as part of a broader political change started between the 1970s and the 1980s, has evolved along with increasing inequality and financial fragility, creating an unstable system that required declining interest rates to guarantee the sustainability of households debt and a steady flow of liquidity to rescue finance. We will perform an empirical analysis (based on CBI indexes) and build a theoretical model with Heterogenous Interacting Agents to assess the role of CBI in an unequal and financially unstable environment. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Globalization and workers' safety Alessia Lo Turco (DISES) Project area ECONOMICS Presentation Supervisor Project Idea |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Nudging investors in the climate change issue with virtual reality Camilla Mazzoli (DIMA) Project area ECONOMICS Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Premise: key role of the financial system in unlocking financial capitals necessary to reverse the trend of the climate change and... allow for an urgent transition to a zero-carbon economy (see Sustainable Finance Action Plan of the EU). Role of behavioral economics and finance: it is well known from behavioral economics studies that most of us are affected by a cognitive bias known as hyperbolic discount: we make choices today that our future self would prefer not to have made. RQ: How to mitigate the behavioral bias to stimulate sustainable investing? Methodology: Based on theoretical and empirical experience of behavioral finance, the project proposes an innovative approach addressed to stimulate investors towards sustainable investments relying on a awareness -> intention -> path of intervention. A choice experiment on sustainable investments and a series of side information collected through surveys are expected to allow for multivariate analyses devoted to shape new tools to stimulate investors susta inable financial choices. Project impact: investors will be exposed to a de-biasing VR experience which should provide an ecological priming acting as a green nudge for investors. New nudging strategies will be therefore designed starting from the experimen t results. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
COmposite Indicators for MEasuring Vulnerability of an Aging Italy (COMEVA) Francesco Chelli (DISES) Project area ECONOMICS Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The problem of aging is an irreversible global trend affecting all European Countries. This is particularly true in Italy, where d...eclining birth rates and better survival odds for older people have significantly aged its population. Aim of this project is to propose the definition of new indicators able to capture the vulnerability of older people within the health, social and economic domain, in order to propose to policy makers new instruments able at catching changes. In this way, it would be easier for them to select the most effective interventions to improve the quality of their citizens lives. The joint expertise of DISES and DII members may lead to new approaches in the measurement of vulnerability in at least two different strands. On the one hand, the skills of DISES members on the construction of Composite Indicators may lead to new knowledge in the elderly population well-being. On the other hand, thanks to DIIs expertise, to classical approaches for the measurement of vulnerability, natural language processing (NLP) techniques will be investigated. Finally, the joint work of the two departments will focus on new approaches in the definition and construction of NLP scores (Sentiment scores). |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Technological trajectories in STEP and NetZero sectors. Industry and corporate analysis using web-mining and patent data Marco Cucculelli (DISES) Project area ECONOMICS Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is the European action to support EU industry and promote investment in crit...ical technologies in three areas: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies. In line with this framework, the Net-Zero Industry Act (Green Deal Industrial Plan) aims to promote investment in the production capacity of products that are central to achieving the EUs climate neutrality targets. In this scenario, the research project aims to investigate how industries and sectors are developing in these technological areas and how these technological trajectories impact the positioning and performance of companies. Insights from the analysis will be used to inform the industrial policy. Technological trajectories can be identified as accumulated chains of knowledge that represent the dominant long-term developments in a specific technology. The research team has made extensive use of patents and citations to examine innovation outcomes at individual and sectoral levels. Global key root and main path analysis will be used to assess trajectories. New data from the Internet will provide a complementary perspective to patents for analyzing strategic technologies. Overall, patents and web analytics will help identify technologies, industries and players (companies) that are on the technological frontier, and track innovation trends and opportunities over time. Research findings will be used to provide evidence-based guidance to companies and institutions and to inform the industrial analysis and policy. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Development of novel sustainable materials and complexes for biomedical and industrial applications Emiliano Laudadio (SIMAU) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The title of this topic is: development of novel sustainable materials and complexes for biomedical and industrial applications. T...he first target of the present project for biomedical applications includes the study of small molecules and nanoformulations to develop optimal drug delivery systems. This step is completely focused on the atomistic simulations, which will provide many different information about the predicted physical and chemical properties of the models. Hence, systems and small molecules based on the first phase are expected to be fully studied considering the environment in which they should operate (type of solvent, number of salts, different temperatures, and pressures). The final aim is to develop the theorized formulations in laboratory to provide new strategies in specific therapies. Regarding the industrial applications, soft and hard materials will be investigated in silico, more, interface phenomena between different properties will be considered as well as the effects of different layers on optical and electrical properties. The entire project is based on a combined computational-experimental approach able to provide all the required information to fabricate prominent devices saving costs, times, and promoting a major sustainability reducing the amount of waste. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Structural Health Assessment of Bridges during and after FLOOD events (FLOOD-SHAB) Fabrizio Gara (DICEA) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The proposed action "Structural Health Assessment of Bridges during and after FLOOD events" (FLOOD-SHAB) aims to investigate the s...tructural behaviour of critical infrastructures such as bridges, focusing on the studying and assessing the structural response of bridges during and after flood events. The main objective is to improve the understanding of bridge structural behaviour under various health conditions and enhance the capacity to detect structural damage caused by component failure or foundation scouring. Climate changes increasingly impact our life. Climate has become less predictable. Droughts, floods, and new temperature records are becoming more common worldwide, including in Europe. The rising global temperature intensifies the water cycle, which increases wet and dry extremes and affects the critical infrastructure essential for the functioning of a society and economy. Bridges are vital in transportation networks, enabling people, vehicles, and goods to move over rivers and other obstacles. Bridges are also necessary for allowing access to essential services such as healthcare, emergency response, education, and employment. Due to their significance, bridges need protection from potential hazards, including natural disasters and ageing. Flooding can significantly impact bridges. The increased water levels result in the additional force from fast-moving water, which can lead to structural damage, and scouring of bridge foundations. Regular inspections, continuous structural health monitoring (SHM) (especially during flood events), and maintenance programs are vital to ensure bridges' structural integrity and safety. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Participatory models for planning cultural landscapes Francesco Rotondo (DICEA) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Applicability and tuning of numerical models to evaluate extreme weather and air-pollution events Giorgio Passerini (DIISM) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Climate Change is altering the state and the evolution of the Earth atmosphere rapidly and profoundly. This poses several challeng...es and possible stresses to atmospheric modelling. First, the modelling community and the models themselves struggle to keep up with rapidly changing weather patterns. Then, today models often operate in borderline conditions to predict and/or diagnose extreme events that are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. Extreme weather and air pollution events represent a risk both in the short and in long term through direct and indirect effects. The short-term effects are readily visible including flash floods and Medicanes (i.e., tropicallike cyclones that occur over the Mediterranean Sea). Extreme meteorological settings also trigger intense pollution episodes mainly due to the persistence of exceptional environments (e.g. extremely high temperatures and pressures exacerbate photochemical smog episodes) but also due the transport of air masses (e.g. Saharan dust intrusions). At our laboratory, the analysis of extreme events is routinely performed through regional meteorological models such as the Weather Research and Forecasting model also coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem), space-borne observations, local monitoring and meteorological reanalysis. In this framework, the candidate MSCA Postdoc will focus on the performance and the likely tuning of the physical parameterization of the above models to enhance their applicability and robustness in the Mediterranean Basin and other comparable environments. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
PhysioECG: toward the next-generation digital electrocardiography Laura Burattini (DII ) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Despite electrocardiographic testing being a proven clinical tool, the physiological content provided by the electrocardiogram (EC...G) has grown little in the last decades and several issues related to its physiological interpretation remain unsolved. These limitations are mainly due to its characterization in terms of temporal and/or morphological features, typically provided by traditional signal processing techniques. Thus, this project aims at exploiting explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and innovative data analysis techniques to further investigate the ECG physiological content. Data from all kinds of digital electrocardiography (from the standard 10-second 12-lead ECGs, to the 24/48-hour Holter ECGs, to the body surface ECGs) acquired in either humans and animal models will be analyzed and fused with data from different sources (demographic, related to other physiological systems, and metadata) with the aim to achieve new insights on the electrical physiology and pathophysiology of the heart, not only in relation to age and gender, but also to lifestyle (especially physical activity and diet) and living environment. Hence, this project will provide a contribution to a more modern digital electrocardiography, ultimately finalized to noninvasively identify subjects at increased risk of major cardiac events to be treated with preventive actions. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Characterization and control of the polar coupling to electric fields in the novel ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal phase Liana Lucchetti (SIMAU) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The novel ferroelectric nematic phase (NF) exhibits a peculiar combination of fluidity and polar coupling to electric fields. The ...proposal focusses on a crucial consequence of such a combination: the readiness by which NF can displace polarization charges at the interfaces by small collective rotations of the mean molecular axis. This extreme electric responsivity leads to the cancellation of the electric fields inside the material, a condition reminiscent of the electric properties of conductors, but made more complex by the possible formation of bulk polarization charges due to divergences of the polarization field. This effect is at the core of preliminary observations on the response of NF to electric fields that revealed a variety of unprecedented behaviors, such as the explosion of sessile droplets, the guiding of electric field along winding paths and the formation of soliton-like field-responsive defect structures. The project idea deals with a set of experiments in which NF is in contact with electro- and photo-active surfaces and placed in electric fields within complex confined geometries. The final goal is to understand and govern the coupling of fluid polarity and electric fields, and to exploit it to control fluid motion and polarization patterns. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Development of novel Materials-based Devices and Systems for Ultra-Fast electronics Luca Pierantoni (DII) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The first target of the present project will include the study of nanomaterials to identify the best configurations for reconfigur...able antennas encompassing oxide-based RF-switches, which can change their characteristics on ns and ps time scales. These switches preferably design in a coplanar structure that will show ultra-low insertion losses (<0.2 dB), high isolation (>25dB), and switching times in the range of 100 ps up to 100 ns. Hence, devices based on phase change materials are expected to be characterized by a wide bandwidth from 1 GHz up to 100 GHz. The main goal is to integrate such kind of devices in an ultrafast reconfigurable phased antenna array Regarding the ferroelectrics (FE)-based ultra-high frequency devices, it is expected the realization of low TRL prototypes of miniaturized phase shifters, filters, antennas, and antenna array. Another outcome is represented by the fabrication of rectennas, and RF harvesters based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunnelling diodes. The project is based on a combined computational-experimental approach able to provide all the required information to fabricate prominent devices saving costs, times, and promoting a major sustainability reducing the amount of waste. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Design and cryptanalysis of post-quantum cryptographic schemes based on codes Marco Baldi (DII) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The research project will address the challenge of devising new, efficient post-quantum cryptographic primitives based on codes an...d assessing their security. In fact, codes and lattices are the primary mathematical objects employed in the development of post-quantum cryptosystems. Although lattices are already efficiently used for both encryption and signatures, codes are mostly efficient for encryption. The main reason for this limitation is that existing digital signature schemes relying on codes are either inefficient or susceptible to security vulnerabilities. However, from the literature we notice that attacks on lattice-based cryptosystems are not yet fully consolidated, leaving room for a relatively high likelihood of new advancements in their cryptanalysis. Based on these premises, the project aims to establish new, improved alternatives based on codes to offer robust replacements for lattice-based schemes. This target is pivotal for enhancing the diversity and robustness of post-quantum digital signature schemes. In addition to this, current post-quantum encryption schemes based on codes will be revised, with focus on those using iteratively decoded codes (like QC-LDPC and QC-MDPC codes), with the aim of improving their efficiency and providing more robust security guarantees against chosen ciphertext attacks by accurately predicting their decryption failure rate. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Sustainable and Safe Built Environments through User-Centered approaches supported by Immersive Virtual Environmens Marco D'Orazio (DICEA) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The project highlights are: - People spend about 90% of time indoors, thus buildings shape our comfort, behaviour, work efficienc...y, perception and physiology (dependent variables), - Complexity of human-building relationship due to the presence of several indoor environmental factors (independent variables) at a time, - A user-centered approach to building design is needed to establish a sustainable and conducive indoor environment for individuals, - Oversimplified comprehension of human responses in the scientific sector due to the difficulty in testing different stimuli in lab studies, - Virtual reality is a useful research tool in terms of speed of execution and possibility of tests replication by easily varying the environments design. The research methods are: - Physiological measurements, - Questionnaires, - Cognitive tasks, - Actions. The objectives are: - Supporting the definition of standardized and consolidated protocols for design, testing and training in immersive virtual environments, - Designing building (interactive) components and systems according to users needs, perceptions and experiences, thus improving human-building interactions, - Developing decision-support and control frameworks for built environments based on users experience and interactive elements, - Developing training tools to improve users awareness and interaction with the built environment. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Human centred automation of shoe
processing Massimo Callegari (DIISM) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The focus in the shoe market is mainly on product quality and customization possibilities, two areas in which Italian creativity a...nd know-how are unmatched in the world. Therefore the digital transition of small companies in this sector must combine the potential of emerging technologies with the exploitation of the human capital and know-how available in the workshops, according to the guidelines of the Industry 5.0 paradigm. The project aims at the development of collaborative robotic processes for shoe making and finishing by: advanced human-cobot interfaces ergonomic evaluation of operator-robot cooperation motion tracking, reactive control and dynamic task planning smart end-effectors, exploiting IIoT capabilities and developed for specific applications modelling of behaviour of human operator programming in virtual environments (human-in-the-loop) The project will contribute to placing the human at the centre of the automation of craft processes, thus increasing the social and environmental sustainability of production. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
