Research Day 2022: growing trends and clear prospects for the future

Balance sheet of recent years and presentation of current projects

More than satisfactory results and new challenges on the horizon for the research of the University and the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation. On Friday, 'Research Day and Night' was celebrated throughout Europe, an initiative promoted since 2005 by the European Commission which involves thousands of female researchers and institutions in all European countries every year. For the occasion, UCBM has chosen to retrace the most important stages of research in recent years, the awards achieved, the projects in progress and planned for tomorrow with a conference in the Aula Magna held by teacher. Eugenio Guglielmelli, Vice Rector for Research, prof. Vincenzo Denaro, Scientific Director of the Foundation and the Research Coordinators of each Departmental Faculty UCBM.

Increase the number of Research Units and grow the community: over 400 researchersi among post-docs, doctoral and postgraduate students and about 200 collaborations with public and private institutions, Italian and international companies. “We hope that this positive growth trend in the PhD community will continue to occur because it is fundamental for the development of research in all our institutions – said the Pro-Rector Guglielmelli - Among the strategic objectives of the next three years we aim at the consolidation and development of interdisciplinary, basic, translational and clinical research, at the strengthening of research infrastructures, technologies and services, but also at internationalization in support of training, starting from the growth of doctoral students".

Prof Marcella Trombetta, Delegated to the exercise of the Research Quality Assessment (VQR), illustrated the results of the VQR 2015-2019, "a four-year evaluation procedure of the quality of the research products, i.e. of all the articles published in international journals, indexed book chapters and with Impact factor and, therefore, recognized by the scientific community at a global level, but also patents and Third Mission activities – explained Prof. Trombetta – The numbers of the VQR of this latest edition are gigantic, with over 65.000 accredited researchers and almost 183.000 products evaluated according to the parameters of originality, methodological rigor and impact, therefore what is used by the scientific community”. Among the most satisfying results emerge the position of the University which recorded an 11th overall out of 91 institutions evaluated. 

Thus, it was illustrated a budget of great value for research UCBM which heralds an encouraging future. They are ahead common challenges and objectives between the two institutions which aim at the valorisation of research in all its forms. “Despite the two years of pandemic, the research results have been exciting, we are also committed to strengthening collaboration with companies - said the dr. Andrea Rossi, DG and CEO ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma - the PNRR has a fundamental role and will be an opportunity to better develop the synergy between the University and the Foundation". Of the same opinion the DG and CEO of the Foundation, Eng. Paolo Sormani "The fact that the two bodies are present here together today represents the unity of purpose and organization between the University and the Foundation, born 9 months ago to become IRCCS and pursue research purposes, mainly clinical and translational". Even the Scientific Director of the Foundation, prof. Vincenzo Denaro, presented the research projects of the Foundation in these first few months, in the context of the funding raised up to September 2022, the steps with the Lazio Region for the request for recognition as IRCSS and the perspective vision for the future that envisages “Consolidation and growth on the national and international scene through participation in partnerships and networks, the increase in clinical studies and the creation of a reference center for tissue and regenerative therapy, for the application of bioengineering and artificial intelligence".
The importance of this intense collaboration was also underlined by the President, Eng. Carlo Tosti, who encouraged younger researchers to believe in the value of their work: "Don't be afraid to aim high and dream of the future, your contribution is essential to bring innovation to our country".

The three Research Coordinators, prof.ssa Marcella Trombetta of the Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Umile Giuseppe Longo of the Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and prof Laura De Gara of the Departmental Faculty of Science and Technology for Man and the Environment, concluded the meeting by specifically presenting the results obtained by the three Faculties and showing the projects and objectives for the coming years. Calls to intervene also some of the partner companies that have made the realization of projects possible UCBM being defined.: 

• Innovation Technology and R&D Altintech srl – dr. Riccardo Festa, President of Altintech, presented "PISTIS" - an innovative platform for the harmonization of the everyday life of weak subjects built with the RU of Tissue and Chemical Engineering for Engineering UCBM;
• PharmaMar – Dr. Anna Sacchetta, Medical Director of PharmaMar, showed the Modulation of GLO1 as a mechanism for overcoming Trabectedin resistance in soft tissue sarcomas studied with the Oncology RU UCBM;
• Ferrero SpA – Dr. Ginevra Rosso, Project Manager Research – Nutrition & Sustainability department Ferrero SpA, explained how the hazelnut skin is valorised together with the RU of Food and Nutrition Sciences UCBM.

The Research Day concluded on Friday evening with the traditional “European Researchers' Night”, the Frascati Scienza initiative to bring young people closer to the world of science and facilitate communication between researchers and citizens.