Departments and research centres: scientific production and funded projects
Departments
The research focus of the Dipartimento di Biotecnologia e scienze della vita – DBSV concerns the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. In particular, the Biological Sciences and Technologies Section promotes innovative strategies in the most advanced sectors of industrial, biomedical, diagnostic, animal, plant, microbial, cellular and molecular biology and biotechnology also aimed at the production of goods and services, while the Medical and Surgical Sciences Section carries out clinical and research activities with the aim of improving the patient’s well-being.
Animal Biotechnology and Aquaculture
The focus of the research is on biological sciences and technologies that assist the breeding of fish for use in agri-food products. Studies have attempted to alter the intestinal microbiota of fish through diet with a physiological-nutritional, nutraceutical, and metagenomic approach, with the goal of enhancing fish production performance, immune defenses, and the nutritional quality of the finished products intended for human consumption. Additionally, the research project examines micro- and nanoplastic pollution from the perspective of aquaculture by tracking potential plastic particle occurrences along the production chain and analyzing their effects on fish health and product quality.
Genciana Terova – full professor
Federico Moroni – postdoc
Imam Hasan – PhD student
Group website: www.dbsv.uninsubria.it/acquacoltura/
Keywords:Fish gut microbiota; Fish nutrigenomics; Freshwater and marine aquaculture and related services; Animal biotechnologies; Sustainable aquaculture; Circular economy; Feed formulation; Micro- and nanoplastics.
ERC sectors: LS9_10 Veterinary and applied animal sciences
Collaborations: University of Milan Bicocca; University of Turin; Porto Conte Ricerche, Sardinia; Parco Tecnologico Padano, Lodi; Italbiotec, Milan; University of Messina, Sicily; VRM, Naturalleva, Verona;Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (SP); University of Porto; (PT); University of Algarve (PT); Aquaculture Institute of Torre de la Sal CSIC (SP); University of Stirling (UK); University of Helsinki (FI); University of Wageningen (NL); University of Ghent (BE); Ifremer of Palavas (F); INRA (F); Volcani Center-Agricultural Research (Israel); University of Idaho (USA); University of Southern Illinois (USA); Columbus University (Ohio, USA); Kerala University (India); Zakho University (Iraq); University of Tirana (Albania); IRTA (SP).
Antineoplastic Pharmacology and Nutraceutics
The main research interests of Marzia and Emanuela focus on the study of the antiproliferative effect of new drugs and compounds of natural origin on tumor cell lines, with particular attention to the mechanisms of action of these compounds. Furthermore, they are also interested in the role of hypoxia and the tumoral microenvironment in the response of cancer cells to drug treatment.
In collaboration with the Chemistry and Photobiology group (prof. Enrico Caruso), they study the photodynamic effects of newly synthesized photosensitizing agents and, in collaboration with the Institute for the Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (CNR – Bologna, dott. Greta Varchi e dott. Claudia Ferroni), they also study the anticancer effects of nanoparticles functionalized with different drugs. Furthermore, for several years they have been collaborating with the Università del Piemonte Orientale (prof. Mauro Ravera e dott. Elisabetta Gabano) in the field of the synthesis and characterization of new Pt(IV) derivatives. They also collaborate with prof. Francesco Caruso at the Vassar College, USA, studying the antineoplastic effects of curcumin derivatives and other natural-origined compounds.
Marzia Bruna Gariboldi – associate professor
Emanuela Marras
Applied Microbiology
The main interest of the unit is the investigation on light- based antimicrobial and anti-biofilm approaches (visible light alone or combined with photosensitizers) and the effects of photo-oxidative stress on model microorganisms.
Furthermore, thanks to different collaborations, the potential of nanomaterials and natural compounds from animal and plants are also considered.
Viviana Orlandi – associate professor
Fabrizio Bolognese – technician
Key words: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), aBL (antimicrobial Blue Light), biofilm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antimicrobials
ERC sectors: LS6_11 Prevention and treatment of bacterial infections; LS6_7 Microbiology
We collaborate with: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, Varese (Italy); Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese (Italy); Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, CNR, Bologna (Italy); Department of Science and Techology of Pharmaceuticals, University of Torino (Italy); Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Torino (Italy); Department of Industrial Engeneering, University of Padova (Italy); Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney transplantation Unit, Department of translational Medicine, University of eastern Piedmont “A. Avogadro”, Maggiore della carità University Hospital, Novara (Italy); Department of Restorative Dentistry, Araraquara School of dentistry, UNESP, San Paolo, (Brasi); Department of Dermatology University Hospital Regensburg Franz-Josef, Regensburg (Germany); University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Czech Republic).
Cancer Epigenetics
Ian Marc Bonapace
Maria Giovanna de Marino
Michele Zocchi
Ramesh Gandusekar
Monica Mancini
Cell Biology
Giovanni Bernardini
Rosalba Gornati
Roberto Papait
Marina Borgese
Elettra Musolino
Federica Gamberoni
Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Elena Bossi
Cristina Roseti
Bhatt Manan Juggbu
Angela di Iacovo
Tiziana Romanazzi
Cellular Neurophysiology
Our interests are focused on studying synaptic function, neuronal excitability and neuronal networks involved in the genesis of neurological and psychiatric diseases. We use patch-clamp electrophysiology and extracellular field recordings in brain slices
Lia Forti – assistant professor (P.I.)
