Latest News

Biogem present at the international oncology conference in Rotterdam

The Biogem Molecular and Precision Oncology laboratory participated to the yearly conference of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR

News

02 July 2024

Biogem present in Lithuania for the fourth meeting of the CONNECT project

The event, scheduled on June 25-26 in the charming city of Kaunas, virtually concludes the activities of the COST-Action 'CONNECT

News

26 June 2024

Biogem (Molecular Biology and Genetics Research Institute) is a consortium between universities and research centres.

The research carried out in Biogem has a strong translational vocation: it aims to contribute to the development of new and more effective diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly in the nephrology and oncology fields, also making use of a very advanced facility for the generation of animal models (i.e., mouse, rat, rabbit, and zebrafish) of such pathologies.

An important role is played by preclinical research, aimed at the development of new drugs, for which Biogem has recently got the GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) certification, the only Research Centre in Southern Italy for toxicity and biocompatibility studies.

Biogem is also active in higher education and dissemination of scientific culture: it organizes a MA and PhD programs in relevant scientific disciplines.

Biogem has also a Museum of the History of Earth and Life.

Biogem laboratories

MOLECULAR AND PRECISION MEDICINE

Research areas

The Molecular and Precision Oncology laboratory, directed by Prof. Michele Caraglia and coordinated by Dr. Marianna Scrima, focuses on the characterization of circulating miRNA signatures, with the aim of suggesting new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The main goal is to determine a circulating miRNA signature with innovative nanosensors, for the diagnostic and prognostic determination of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and more generally of the tumors of the head and neck area. This new technology will be applicable for any other neoplasia of which there are known circulating miRNA signatures to be determined in real time in the patients' blood through a nanotechnological device easy-to-use directly at the point of care (i.e., the patient's bed), without the need for complicated laboratory procedures. The biological role of these miRNAs in human cancers is also studied in order to identify new therapeutic strategies, based on the regulation of miRNA expression in cancer cells, through the use of nanotechnological approaches. The laboratory is also able to perform genotypic characterization in next generation sequencing (NGS) of human cancers, such as colorectal, breast, bladder, lung and hepatocellular carcinoma. These molecular features are useful for understanding the biological mechanisms that guide their development and determine their response to treatments.

Other projects currently in progress are the genetic and epigenetic characterization of single tumor cells, through single cell (nuclei) genome sequencing techniques (within the squamous cell tumors of the head and neck area) and the determination of the prognostic and predictive impact of individual cellular genetic signatures responses (Dr. Federica Melisi, Dr. Alessia Maria Cossu, Dr. Marco Bocchetti).

Another project is currently in progress, in collaboration with the Biogem Bioinformatics laboratory. This project aims to identify the fragmented circulating tumor DNA and the methylation of regions of circulating tumor DNA from plasma of patients affected by various neoplasms (colon, breast, melanoma, lung, head and neck tumors, bladder) in order to determine signatures capable of early diagnosis of cancer and of predicting survival and response to treatments. The design of a bioinformatics algorithm will make possible to predict the presence of the neoplasm, the primary tissue of origin and the prognostic characteristics.

Finally, in collaboration with the Biogem Translational Nephrology laboratory, there is a project in progress about the characterization of circulating miRNAs in the serum of renal transplant patients who develop post-transplant neoplasms, with the aim of identifying a predictive signature (Dr. Piera Grisolia, Dr. Cinzia Graziano, Dr. Clara Iannarone).

GLP TEST CENTER

The GLP Biogem Test Center has dedicated laboratories, operating units, instrumentation and archives to adequately perform all the experimental phases required by international regulations and guidelines for pre-clinical studies.

Access to the facility is strictly controlled and allowed only to authorized personnel, subject to digital identification or other security measures. The areas of relevance of the CdS are the following:

The two cultures

Annual meeting inspired by the essay written by Charles Percy Snow, in which the author expresses his hope to go beyond the dichotomy between science and the humanities.

The meeting organised by Biogem S.c.ar.l. and Fondazione Biogem, offers scientific conferences, literary meetings and artistic events. Over the past editions, many Nobel Prizes and relevant personalities from the cultural world participated in the meeting. On the opening day of 2018 edition, the guest of honour was Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic.

The main theme of this year’s edition will be “The Green World”

BIOGEO - Museum of the history of Earth and life.

A fascinating journey into the history of Earth and life, told by authentic fossil finds, by suggestive reproductions, and by a set of technological devices, which allow visitors to get immersed in an unexpected multimedia reality, capable of capturing the attention of adults and young people. The “Quadrifera”, the Multimedia Pyramid, the Immersive Museum, the 7D Multimedia Room and the replica of the skeleton of an Allosaurus Fragilis in life size are the main parts of the exhibition, specifically designed to illustrate the origins of Earth and the evolution of life on it.

The UIIP Biogem Program (University Industry Internship Program) is a ‘bridge’ between the world of education and that of companies. UIIP tends on the one hand to meet the training needs of IT companies, characterized by a constant search for talent and resources, with specific digital skills, and on the other hand provides young graduates who participate in courses (lasting 2/3 months ) practical skills to enter the labor market (on topics such as SAP, Analytcs, Web) and adequate soft skills (team working, public speaking, problem solving). The post UIIP courses placement rate is 95%.