MultIfunctional Materials for innovative rEgenerative strategies (MIME) Paolo Mengucci (SIMAU) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Aim of the proposed fellowship is the 3D printing fabrication of devices with enhanced functionalities, for implants made of biore...sorbable materials for dental and orthopedic applications. Surface properties play a crucial role for the clinical success of bone-contact materials. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the relationships between the microstructure, the surface, and the reactions that they generate on the biological surrounding cells and tissues. The personalization of the implant will be fulfilled through the development of multifunctional coatings, i.e. able to show functions on-demand. The rationale behind this aim is to develop a personalized approach to the different parts of the implant, that are in contact with different tissues and environments. The final validation of the materials and the surfaces developed by this approach will consist in assessing their biological performances through standardized cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and bacterial tests. The research activity will be carried out in collaboration with colleagues from Dept. DISCLIMO-School of Medicine of UNIVPM (biological characterization), Dept. of Engineering of UNIMORE (3D printing and mechanical characterization) and the LBB at Laval University in Canada (surface functionalization), while the nanostructure characterization will be performed by using the laboratory equipment available at SIMAU and at the European large scale facilities (synchrotron radiation and neutron sources). |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Development and characterization of Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Food Biosensors using Polylactic Acid (PLA) Simona Sabbatini (SIMAU) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The title of this topic is : Development and characterization of Sustainable Biopolymer Based Food Biosensors using Polylactic A...cid (PLA) PLA). Integrating biosensors into food packaging materials can enable us to assess the quality of food products. Intelligent packaging monitors food products using active compounds that change based on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of foods. The materials selected for creating biosensor packaging must fulfill the requirements for the biomolecule deposition but also meet the standard packing properties such as gas barrier properties and vapor or moisture permeability. Typical substrates utilized for intelligent biosensor packaging include natural polymers, pri marily derived from agricultural crop based feedstocks . Among them, PLA exhibit s good functional properties and satisfies various packaging requirements to improve shelf life and food protection. PLA could be further enhanced with antimicrobial activity throug h the incorporation of natural essential oils, displaying a promising active packaging to ma intain high standards in terms of environmental sustainability. The target of the project is to produce eco friendly and biodegradable polymers using PLA as a base for the development of food biosensors . The project aims to investigate their biocompatibility and environmental sustainability, improve their barrier properties |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Assessing the corrosion of steel reinforcements embedded in concrete under different exposure conditions simulating field applications Tiziano Bellezze (SIMAU) Project area ENGINEERING Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Considering the increasing interest of the scientific community on the degradation of the concrete structures, related to reinforc...ements corrosion, the project is addressed to improve the measurement methods to estimate their corrosion rate/status. The research group has gained a certain experience in the polarization resistance measurements of rebars and in the estimation of their corrosion rate. On the contrary, significant efforts have never been dedicated to measurements performed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, which gives the possibility to obtain more information, not only on the estimation of corrosion rates of the rebars but also on the corrosion mechanisms. The project has the main objective to manufacture laboratory reinforced specimens to set up the measurement methods, interpretations and elaborations of data by using the typical approach based on equivalent circuits and/or developing new approaches. The gained knowledge is necessary to pave the way for extending these measurements in real reinforced structures, by means of innovative solutions for assessing their degradation, reducing maintenance costs and, in particular, to prevent loss of human lives. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Artificial Intelligence applied to Collagen Imaging data in physiologic, pathologic and tissue-engineered conditions Alessandra Giuliani (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Mechanical stimuli are regulators not only in cell but also of the extracellular matrix (ECM) activity, with special reference to ...collagen bundles: sustained mechanical stimulation may lead to modifications of the collagen composition, amount and distribution. These interactions can determine pathophysiological processes, including developmental defects, fibrosis, inflammatory diseases, tumor growth and metastasis. Mechanical stimuli of the ECM can also support the bodys reaction to a therapy and the long-term therapeutic outcome. Thus, the maintaining or re-establishment of tissue tension, modulating external forces, is key to successful and regulated tissues remodeling/repairing and wound healing. In this context, this Project has two main objectives: (1) the identification of three-dimensional morphometric parameters deriving from the tomographic images analysis of pathological (fibrotic or cancerous) and regenerated collagen-based tissues (with comparison with healthy twin contexts); (2) to reconstruct volume forces and contact forces acting locally in these contexts. The morphometric parameters are those that will be extracted by the big amount of high-resolution phase-contrast synchrotron imaging data, contained in the archive of the Supervisor research group. Segmentations guided by artificial intelligence will be also implemented and followed by data mining. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