Lara Barile – BSc student
Keywords: Neuronal physiology, Electrophysiology, Synapse, Membrane excitability, Stress
ERC sectors: LS5: Neurosciences and Neural Disorders: neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neurological and psychiatric disorders
Collaborations: Maurizio Popoli, Università degli Studi di Milano; Laura Musazzi, Università di Milano-Bicocca; Charlotte Kilstrup-Nielsen, Università dell’Insbria
Clinical Ethics
Through the Research Center for Clinical Ethics, it carries out research, collaborates with Italian and international institutions, and offers training activities at a local, national and international level in the field of clinical ethics. It promotes the clinical ethics service in hospitals and in the local area.
Mario Picozzi – Chair of Research Center for Clinical Ethics - CREC
Elena Ferioli – Scientific Coordinator of Research Center for Clinical Ethics - CREC
Silvia Ceruti – PhD student
Emanuele Mangione – PhD student
Chiara Rossetti – PhD student
Marta Vassallo – PhD student
Francesca Reato – PhD student
Keywords: Clinical ethics, ethics consultation, organ transplantation, end-of-life issues, beginning of life issues, GenEthics, NeuroEthics, Biobanks, Informed Consent, Research Integrity, Ethics Committee
ERC Sector: LS7_11
We collaborate with: European Association of Centers of Medical Ethics (EACME); European Clinical Ethics Network (ECEN); Interdisciplinary Group for Clinical Bioethics and ethical consultation in the health care system (GIBCE); Nord Italia Transplant program (NITp); Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO).
Comparative Physiology
Use of model insects for the development of immunomodulation strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases.
The classic therapeutic approach to infectious diseases involves the administration of drugs that work by restricting the proliferative potential of the pathogenic microorganism. Despite its enor-mous success, this strategy is not without serious limitations, including the selection of multi-resi-stant strains.
Immunomodulatory drugs act in a direct way on the immune system of the host: a) implementing the effectiveness of the effector mechanisms; b) directing the response towards the effector me-chanisms most appropriate to the specific context; c) mitigating the inflammatory damage to host tissues that often accompanies immune responses. Immunomodulatory drugs may thus represent an important adjunct to the use of classical chemotherapeutics, although, at present, they represent a largely unmet promise.
Our group studies a model of host/parasite interaction in insects. Nematodes of the genus Steiner-nema are capable of infecting lepidopteran larvae, specifically we use Galleria mellonella larvae. These nematodes are assisted by entomopathogenic bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus that induce in the larva a deep state of immunodepression, thus a septic pathology. In our model , in fact, Xe-norhabdus nematophila evades the immune response of the host by acting simultaneously at mul-tiple levels.
Immunomodulation strategies aimed at altering the course of the infection, improving the "progno-sis" of the infection, are being studied in our laboratory. To this end the targets of therapeutic in-tervention are
a) pathway of the biosynthesis of eicosanoids
b) pathway of phenol-oxidase and melanization
c) pathway of nitric oxide synthetase
Since insects and mammals share some fundamental pathways of immune response activation, it is likely that the immunomodulation results obtained in our model can be at least partially translated to mammals. Moreover, this type of studies aims to investigate the possibility of using animal mo-dels such as insects, alternative to mammals, in order to limit the use of the llatter in experimentation.
Environmental and Applied Botany (Biodiversity and Plant Ecology)
The research group deals with the relationship between biodiversity and functionality in plants, from the level of single organisms to that of plant populations and communities, up to ecosystems. The activities are developed both above- and belowground, the main research lines concern:
- the root system of plants with particular reference to the dynamics and morphology of fine roots and the architecture of structural roots. These characteristics are related to the influence of abiotic, anthropic factors, and environmental stress as well as the addition of organic amendments (biochar) to the growing media. Furthermore, this research line deals with the identification of the molecular factors controlling the development of the root system and the secondary bioactive metabolites in the rhizosphere. Finally, in addition to model plants such as Arabidopsis and Populus, the research activities also concern species of agronomic and forestry interest;
- morpho-functional traits, especially the leaf organ, for the definition of plant functional types and strategies. These analyses are devoted to the identification of the functional properties of plant communities in relation to the characteristics of the environment, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Moreover, these research activities find application in the management and conservation of nature, with particular reference to Natura 2000 habitats, but also in the management of contaminated sites and in the valorisation of the biomass of invasive alien species (IAPS);
- morphological and molecular traits concerning the development of plant organisms in controlled conditions with LED lighting systems
Bruno Enrico Leone Cerabolini - Full Professor
Donato Chiatante - Emeritus Professor
Antonino Di Iorio - Associate Professor
Antonio Montagnoli - Associate Professor
Peter Beatrice - Research assistant
Michele Dalle Fratte - Research assistant
Tsvetana Todorova Mincheva - Research assistant
Alex Ceriani - Ph.D. student
Alberto Danieli - Ph.D. student
Gustavo Agosto - Research fellow
Nicola Aimini - Research fellow
Alessandro Fava - Research fellow
Alessio Miali - Research fellow
Keywords: Allelopathy, Analysis of plant communities, Biochar, Biodiversity, Conservation, Environmental stress, Fine roots, Innovative agronomic and forestry applications, Invasive alien plant species, LED, Natura 2000 network, Phytoremediation, Plant strategy, Plant Functional traits, Root architecture, Root exudates.
