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 oncology and precision oncology

The Molecular Oncology and Precision Oncology laboratory, coordinated by Prof. Michele Caraglia, 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. 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. 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 and breast cancer and renal clear cell cancer. These molecular features are useful for understanding the biological mechanisms that guide their development and determine their response to treatments.

Technologies used / developed

The Molecular Oncology and Precision Oncology laboratory is equipped with equipment for molecular and cell biology. In particular, it has clean rooms for cell cultures with safety devices for the manipulation of viral strains, a confocal microscope in white light and fluorescence, equipped with a CCD camera, FACS, equipment for gene sequencing of Next Generation Sequencing (PGM, Ion Torrent and Ion Proton), QuantStudio 7 Flex Real-Time; RT-PCR equipment (Pyromax and Therascreen).

Services

The laboratory aims to offer the genotypic characterization of colorectal and breast carcinomas of samples from patients affected by these diseases, so as to develop a collaborative network between the main universities and hospitals in Campania. Thanks to a bioinformatics tool that optimizes and simplifies the annotation of sequence data, the analysis obtained by evaluating quality score and frequency parameters, would allow for the development of a personalized medicine. In this way, therapeutic treatments could be developed based on the characteristics of each patient, with the right combination of drugs (based on their genetic profile and that of the disease) in the appropriate dose and at the right time.

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%.