The Impact of Early Life Stress on the Vulnerability to Obesity Antonio Giordano (DIMSC) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Environmental stimuli acting during critical periods of postnatal development permanently shape individual behavior and metabolism...; early life stress (ELS) is associated with overweight and obesity in humans and animal models, however, how it impacts the development of white and brown adipose tissues and the circuitry regulating energy balance needs to be elucidated. ELS reduces plasma levels of two important energy balance modulators: oxytocin (Oxt), a neurohormone released by hypothalamic nuclei, and leptin (Lep), a fat-derived hormone. Both induce satiety and hold central and peripheral differentiative functions during early post-natal life. Importantly, Lep anorectic effect is in part mediated by Oxt. The main study hypothesis is that ELS increases the vulnerability to obesity in adulthood permanently shaping the development of: i) adipose tissues, ii) neural circuitry regulating feeding behavior, and iii) the Lep and Oxt systems and their reciprocal interaction. In this project, C57BL/6 mice exposed to ELS consisting of limited bedding and or to ELS plus high-fat diet in adulthood will be used to establish the ELS effect on obesity vulnerability in adulthood. To this end we will mainly employ our expertise in the performance of morphological studies, but also perform behavioral and molecular biology assessments. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase enzyme as molecular target for effective anticancer therapies Davide Sartini (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The first part of the experimental work will be focused on cloning, expression and purification of human recombinant NNMT enzyme, ...by using a eukaryotic expression system. This approach would provide good yields, in terms of protein expression, as well as guarantee the presence of post-translational modifications relevant to NNMT activity, which otherwise would be lost when expressing in E. coli. During the subsequent phase of the experimental plan, catalytic assays will be carried out to evaluate the effect induced by small molecules on NNMT activity, in order to identify compounds that could act as efficient enzyme inhibitors. Further in vitro cell-based assays will explore the ability of these compounds to affect tumor cell phenotypic traits, such as proliferation, migration and chemosensitivity. The final step of the project will be devoted to the obtention of crystals, related to purified NNMT in combination with efficient inhibitors, suitable for X-ray crystallography experiments. This will elucidate the high-resolution structure of different protein-ligand complexes, thus allowing to unveil the inhibitory mechanism-of-action. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
MUST study: MUlti-omics phenotyiping of non-Specific pleuriTis Federico Mei (DISBSP) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Diagnosis in pleural diseases often hinges upon the findings following pleural biopsy. However, in approximately 40% of cases, the... histological findings show non-specific patterns of inflammation and fibrosis (non-specific pleuritis, NSP), including a heterogenous group of pathologic conditions that remain poorly understood. Therefore, there are still significant uncertainties for both patients and clinicians in diagnostic work-up and subsequent management, due to the lack of an accurate identification of underlining etiology. Most of the research have focused on identification of a limited subgroup of patients with NSP who eventually develop malignancy, mainly malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), leaving the large majority of patients with no diagnosis, besides an heterogenic and empirical treatment, and a protean investigation approach. Therefore, a definitive assessment of yet unmet needs in NSP is required. These include the need for standardized investigation protocols and for a better understanding of biological and mechanistic pathways responsible for the different clinical characteristics and evolution observed in patients all labeled with the broad name of NSP. The MUST study, allied to our research network (EPIC: European Pleural disease Investigators Collaboration), aims to conduct a prospective longitudinal study creating a translational platform. We will conduct multi compartment sampling and omics analysis with the aim to identify disease endotypes, treatable traits and future targets for precision medicine (including repurposing of currently available medications). |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
The effects of plant-based foods on lipid metabolism and adipogenesis Francesca Giampieri (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Obesity, which has been associated with many chronic disorders, is one of the major epidemiological problems of the 21st century w...orldwide. Approximately 30% of the worlds adult population is obese (about 2.1billion) and more than 3 million people die every year as result of this illness. It is well known that obesity is caused by a sustained imbalance between energy intake and expenditure that leads to an expansion of adipose tissue mass, the so called adipogenesis process, as well as to a dysregulation of lipid metabolism. Several plant-based foods have demonstrated not only to inhibit adipogenesis but also to ameliorate obesity by increasing thermogenesis, promoting white adipose tissue browning and improving lipid metabolism, but the mechanisms are still elusive. The main objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of plant-based foods on lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in both pre-adipocytes and mature adipocytes by assessing the: - pre-adipocytes differentiation - induction of brown fat-like phenotype - intracellular levels of lipids and the total lipid accumulation - markers of lipid oxidation - main biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation - principal molecular pathways involved - mitochondrial