ERC Sectors: LS3, LS8, LS9, PE10
We collaborate with: Lombardy Region, Regional Agency for Agriculture and Forestry Services (ERSAF), Autochthonous Flora Center (CFA), Italian Environment Fund (FAI), Lombardy Foundation for the Environment (FLA), Alpinia Botanical Garden in Stresa (VB), Natural Sciences Museum of Brescia, University of Tartu, University of Milan, University of Molise, National University of Mongolia, "Mediterranean" University of Reggio Calabria, USDA Forest Service Moscow (ID) United States, IBIMET-CNR Florence, University of Lorestan (Iran)
Forensic Psychopathology
Researches deal with the study and application of psychopathology knowledge in the legal fie
Keywords: psychopathology, technical consulting
ERC sectors: SH4_2 - Personality and social cognition; emotion
Human genetics
The Human Genetics Unit has long been involved in the functional and structural characterization of the human RNASET2 tumor suppressor gene, encoding the only human member of the highly conserved family of T2 extracellular RNases. The protein encoded by this gene has been consistently reported to be endowed with a marked oncosuppressive activity in several experimental models both in vitro and in vivo, whose mode of action is carried out with both cell-autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms. As for the latter, it has further been shown to involve a functional cross-talk between cancer cell-derived RNASET2 and several component of the tumor microenvironment.
Roberto Taramelli
Francesco Acquati
Annarosaria de Vito
Keywords: Tumor suppressor gene, T2 ribonuclease, Tumor microenvironment, Anticancer immune response
ERC research sectors: LS2_1 genomics, comparative genomics, functional genomics; LS2_2 transcriptomics; LS2_6 molecular genetics, reverse genetics and RNAi; LS2_8 epigenetics and gene regulation; LS3_2 cell biology and molecular transport mechanisms; LS3_3 cell cycle and division; LS3_2 cell biology and molecular transport mechanisms; LS3_4 apoptosis; LS3_11 cell genetics; LS4_6 cancer and its biological basis; LS6_1 innate immunity and inflammation; LS6_4 immunosignalling; LS6_12 biological basis of immunity related disorders
We are actively collaborating with: IRCCS Humanitas – Rozzano, Italy; Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori – Milano, Italy; Istituto Nazionale per la cura dei tumori –(IST) Genova, Italy; Laboratorio Interdisciplinare di Tecnologie Avanzate – CNR, Segrate, Italy; IRCCS Multimedica Milano, Italy; Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy; IRCCS C. Mondino – Pavia, Italy; Universitè de Lyon, France; Institut NeuroMyoGène, Lione, France; Institute for Systems Bioligy, Seattle, USA; Universidad of Barcelona, Spain
Immunology and General Pathology
Research conducted in the Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology is focused on the following areas:
- Biology of Natural Killer (NK) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in solid tumors (prostate, pancreas, colorectal, lung, kidney, breast).
- Study of tumor microenvironment and tumor angiogenesis as targets of (immuno)therapy and prevention.
- Role of Natural Killer cells, neutrophils and T cells in autoimmune diseases (Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease).
- Role of immunomodulatory activity of RNASET2 molecule in cancer and autoimmune diseases.
- Role of innate immunity (monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils) and inflammation in cancer and cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis, diabetes).
- Study of immune response in cancer patients, post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs).
Experimental activities involve the use of cell biology (cell lines and primary cultures), biochemistry, and molecular biology approaches. The research group has developed significant experience in 'multiparametric flow cytometry (up to 18 markers simultaneously) applied to immunology.
In addition, the group has well-established experience in using murine models in biomedical research.
Lorenzo Mortara (Associate Professor)
Douglas Noonan (Associate Professor)
Antonino Bruno (Assistant professor-RTD-B)
Raffaella Bombelli (Laboratory technician)
Martina Cucchiara (PhD student)
Francesca Orrù (Medicine student)
Cristian Rubuano (MSc student)
Chiara Cali (MSc student)
Serena Croci (BSc student)
Giulia Caleffi (BSc student)
Keywords: Tumor microenvironment, Natural Killer cells, Innate Lymphoid Cells, Neutrophils, Monocytes/Macrophages, Inflammation, Angiogenesis, Immunotherapy.
ERC sectors:LS6_1 Immunità innata; LS4_6 cancro e sue basi biologiche; LS6_12 Basi biologiche dei disturbi legati all'immunità.
Collaborations:
Dr. Matteo Gallazzi, Innate Immunity Laboratory, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano.
Dr. Angelo Naselli, Urology Unit, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano.
Dr. Riccardo Ricotta, Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano.
Prof. Francesco Bertolini, Laboratory of Hematoncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milano.
Prof. Antonio Inforzato, Humanitas Clinical Institute, Rozzano.
Dr. Santiago Gonzales, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Svizzera.
Prof.ssa Valeria Poli, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Università di Torino, Torino.
Dr. Alsessandro Poggi, SSD Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova.
Dott.ssa Giovanna Chiorino, Tempia Foundation, Biella.
Invertebrate Biology
Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, and Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan Italy; BioC-CheM Solutions Srl Gerenzano, Varese Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Salento University, Lecce Italy; Enea, Casaccia, Rome Italy; Coastal marine environment institute, CNR, Messina Italy; Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, Verbania Italy; Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil Switzerland; Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague Czech Republic; Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich UK; Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld Germany; Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb Croatia; MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat-Shmona Israel; Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid Spain; Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv Ukraine; Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM) Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, La Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina; Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin Germany.The research activity is focused on different aspects of insect development and physiology for the development of biotechnological applications. The main topics addressed are: 1) the use of dipteran larvae for the bioconversion of organic waste and protein production for feedstuff and development of biomaterials; 2) the identification of molecules for the development of bio-inspired strategies for the control of pest insects; and 2) the study of cell death processes during metamorphosis in holometabolous insects.
Another line of research is conducted on in vivo and in vitro models of Metazoans in the following areas: 1) study and characterization of cells and molecules involved in innate immune response in annelids; 2) study of the basic mechanisms of cell differentiation and molecular regulation of tissue regeneration in annelids and cnidarian; 3) amyloidogenesis and innate immune response in annelids.
