The Health Sciences and Technologies (HST) research line gathers and coordinates skills in the field of diagnosis technologies, treatment, rehabilitation and active aging. In particular, the activities of the Department are divided into 5 main axes:
- personalized medicine, which includes genomic analysis, specific patient models, customized in vitro diagnostics, surgical modeling and planning, rehabilitation robotics and neuroprosthetics;
- predictive medicine, which includes the multimodal analysis of data and ethical AI models to support decision making in medical fields, the mechanisms for sensing and controlling communication at cellular level, the development of micro and nano-optoelectronic devices for neuronal cell stimulation, single photon photodetectors for the analysis of single molecules, gamma cameras for multimodal imaging systems, new technologies for imaging metal nanoparticles for theranostics in radio / proton therapy;
- participative medicine, which includes technologies for digital health, monitoring and empowerment and education of patients, tele-medicine and tele-rehabilitation;
- preventive medicines, with quantitative and transparent monitoring also through wearable smart sensors and actuators, training technologies and technologies for the promotion of lifestyles;
- psycho-cognitive medicine, for the development of technologies for persuasive design and the study of behavioral models.
In the coming years, the Department plans to consolidate its national and international position in the field of HST.
The challenges that the department has to face involve structuring of its collaborations, strengthening of technology transfer activities and a more effective dissemination action.
In the field of scientific and technological innovation, the goal of the next three years is the creation of a HUB dedicated to HST that involves all the major clinical research institutes in the area, for the development of new technologies, for experimental validation in controlled environments and to promote clinical translation and technology transfer. The HUB will formalize existing collaborations and promote the creation of a network of joint laboratories, which can become coordination points for research projects.
The second goal is strengthening the dissemination activity:
- improving the impact of publications of its most important research results through an accurate dissemination strategy in prestigious journals,
- promoting the organization of high-profile scientific events and initiatives (conferences, summer schools, etc.),
- proposing new event formats in collaboration with patients associations (for patient empowerment) and with medical associations (for the continuous training of health personnel)
- extending the actions aimed at the general public, through social media, collaborations with the press, events open to the population.
Expected impact on sustainable development goals in the areas: SDG1, SDG3, SDG4, SDG8, SDG9, SDG11, and SDG17.
Il secondo obiettivo è il potenziamento della propria attività di disseminazione:
- migliorando l’impatto delle pubblicazioni dei propri più importanti risultati di ricerca attraverso una accurata strategia di disseminazione su riviste di prestigio,
- promuovendo l’organizzazione di eventi e iniziative di alto profilo scientifico (conferenze, summer school etc),
- proponendo nuovi format di eventi in collaborazione con le associazioni dei pazienti per l’empowerment dei pazienti e con le associazioni mediche per la formazione continua del personale sanitario