The opening of the new IRET Foundation spaces in January 2020 was also the starting point of the Development Project 2020-2022. This project has the ambitious target of major improvements in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, in synergy with all the partners.
IRET Foundation role in the management of Bologna-Ozzano Technopole has also been enhanced, as an access point to the regional High-Tech Lab Network.
Established in 2012, Fondazione Iret is tightly linked with Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University. Fifteen young researchers study the neurodegenerative pathologies and the lesions of the central nervous system as Multiple Schlerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic medullar lesions and chronic pain. The main aim is to figure out new strategies to counteract their progression, to repair the damages, and to identify their causes to prevent the onset.
As a matter of fact, neurodegenerative diseases represent an understimated social emergency of the 21st century. In Italy, Alzheimer’s Disease affects 900000 people, Parkinson’s disease 250000, Multiple Sclerosis 1 resident of 1100 between 15 and 50 years of age. Moreover, demographic trends and lifestyle changes will bring in the next decades to an escalation of this issue: social impact and costs will become extremely high, jeopardizing welfare sustainability.
Nowadays the achievement of scientific goals is strictly dependent on availability of the most recent technologies: from advanced instruments to study spontaneous-cognitive and sensitive-motor behaviours, to instruments for nucleid acids amplification and quantification, up to sophisticated microscopies that allow to study live imaging cells in high resolution, leading to the molecular core. These technologies and knowledge have been optimized to develop innovative therapies serving industrial research.
“The available therapies in neurodegenerative disease are directed to treat syntoms, and in very few cases they can modify the natural history of the pathology. For this reason the basic research has a great importance because, although it’s impossibile to act on causes, it’s possible to delay the onset of these disabilities, using innovative approaches focused on the early phases of the pathology” Laura Calzà says – Regenerative Medicine and Cognitive Sciences Professor – University of Bologna.
“Our aims in the next three years are very clear” – says Luciana Giardino, IRET Foundation President, “the identification of two elements of Alzheimer’s Disease secondary prevention; in the field of regenerative medicine, the formulation of a new pharmacologic/biotechnologic product to counteract acute brain and spinal cord lesions; the identification in rare pathologies of a therapeutic approach to modify the natural history of the pathology in young patients. To pursue these objectives, we need the support of all those who believe in scientific progress and are willing to commit themselves so that more can be done, and sooner.”
From his start, IRET published more than 250 articles on scientific journals and presented more than 400 active partecipations at international congresses.
IRET foundation, always active in national and international projects, is now starting a new phase of growth: the aim is to increase the commitment on new scientific projects, improve the scientific equipment and enlarge the research team, offering appealing job opportunities to young talents, thanks also to steady collaborations with universities and associations of patients.
IRET Foundation plans to strengthen relationships with institutions and companies of its territory and beyond, inviting entrepreneurs to support research in a crucial field for our society.
If you wish to join us as a project partner please contact:
Paolo Celli
IRET Foundation development manager