Gianluca Tettamanti – full professor
Annalisa Grimaldi – associate professor
Nicolò Baranzini - assistant professor
Daniele Bruno - technician
Aurora Montali - postdoc
Sara Caramella - PhD student
Laura Pulze - PhD student
Webpage: Lab Invertebrate Biology
Keywords: Circular economy; Development; Innate immunity; Insect biotechnology; Invertebrates; Regeneration
ERC panels: LS3_7 Cell death and autophagy; LS9_1 Applied biotechnology; LS8_2 Biodiversity, conservation biology, conservation genetics; LS6_1 Innate immunity in animals and plants; LS3_1 Morphology and functional imaging of cells and tissues
Collaborations: Università degli Studi di Milano; Università degli Studi di Padova; Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”; Politecnico di Milano; KU Leuven; Cairo University; South China Agricultural University; Università degli Studi di Palermo; Università degli Studi di Bologna; Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, University of Lille; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; University of Pecs; Aarhus University.
Microbial Biotechnology
The focus of the group is on genetic engineering approaches applied to fermentation processes of microorganisms of industrial relevance, aimed at producing secondary metabolites (antibiotics), bioactive peptides and proteins.
Flavia Marinelli – full professor
Francesca Berini – researcher
Elisa Binda - technichan
Oleksandr Yushchuk - postdoctoral fellow
Ana Simatovic – postdoctoral fellow
Melissa Bisaccia - PhD student
Luca Mellere - PhD student
Letizia Bartolone - postgraduate fellow
Lorenzo Tonin – PhD student
Davide Malacarne – Postgraduate fellow
Luciano Gastaldo - Guest
Group’s website: https://www.dbsv.uninsubria.it/microbiotec/
Keywords: Microbial biodiversity, Fermentation, Antibiotics, Glycopeptides, Antibiotic resistance, Actinomycetes, Heterologous expression, Metagenomics, Bioinsecticides
ERC sectors: LS9_1 Applied biotechnology (including transgenic organisms, applied genetics and genomics, biosensors, bioreactors, microbiology, bioactive compounds). LS9_2 Applied bioengineering, synthetic biology, chemical biology, nanobiotechnology, metabolic engineering, protein and glyco-engineering, tissue engineering, biocatalysis, biomimetics. LS6_7 Biological basis of prevention and treatment of infection (e.g. infection natural cycle, reservoirs, vectors, vaccines, antimicrobials)
Our collaborations: Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, and Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan Italy; BioC-CheM Solutions Srl Gerenzano, Varese Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Salento University, Lecce Italy; Enea, Casaccia, Rome Italy; Coastal marine environment institute, CNR, Messina Italy; Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, Verbania Italy; Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil Switzerland; Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague Czech Republic; Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich UK; Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld Germany; Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb Croatia; MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat-Shmona Israel; Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid Spain; Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv Ukraine; Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM) Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, La Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina; Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin Germany.
Molecular Genetics
Our group aims to study the molecular and genetic bases of human diseases, with a particular interest in studying cancer and in particular lung cancer.
The two main projects are:
1. the characterization of PRODH gene regulation and of the role that the encoded enzyme, proline dehydrogenase, plays in modulation of specific cellular phenotypes. We study how modulation of its expression in human adenocarcinoma cell lines impacts on phenotypes such as cell proliferation, cellular senescence and apoptosis. We also aim to study the effect of modulating proline dehydrogenase on the tumour microenvironment and in drug resistance.
2. Identification and validation of microRNAs as circulating biomarkers to be applied to screening and early diagnosis of lung cancer. For this study we use droplet digital PCR, but we are also interested in developing novel diagnostic tests to measure microRNA directly in serum and plasma.
Paola Campomenosi – researcher
Raffaella Cinquetti – technician
Priscilla Chiofalo – PhD student
Elena Berno – PhD student
Keywords: Regulation of gene expression; disease genes; biomarkers; molecular genetics; microRNA.
ERC SECTORS: LS4_12 Cancer; LS2_14 Genetic diseases; LS1_3 DNA and RNA biology; LS2_4 Gene regulation; LS2_14 Genetic diseases; LS3_2 Cell senescence, cell death, autophagy, cell ageing; LS3_3 Cell behaviour, including control of cell shape, cell migration; LS3_5 Cell signalling and signal transduction, exosome biology; LS7_2 Medical technologies and tools (including genetic tools and biomarkers) for prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diseases
Collaborations: Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi-Varese; Università di Verona; Multimedica, Milano; Cibio, Università di Trento; UMPH Cluj-Napoca, RO.
Molecular Neurobiology
Charlotte Kilstrup Nielsen
Isabella Barbiero
Roberta de Rosa
Neuropsycopharmacology
Ongoing research lines in the lab are aimed at evaluating: 1) The therapeutic potential of some phytocannabinoids in animal models of autism; 2) The role of the endocannabinoid system in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders; 3) The ability of cannabidiol to modulate the long-term negative consequences of adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure on the brain; 4) the role of the endocannabinoid system in adolescent brain maturation/remodeling.
Tiziana Rubino
Erica Zamberletti
Marina Gabaglio
Cristina Manenti
Neuroscience
Organic Chemistry and Photobiology
The team deals with the synthesis of second and third generation photosensitizers belonging to the families of porphyrins, phthalocyanines and BODIPYs for their subsequent application in in vitro photodynamic therapy both in the anticancer and antibacterial fields.