respiration |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Design and construction of a non-invasive device to trap magnetic nanoparticles in pancreatic cancer for a more efficient anti-tumour agent delivery Francesco Piva (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Pancreatic cancer is the least responsive to chemotherapy treatments because it is composed of a microenvironment that protects it... from external actions. Today it is possible to conjugate magnetic nanoparticles to peptides that recognize target proteins in the membrane of tumour cells and simultaneously conjugate them to chemotherapy drugs. These nanoparticles should be administered directly into the pancreas via ultrasound guidance. This project aims to design and create a prototype that generates a special configuration of magnetic fields that can retain the nanoparticles deposited in the pancreas. Through this magnetic trap, we want to maintain a high concentration of chemotherapeutics in the pancreas to make the therapies more effective and not involve the other organs to reduce the side effects. The equipment will be placed outside the patient and will not pose any risk. For this project we are looking for a researcher with experience in using magnetic field simulation software and who has had practical experience. We test the prototype on a physical model that has viscosity and liquid flows like those of the body. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Multi-omics and AI approach in rare diseases: implementing an innovative diagnostic pathway and precision medicine tool for fibrotic diseases Gianluca Moroncini (DISCLIMO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
NAD Metabolism and Programmed Axon Death Giuseppe Orsomando (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals We focus on human neurodegeneration and neuropathologies characterized by a preventable, non-apoptotic mechanism of cell death ter...med Programmed Axon Death or Wallerian degeneration (WD), that our team has contributed to unveiling in recent years. Key molecular players in this process include NMNAT2, a vital enzyme leading to NAD synthesis within axoplasm, and SARM1, a recently discovered tightly regulated multidomain protein with multicatalytic NAD-consuming activity. These are both crucial for NAD metabolism in neurons by regulating levels of NAD intermediates or sensing their fluctuations, ultimately determining the fate of axons, either survival or death. However, the mechanism downstream of SARM1 activation is presently unknown. In this view, we propose an experimental plan outlined as follows: 1) further exploration of the role of NAD pathway in regulating axon survival or death; 2) deeper investigation into neurodegenerative diseases associated with NMNAT2 or SARM1; 3) development of novel drugs targeting SARM1 or NMNAT2 to treat neurological disorders. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Acting on miRNA expression to overcame drug-resistance of thoracic malignancy Marco Tomasetti (DISCLIMO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Chemoresistance is a hallmark of thoracic malignancy management including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and lung cancer (LC...). The cancer heterogeneity, stroma environment, immunological factors, as well cancer stem cells (CSCs) all contributed to the acquirement of the chemo-resistant phenotype. Several studies have focused on miRNAs impact on chemotherapeutic resistance in cancers. There have also been several meta-analyses and systematic reviews considering the link between miRNAs and chemoresistance and disease recurrence. Therefore, the identification of a specific drug-resistance miRNA profile may predict drug response and contribute to sensitize cancer cells to the standard treatment. Organoid from patients display similar genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, making them ideal for investigating individualized treatment strategies and for integration as a core platform to be used in prediction models. Using organoid-derived patient model, the project will identify a miRNA panel involved in chemotherapy (CHT) and immune therapy (IMT) resistance in thoracic malignancies. The identified miRNAs will be check for their capacity to sensitize cancer-resistant cells to CHT and IMT by restoring multiple pathways. Next, by evaluating miRNA pathways involved in CHT and IMT resistance, biomarkers for prediction of drug response will be identified. The identification of miRNA-pathways involved in drug resistance will open new approach to overcome chemoresistance. These drug resistance-related miRNAs may be used as promising biomarkers for predicting drug response or as potential therapeutic targets for treating patients with thoracic malignancies. the regulation of many molecular pathways. Several studies have focused on miRNAs impact on chemotherapeutic resistance in cancers. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Telerehabilitation and telemonitoring based on wearable sensor data analysis Maria Gabriella Ceravolo (DIMSC) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Non communicable disorders affect up to 2,3 billion people in the world, being the major cause of chronic disability and accountin...g for the 63% increase in the total amount of disability-adjusted life years after 1990 (https://vizhub.healthdata.org/rehabilitation/ ) Chronically disabled people need regular appointments with Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physicians to check their health status and disability progression. Rehabilitation therapy has been identified as a suitable solution to fight functional decline and improve quality of life. Albeit training regularity and intensity are crucial factors to ensure effectiveness, performing training sessions at clinical centres is neither feasible nor economically sustainable for all those who are in need of rehabilitation. Tele-rehabilitation is regarded as an alternative to delivering tailored rehabilitation interventions in the post-acute and/or the long-term phase, using digital telecommunication technologies. The combination of tele-rehabilitation with tele-monitoring via wearable sensors, allowing objective patient data collection continuously, in the real-world, can improve patient-clinician interactions and empower patients over their health. We propose to test the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a tele-rehabilitation and tele-monitoring system, exploiting commercial wearable sensors, in a large population of people with disabling non communicable disorders, either due to neurological, oncological or musculoskeletal damage. