IIT - Molecular Neuroscience
Research Activity Last Update: 060920
The
program of this Unit offers a comprehensive overview of the scientific
and technological work envisaged at the San Raffaele Institute (HSR) in
Neuroscience, with specific developments in drug identification and
robotics. The groups have an established tradition of excellence,
documented by patents and publications, widely recognized and
appreciated at the international level. In addition, they have
participated in the organization and operation of technological
initiatives aimed at the generation of new research tools and the
development of scientific results towards application. Therefore, their
participation in the Unit does not change their activity but offers
them the possibility to expand their perspectives. Collaborations with
groups active in other Units and with groups destined to join the IIT
in the near future are already going on. In the future we expect them
to be further expanded by the participation of other groups, and also
qualified by the increased technological potential and impact of the
IIT enterprise.
In order to introduce the role that the HSR Unit intends to play in the
IIT Network program let’s first briefly summarize a few important
aspects of the HSR Scientific Research Institute (IRCCS). Collaboration
among research groups in terms of both scientific and technological
research is continuous and extremely fruitful. Along this line, HSR has
developed advanced facilities in several important research fields,
from protein sequencing to transgenic and knock-out mice; from in vivo
imaging to microchip RNA analysis, that have proven of key importance
not only for the advancement of the work but also for the widening of
the technological know-how. In addition, the installment of the
mega-computer Blue GeneP is expected to result in a real explosion of
bioinformatics, with ensuing major and precious fall-out in all fields
of bio-science and bio-technology. Finally, HSR includes a famous
hospital, leader in the world in a number of important areas, including
in particular medical neuroscience, where research is carried out at
very high level. The vast opportunities offered by this environment,
which so far have been essential for the development of the internal
groups, including those of the HSR Unit, will now become open to the
entire IIT network.
All the 7 groups of the HSR Unit have distinct scientific profiles,
illustrated in detail in the following presentations. Groups 1, 2 and 5
have strong background in cellular neuroscience, oriented however to
distinct technological and applicative developments; groups 3 and 4
have long and innovative experience in the field of innovative drug
development; group 6 is specialist in fluorescence spectroscopy while
group 7 is active in the contact area between neuroscience and
robotics. All groups have research support from external sources for
studies adjacent to, or coinciding with those of the IIT Unit.
Therefore support to the studies presented in this document can be
envisaged as a real co-funding. For the first few months the Unit will
begin its activity in the laboratories already occupied by the
participating groups. Soon, however, additional space, dedicated
specifically to the IIT Unit, will be assigned in the new research
building of the HSR area. We envisage this as an important step to
strengthen our coordinate activity and to facilitate external
collaborations. Finally, a new branch of the PhD School in Molecular
Medicine, oriented specifically to Biotechnology of Neuroscience and
sponsored by both the IIT and the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
has been recently opened for two 4year cycles. The Unit and the School
will work in strict collaboration, assuring the students continuous
contacts with IIT and introducing them to qualified research work
oriented towards the synergistic combination of science and technology.