Enrico Caruso – Associate Professor
Miryam Chiara Malacarne – PhD
Keywords:Photodynamic Therapy, Photosensitizers, synthesis of organic substances
ERC sectors:PE5_11 Biological chemistry; PE5_17 Organic chemistry; PE5_18 Medicinal chemistry; LS7_3 Pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery and design, drug therapy; LS3_4 apoptosis.
Collaborations:CNR di Bologna; CNR di Messina; Istituto Mario Negri; Università Statale di Milano; John Moores University di Liverpool, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research.
Orthopedics and Traumatology
Fabio D’Angelo
Giorgio Pilato
Michele Francesco Surace
Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology
Otolaryngology
Paolo Castelnuovo
Maurizio Bignami
Paolo Battaglia
Davide Locatelli
Plant Physiology
The main research of the Plant Physiology group is focused on the response of plants to different abiotic stresses, such as high or low temperatures, water shortage, metal pollution. In recent years the group has also worked on the interaction between plants of agronomic interest and beneficial soil microorganisms. It also studies intra- and inter-plant communication mediated by volatile organic compounds. The studies are carried out through physiological and molecular analyzes, in particular proteomics and phosphoproteomics.
Marcella Bracale – full professor
Candida Vannini – associate professor
Guido Domingo – researcher
Eleonora Davide – PhD
Group website: WEB PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Keywords: plants, abiotic stress, biotic stress, proteomic, phosphoproteomic
ERC sectors: LS2_3 proteomics; LS3_8 signal transduction; LS9_5 food sciences
Collaborations: Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS); University of Milan; University of Bari; University of Turin; University of Urbino; Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome; IRD, Cirad, Univ. Montpellier, Plantes Microorganismes Environnement Interactions (IPME); CNR ITB of Milan; CNR DiSBA of Rome; CNR IPSP of Florence; CNR IPSP of Portici; Centro Tessile Cotoniero S.p.A, Varese; KCS biotech, Vergiate, Varese.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Our Unit of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the headquarter of the post-graduate Medical Residency program in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery of the University of Studies of Insubria, Varese.
Clinical activity is mainly focused on:
- Oncological surgery of melanocytic and non-melanocytic skin tumours (both the demolition and reconstructive components)
- Post-oncological reconstruction (in the context of cutaneous, cervico-facial and breast neoplasms)
- Post-traumatic reconstruction
- Burn management and post-acute reconstruction
- Body remodeling in post-bariatric surgery outcomes
- Paediatric plastic surgery (with the exception of malformative plastic surgery)
- Aesthetic and cosmetic surgery (mainly oculo-palpebral surgery, body-countouring and breast cosmetic surgery)
Main research interests are related to:
- Morphoanatomical studies on the distribution of cutaneous perforating vessel in various body anatomical regions
- Study of the biology of adipose tissue in the context of regenerative medicine and surgery
- Clinical observational and review studies (in the field of breast reconstruction, hand surgery and microsurgery)
Our training program also includes active participation in cadaver labs with the aim of refining the development of new surgical techniques and developing new research insights.
The teachings offered to our Residents conforms to the European standards required to Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Residency Schools with the aim of training Professionals in line with the advances in our discipline and capable of entering a broader clinical-academic scene.
Our team is made up of Full Professor L. Valdatta and Associate Professor M. Cherubino (currently on leave of absence), and as medical staff Dr. F. Tamborini, Dr. D. Di Giovanna, Dr. M. Corno. As residents, assigned to different locations within the education network, there are Dr. L. Garutti, Dr. E. Bascialla, Dr. F. Paganini, Dr. A. Tellarini, Dr. S. Cozzi, Dr. F. Buttarelli, Dr. V. Fasoli, Dr. C. Bonetti, Dr. G. Cocchieri, Dr. S. Matarazzo, Dr. B. Corsini, Dr. G. Del Vecchio and Dr. B. Agnelli.
Luigi Valdatta
Mario Cherubino
Polymer Chemistry and Sustainable Catalysis Lab
The research activity of the group concerns the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured polymer materials. In particular, it focuses on the mechanistic investigation of polymerization reactions for the synthesis of polymers having controlled microstructure as well as on the study of structure-properties relationships. Moreover, we are interested in the design and synthesis, via sustainable catalysis, of polymers derived from molecules obtained from industrial waste and/or renewable sources.
L. Izzo and O. Santoro are guest editors for the Special Issue “Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields" in collaboration with the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
L. Izzo is the Scientific Referent for the Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Polymer Materials project as part of the collaboration with Prometeon Tyre Group S.r.l.
Lorella Izzo – associate professor
Francesco Della Monica (Assistant Professor – RTDb)
Orlando Santoro (Research Fellow – RTDa)
Aniello Vittore (PhD Student)
Keywords: Polymer Chemistry, Sustainable Catalysis
ERC sectors:PE5_7 (Biomaterials)/PE5_1 (Structural properties of materials), PE5_14 (Homogeneous Catalysis) PE5_15 (Polymer chemistry)
Collaborations: University of Toulouse (France), Università degli Studi di Salerno, Università degli Studi di Siena, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Università degli Studi di Bologna
Population Genetics
The activities of our research group have been conducted on Population Genetics of forest trees and other plant species since several decades. Neutral genetic molecular markers are being been used to conduct large-scale surveys about the distribution of the genetic variability among different Italian populations of chestnut tree and of the Mediterranean shrub Cistus albidus, with a special emphasis on the conservation aspects of the work.
The results are analyzed with the aim of answering questions about the genetic structure of the species, to answer demographic issues and to model ecological speciation using a Bayesian approach. Phylogenetic relationships are also investigated at the molecular level.