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Anticancer effects of dietary bioactive compounds in mammospheres and colonspheres enriched with Cancer Stem (-like) Cells Maurizio Battino (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Breast and colon cancer represent the most common neoplastic disease worldwide. Many epidemiological studies have found that a die...t rich in fruits and vegetables exerts a preventive role in these cancers and, from a preventive point of view, numerous investigations have been made on plant bioactive compounds. The main objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of dietary polyphenols in mammospheres and colonspheres enriched with Cancer Stem (-like) Cells (CSCs-like). The specific objectives will be: 1. To characterize the dietary polyphenols and their antioxidant capacity. 2. To evaluate the ability of dietary polyphenols to decrease the morphological and physical parameters of mammo/colonspheres enriched with CSCs-like. 3. To investigate the effect of dietary polyphenols on intracellular ROS and apoptotic rate in mammo/colonspheres enriched with CSCs-like. 4. To evaluate the effect of dietary polyphenols to decrease the self-renewal ability of CSCs-like. 5. To investigate the effect of dietary polyphenols to reduce the migration capacity of CSCs-like. 6. To assess the effect of dietary polyphenols on pro-angiogenic factors. 7. To study the effect of dietary polyphenols on the length of telomeres. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
StrategIes for the developmeNt oF custOmized 3D meNIscAl substitutes (SINFONIA) Monica Mattioli (DISCLIMO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Meniscal injury reduces its capability to act for shock absorption, load distribution, proprioception, and protection of the carti...lage from accelerated degeneration and meniscus surgery is one of the most performed orthopaedic procedures worldwide even if meniscectomy always alters normal joint biomechanics and can lead to the development and/or progression of osteoarthritis. Since current commercially available meniscal substitutes have not been convincing according to clinical feedback, the project aims to validate in vitro customized 3D meniscal substitute(s) replicating the biomechanical and biochemical properties of the meniscus. Three are the pillars on which the research project is built: Clinical study analyzing MRI scans obtained from the PACS database to select appropriate patients cohort and identify the main characteristics for the production of the meniscal structure Additive manufacturing and in-depth structural, physicochemical, and mechanical characterization of the obtained structures In vitro evaluation with appropriate cell models. The physic-chemical data will be key elements to get insight in structure capability to modulate the cell population in terms of the expression of genes/proteins involved in cell differentiation and mutual crosstalk. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Lipid droplets mitochondria contact as a key driver for cancer progression Saverio Marchi (DISCLIMO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals For cells to function properly, it is necessary for cell organelles to communicate with each other. In this context, mitochondria ...establish functionally crucial connections with virtually all other intracellular structures. These interactions not only impact mitochondrial behavior and activity but also influence a wide variety of cellular functions. In recent years, it has been showed that mitochondria interact with lipid droplets (LDs) and this association induces a drastic remodelling of the cellular bioenergetics. However, the mechanisms regulating the LDs-mitochondria contacts, or their potential role in driving some pathological conditions (i.e cancer development), are still elusive. In this project, we aim to elucidate different aspects of the LDs-mitochondria tethering in the context of cancer progression, by providing fundamental clues on the molecular pathways that control contact formation, how the mitochondrial network rearranges, the metabolic changes that occur at these contact sites, and how they affect the tumorigenic potential of cancer cells. We recently collected some interesting preliminary findings on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), ensuring a perfect starting point for a MRSCA post-doctoral fellowship. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Transition to new technologies in the field of "in vitro" cytotoxicity testing Tatiana Armeni (DISCO) Project area MEDICINE Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals In recent years, also following specific EU directives, robust "in vitro" experimental models have been developed to predict poten...tial adverse effects associated with the exposure of organisms or biological systems to compounds including human drugs but also cosmetics, biocides, medical devices and other products. In recent years, the scientific community has relied on the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) in the transition from animal models to "in vitro" models. To date, advanced technologies for developing increasingly complex "in vitro" models are available and evolving, breaking down limitations of animal models, such as difficult extrapolation between species, high cost, artifacts in addition to ethical questions. The project aims at the advancement of knowledge in cytotoxicology to implement strengthen and validate cytotoxicity assays and flow the information to available innovative high throughput platforms. The research group has extensive experience in "in vitro" systems on 2D or 3D cell models where to perform advanced cytotoxicity assays, redox signaling, efficacy assessment and cellular response. Implementation of "in vitro" cytotoxicity testing and validation of highly innovative systems could provide a data set to be extrapolated for training an AI bioinformatics system. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
DeoxygenaTion in a waRming climAte: iNsightS from the geologiCal rEcord to uNderstand moDErN Trend (TRANSCENDENT) Alessandra Negri (DISVA) Project area SCIENCES Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals In the geological past the Mediterranean Sea underwent cyclical deoxygenation events, responsible for the annihilation of the euka...ryotic life in deep-sea environments. These deoxygenation events are recorded by organic-rich sediments called sapropel, which date back to 15 Ma. Some of these sapropels are deposited during warmer than today intervals, with temperatures in the range of the predicted at the end of this century in the MS, thus offering an ideal real-world data archive to explore deoxygenation dynamics and the ecosystem response to higher temperatures and oxygen-starved conditions. Overall objective: Investigation of oxygen dynamics in the MS, by documenting deoxygenation and (re)ventilation processes during sapropels that deposited in a climate state warmer than today and analogous to the future business-as-usual scenarios. In this respect TRANSCENDENT will develop the following research objectives aimed to: 1. Focus on the geological record of warm Pliocene sapropel investigating the sediment composition and grainsize+ the fossil compound. 2. Modern foraminifera culture under different temperature and Ph to be compared to the past record. 3. Identification of physical and biological proxies to identify deoxygenation trend in fossil sequences. The project is expected to have tangible impacts in providing new insight on the effects of global change on the marine environment and ecosystems, with a specific focus on the mechanisms leading to deoxygenation events. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Nutrition and integrative metabolism in aging (NUMAGE) Andrea Frontini (DISVA) Project area SCIENCES Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals The project Nutrition and integrate metabolism in aging (NUMAGE) is designed to study the adaptations induced by exercise and nutr...itional factors, stimuli which may have important implications in the protection from metabolic and neurodegenerative age-associated disorders. To this purpose, the first objective will be the development of different co-culture systems, such as muscle/neurons, muscle/adipocytes and neurons/glia. The following research objectives will be addressed, aimed at contributing to healthy aging: 1. to detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the combination of physical exercise and nutrients on the modulation of mitochondrial plasticity, improving biogenesis, respiration and consequently fatty acid oxidation and aerobic performance, and indirectly also affecting brain cells. 2. to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying myelin production and regeneration. 3. to evaluate the role of exercise-induced EVs on adipocytes biology. Well analyze if oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory conditions can be modulated to curb the development of insulin resistance in sarcopenic obesity. The project is expected to have impacts in providing new insights on the molecular adaptation, in the young as well as in the senescent cells, underlying physical exercise, brain functionality, and adipose tissue metabolism. Identification of optimal exercise protocols and nutrients combination will provide useful insight on optimizing health at advanced age and achieve a successful ageing. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
effect-based Assessment for ContaminanTs of emergIng cOncern in mariNe ecosystemS (ACTIONS) Francesco Regoli (DISVA) Project area SCIENCES Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) including pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, new pesticides, perfluorinated compounds, abuse s...ubstances, personal care products and their mixtures represent a global threat to marine ecosystems. Increasingly detected in marine waters, sediments, and organisms, they potentially hamper marine species and biodiversity due to a documented toxicity at very low concentrations. CECs presence, distribution and environmental risk assessment are not considered in any of routinary monitoring programmes and the urgent need of effect-based monitoring tools has been recently highlighted by many actions promoted by European Union. In this respect, ACTIONS aims to develop the framework for a new risk assessment procedure integrating on one side chemical investigations on the CECs distribution, in coastal areas, targeting the occurrence, uptake and trophic transfer along regional marine food webs; on the other, effects and risks will be highlighted by a wide range of ecotoxicological effects, measured from molecular to individual levels, and synthesized in an integrated weight-of-evidence risk assessment procedure for better evaluate and communicated the risk of CECs on marine ecosystems. The project is expected to have tangible impacts in providing integrated effect- based assessment and monitoring tools to be shared and possible adopted by EU regulatory guidelines including Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the EU Zero Pollution Strategy and Plan and the implementation of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. |
APPLY |
|
◉ |
Probiotics as emerging tools to counteract EDCs toxicity (PROXY) Oliana Carnevali (DISVA) Project area SCIENCES Presentation Supervisor Project Idea Goals Consumer products and their underlying chemistry have been altering our planet since the industrial revolution. These alterations,... caused by the release of many chemical substances are endangering the health of ecosystems and living organisms. Current research is mainly focused on compounds that can interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, or elimination of endogenous hormones, also known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Despite the implementations of different measures to reduce human and animal exposure to BPA, new strategies are devoted to mitigating its toxicity, such as the use of natural compounds and probiotics. In this respect, PROXY will develop the following research objectives aimed to: 1. Establish a comprehensive atlas about the impact of EDCs on host-microbe dialogue will be performed in vivo (using zebrafish as model) and in 3D in vitro models (gut organoids). 2. Evaluate the power of the probiotics to counteract the gut dysbiosis and metabolic disorders triggered by EDCs exposure in vivo. 3. Assess whether the restoration of gut microbiota by probiotic administration can mitigate the disruption of gametogenesis and breeding capacity caused by EDCs, using in vivo (zebrafish) and ex vivo (testicular culture) models. |
APPLY |