Giorgio Binelli – associate professor
Gianluca Lombardo – post-doc
Marta Cavallini – PhD student
Keywords: Population Genetics - Evolution - Forest trees - Molecular markers – Conservation Genetics
ERC sectors: LS8_2 Biodiversity, conservation biology, conservation genetics – LS8_3 Population biology, population dynamics, population genetics – LS8_5 Evolutionary genetics
Collaborations: Centro Nazionale Carabinieri Biodiversità di Peri (VR); Unité de Recherche Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, INRAE, Avignon; Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna.
The Protein Factory 2.0
The main focal points of the research activity of the Protein Factory 2.0 are:
- the investigation of enzymes and whole metabolic pathways, in particular the ones involved into the metabolism of D-amino acids, their regulation and dysfunctions related to relevant human diseases;
- the analysis of D-amino acids in human serum and fluids, to validate alterations in their levels as early biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease;
- the production of improved variants (generated by protein engineering) of recombinant proteins useful in several areas of biotechnology: human health (protein therapeutics), bio-based industry (biocatalysis), biorefineries (lignin valorization), bioremediation and circular economy processes (removal of pesticides, plastics and toxins);
- the analysis of paclitaxel levels in human blood after drug-coated ballon treatment.
Loredano Pollegioni – full professor
Luciano Piubelli – associate professor
Gianluca Molla – associate professor
Silvia Sacchi – associate professor
Elena Rosini – researcher
Laura Caldinelli – technician
Group website: www.theproteinfactory2.it
Keywords: D-amino acids; recombinant proteins; protein engineering; neuromodulation; biocatalysis; biorefineries; biosensors; structural bioinformatics; enzymology; lignin valorization, plastic degradation
ERC sectors: LS1_2 general biochemistry and metabolism, LS1_5 protein synthesis, modification and turnover, LS1_11 biochemistry and molecular mechanism of signal transduction, LS9_1 applied genetic engineering, transgenic organisms, recombinant proteins, biosensors, LS9_9 applied biotechnologies, bioreactors, applied microbiology, LS5_2 neurophysiology.
Collaborations: Ca' Foscari University of Venice; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland; CMIC, Polytechnic of Milan; CNR-IRSA, Water Research Institute, Verbania; Cryo-EM Lab, Dept. of Biosciences, University of Milan; DAAIR, D-Amino Acid International Research Center, Gerenzano; Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese; Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), Bari; IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute, Milan; Lab of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples; LuMIn, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, ENS Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Neurology Unit and Vascular Surgery Unit, Circolo and Fondazione Macchi University Teaching Hospital, Varese; University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta; University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; University of Milan; University of Milan-Bicocca; University of Naples Federico II; University of Parma; University of Pavia; University of Rome "Tor Vergata".
Toxicology and Pharmacology
The main research focus of the group is Clinical Pharmacology (design, analysis and meta-analysis of clinical trials), mainly in the field of urology/nephrology.
Keywords: clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, metanalysis, systematic reviews
ERC sectors: LS7_3 Pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery and design, drug therapy
Collaborations: Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Tzaneion General Hospital, Athens, Greece; Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
The Dipartimento di Diritto, economia e culture – DiDEC pursues scientific purposes of a multi and inter-disciplinary nature thanks to the particularity of its training offer which, unique in Italy, allows to combine the studies in law with those of economic problems and those of interlinguistic and intercultural mediation, favoring mutual integration.
In particular, the Department aims to ensure, both in terms of research and in terms of training, the comparative and integrated study of social phenomena, analyzed in their normative, cultural and socio-economic meaning, as well as in the linguistic expression in which they manifest themselves, with specific attention to historical evolution and to the social contexts in which they are inserted.
The cooperation between different sectors has already produced appreciable positive results in the short life of this Department. In particular, it was possible to connect the study of multilingualism to the needs of economics and business and the study of coexistence and integration between different legal systems, cultures, languages and religions to that of the mechanisms for resolving conflicts and disputes, with attention to procedural, mediation-conciliation and reparative mechanisms.
Constitutionalism in Illiberal Democracies
The area addresses, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the issue of fundamental rights, in relation both to the debate about their foundation and protection in the frame of present globalized societies.
This area also focuses on the question of legal pluralism, characterized by the coexistence and competition among different (state and non-state) normative systems whose accommodation requires the experience of conciliatory and transformative methods. At this regard, the work of REDESM, CeSGReM and FEDAL research centres is particularly relevant.
It is in this context that the activity of the UNESCO Chair (www.uninsubria.it/cattedra-unesco) on the "Gender Equality and Women's rights in the multicultural society" takes place. The Chair aims to underline the paradigmatic role of women rights, at the centre of the debate on legal pluralism and the clash between different legal traditions.
Alessandro Ferrari
Elena Catalano
Stella Coglievina
Elisabetta D’Amico
Cristina Danusso
Giorgio Grasso
Valentina Jacometti
Sergio Lazzarini
Paolo Lepore
Gabriella Mangione
Grazia Mannozzi
Stefano Marcolini
Marco Migliorini
Chiara Perini
Cristina Reale
Adrian Renteria Diaz
Gilda Ripamonti
Environment, Tourism and Territory
In the economic-legal area, particular importance is given to issues concerning the legal protection of environment, the enhancement of the territory and the implementation of qualitative and quantitative tools for the evaluation of current economic policies, particularly in times of crisis.
In this scenario, the departmental research in this area focuses on the close relationship between sustainability and environment understood both from naturalistic, cultural, economic and legal points of view.
Finally, particular attention is increasingly paid to the study of climate change and the development of appropriate legal instruments (at international, European and national levels) to develop suitable policies for mitigating the phenomenon, as well as for adapting the concerned territories. Particularly relevant, in this regard, the work of the POLAMB Research Center.
Barbara Pozzo
Maurizio Cafagno
Giorgio Grasso
Valentina Jacometti
Carmela Leone
Paolo Lepore
Chiara Perini
Multilingualism, Cultural Heritage, Institutions
DiDEC is renowed for a tradition of studies on legal multilingualism, both from the point of view of legal translation within the European Union, and from the point of view of the interrelations and clash between different legal cultures. The activity of the Interuniversity Centre for Research in Comparative Law is carried out within this context.
Particular attention is also dedicated, in connection with the research on "Fundamental Rights", to the study of multiculturalism of religious matrix and of the relationships between state and confessional systems in the perspective of an increasingly pluralistic Mediterranean space. The contribution of the Research Centers, which are part of DiDEC (in particular REDESM), and the initiatives developed within the Course on Development Education (sponsored by UNICEF and the University) are also relevant in this area.
Francesca Ruggieri
Elena Catalano
Marta Cenini
Sebastiano Citroni
Valentina Jacometti
Geo Magri
Grazia Mannozzi
Stefano Marcolini
Marco Migliorini
Gilda Ripamonti
People, Business and Markets
The Area brings together different lines of research, all however focused on the person, in both its natural and, above all, legal configuration. Particular attention is given to economics and rights in the Mediterranean area, public and private governance, public contracts and the fashion and textile sector, in a comparative perspecive, too. In this regard, the work of the Research Center for Customs Law and International Trade is particularly relevant.
Silvia Marino
Paolo Bertoli
Maurizio Cafagno
Sebastiano Citroni
Elisabetta Codazzi
Stella Coglievina
Giuseppe Colangelo
Flavia Cortelezzi
Paolo Duvia
Maria Dominique Feola
Francesca Ferrari
Umberto Galmarini
Francesca Ghirga
Valentina Jacometti
Carmela Leone
Lucia Lopez
Gabriella Mangione
Marco Migliorini
Roberta Minazzi
Alessandro Motto
Andrea Morone
Alessandro Panno
Chiara Perini
Giuseppe Porro
Fabrizio Vismara
The research activity of the Dipartimento di Economia – DiECO revolves around the economic, business, legal and mathematical-statistical disciplines that characterize the educational offer of the Department itself.
In the autonomy of the individual scientific areas, the possibility of interdisciplinary comparisons in various research areas represents an important resource whose validity has been tested in the didactic field and which is progressively enhanced also in the research field.
Applied and Empirical Economics
Elena Maggi
Daniele Crotti
Business Economics and Management
Alberto Onetti
Enrica Pavione
Roberta Pezzetti
Alessia Pisoni
Commercial Law
Sergio Patriarca
Ilaria Capelli
Econometrics
Macroeconomics
Eugenio Caverzasi
Marcello Spanò
Management, Accounting, Planning and Control
Anna Maria Arcari
Daniela Montemerlo
Patrizia Gazzola
Giovanna Gavana
Anna Iside Pistoni
Francesco Sacco
Mathematics and Statistics for Economics and Finance
Matteo Rocca
Chiara Gigliarano
Elisa Mastrogiacomo
Asmerilda Hitaj
Microeconomics
Ivan Moscati
Astrid Gamba
Organization Studies
Alfredo Biffi
Caterina Farao
Private Law
Alba Fondrieschi
Camilla Ferrari
Public Economics
Public Law
The research activity of the Dipartimento di Medicina e chirurgia – DMC is mainly focused on the study of oncological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neuro- and immunopharmacology; the activity is divided into research centers and focused research groups that carry out their research on specific topics in which professors and researchers from other departments and other universities participate, ensuring the integration and construction of common projects. In all these areas a strong interaction emerges between basic sciences and clinical sciences, an interaction that represents an important strength for the development of innovative research programs of national and international relevance.
Applied biology
Biochemistry of the extracellular matrix
Alberto Passi
Davide Vigetti
Francesco Pallotti
Manuela Viola
Evgenia Karousou
Paola Moretto
Cardiosurgery
Cesare Beghi
Sandro Ferrarese
Vittorio Mantovani
General pathology and immunology
Roberto Accolla
Greta Forlani
Alessandra Tedeschi
Glicobiology
Morbid anatomy, chromosomic and molecular pathology
Ophthalmology
Pathologies of the cardiovascular apparatus
Roberto De Ponti
Fabio Angeli
Pharmacology
Pediatrics
Massimo Agosti
Silvia Salvatore
Luana Nosetti
Senology
Structure of the extracellular matrix
Surgical radiology
Thrombosis and haemostasis
Walter Ageno
Marco Donadini
The Dipartimento di Scienza e alta tecnologia - DiSAT pursues the goal of harmonizing basic research with applied research, basing its raison d'être on a unified vision of scientific and technological research. The Department was created around the idea of combining hard sciences, or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in a single research environment, without neglecting contributions from other disciplines, with the idea of promoting interdisciplinary research and to train students with a global scientific vision. Furthermore, this choice allowed us to be able to count on the advantages of scale usually possible only in large universities, without losing the agility of a small structure.
The research areas are represented by four Sections: Environment-Health-Safety-Territory, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics.
The research activities of the Dipartimento di Scienze teoriche e applicate - DiSTA are developed around three Sections: Environment, Computer Science and Humanities.
In the current context of globalization and internationalization, among the most innovative and peculiar aspects of the research activity of the Department - in parallel with the advancement of each single subject area - there are consequently the richness of the research topics of the teachers and the tendency to create virtuous multidisciplinary paths also open to numerous and fruitful national and international collaborations, often integrated with teaching activities.
The primary vocation of the Dipartimento di Scienze umane e dell'innovazione per il Territorio – DiSUIT is to integrate scientific research and the needs of the Como and Varese territories. Through an interdisciplinary approach which constitutes its essential feature, DiSUIT favors the ability to determine positive effects on society, also thanks to the funding it has been able to attract from various entities such as MIUR (the italian Ministry for Education, University and Research), the Volta Foundation and the CARIPLO Foundation.
Art History
The research in the field of Art History includes the period from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age, privileging the study of the Artists of the Lombard-Swiss Lakes, who were active not only locally, but also nationally, in Europe and overseas.
Andrea Spiriti
Laura Facchin
Geological and Biological sciences
The lines of research in this area aim to investigate the relationships between tectonics, magmatism and volcanism and deal with the study of the developmental habitat of animal and plant organisms and their relationships in natural situations.
Historical and Anthropological Studies
The research in the historical field is chiefly concerned with the study of European history from the modern to the contemporary age. In the area of modernist studies, the study of social, intellectual and religious history is privileged, the latter being investigated especially with regard to Jewish-Christian relations. The contemporary area focuses on the transformation and persistence of elements of the Old Regime in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on the one hand, and on the history of Europe in the context of global relations in the 20th and 21st centuries on the other, with particular attention to the role played by local authorities in the process of European integration. Moreover, in the field of historical sciences, there are studies in demoethnoanthropological disciplines concerning the anthropology of art and the art of Insulindia and Oceania. In this area research revolves around also photography in exoticism and primitivism in 20th-century art.
Paolo Luca Bernardini
Elisa Bianco
Law and Economics
The lines of research of these disciplines range from the historical aspects of law, in particular Roman law, to more current issues such as human rights and business organisation.
Linguistic, Philological and Literary Studies
The research lines of this area include several disciplines, which belong to two macro-areas, the linguistic, historical and literary studies related to the Italian language, and the studies of the European and extra-European languages that are that are represented at the Department. In the linguistic area, various lines of research focus on diachronic linguistics, synchronic linguistics, applied linguistics and philology.
In the literary area, the Department's research revolves around perspectives related to textual criticism and interpretation, literary history and comparative studies. Furthermore, there are studies on the theory and practice of literary and specialised translation and on language teaching.
Andrea Sansò
Francesco Ciconte
Francesca Moro
Paola Baseotto
Alessandra Vicentini
Daniel Russo
Mathematical and Chemical Sciences
The lines of research of this field are mainly focused on the following fields:
- numerical linear algebra and its applications in the study of techniques for solving linear systems arising from various integro-differential problems;
- the development of analytical procedures for the characterization of historical and artistic artifacts, as well as the design of innovative methods for restoration.
Stefano Serra Capizzano
Mariarosa Mazza
Philosophical and Pedagogical Studies
The research in the field of philosophical studies extends in several lines of investigation. In the field of Theoretical Philosophy major topical issues cover areas such as the philosophical implications of the possible discovery of extraterrestrial life and the role of science fiction in the perception of science. In the field of Aesthetics, research is conducted on the one hand in the area of Aesthetics in Social Languages, a field in which aesthetic reflection meets with art and philosophy; on the other hand, in the area of German-language Aesthetics with particular attention to the image. The departmental research also presents a line of research related to the pedagogical field, in which the study of methods and tools aimed at the design of educational experiences is accompanied by research aimed at the field of disability and specific educational needs.
Political and Social Sciences
The field of Political and Social Sciences includes historical research lines that investigate political symbolism, with particular focus on the period of the French Revolution and the Jacobin period, in addition to research that investigates ideas and legal political institutions of the late Middle Ages.
Moreover, research in this field involves the reflection on individual rights and exercise of sovereignty in relation to the phenomenon of globalisation and the introduction of new technologies.
Scientific equipment
Please find our Departments’ scientific equipment in the attached file.
Scientific production
The University promotes the policy of open access to research results in terms of publications and doctoral theses. Establishing an institutional repository allows scientific information produced in Uninsubria to be made available to the wider academic community and offers greater visibility and greater impact to this globally accessible material on the Internet. The institutional repository of the University Research is IRInSubria: https://irinsubria.uninsubria.it/
University professors, researchers and PhDs are automatically enabled to log in, using the University credentials (username and password).
For more information, visit the pages dedicated to Open Access.
IRInSubria - Institutional Research Information System

IRInSubria collects, stores, documents and disseminates information on the scientific production of the University of Insubria since 2015, also for the purposes of research evaluation.
This University research product catalog is in fact the only source of data for both internal and external evaluation and also automatically populates the italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR) research catalog.
Funded research projects
The University of Insubria promotes and enhances research also in its international and interdisciplinary dimension: there are numerous research projects funded on local, national and European competitive calls that initiate or consolidate collaborations with universities, companies, institutions and associations, thus offering teachers, researchers and students the opportunity to study, specialize and do research, as well as to welcome new researchers in a stimulating environment.
Particular attention was paid to the consolidation and improvement of some tools and support services for the presentation and management of competitive projects, dissemination of information, training in the drafting of project proposals.
Quality Assurance
In every Department an internal Committee for the Quality of Research (Commissione AIQUAR) pomotes the quality assurance of research and "third mission" (Public engagement, Technology Transfer and other activities involving the society) by collecting and analysing data and conducting a self assessment concerning the outcomes of the activities.
See the composition of Departmental Committees (in Italian).