MSCA - progetti finanziati

This project investigates “amoeboid angiogenesis,” a protease-independent motility that enables cancer and endothelial cells (ECs/EPCs) to migrate through the ECM, bypassing conventional MPI and anti-VEGF therapies. The objective is to identify shared mechanisms regulating this movement, specifically those linking target molecules to the cortical actin cytoskeleton. By using cargo liposomes to deliver specific inhibitors, the research aims to block both tumor invasion and vascular growth simultaneously, thereby overcoming drug resistance in preclinical models.

Principal Investigator: Anastasia Chillà
Supervisor: Paola Chiarugi
Project Duration: 1st December 2017 – 1st September 2021
Department: Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio"
Grant Agreement N. 748731

The body is continually undergoing growth and repair, with new cells forming on a regular basis through mitosis. During mitosis, the genetic material is duplicated and the cell divides with each of two daughter cells receiving a complete copy of every chromosome. The endocycle is a normal variant of the cell cycle where cells replicate their genomes without dividing. Widespread in protozoa, plants and animals, its role in repair of mammalian tissues is unclear. ROAR is exploring the potential role of endocyles in recovery of renal function after acute kidney injury. Insight may also help reduce occurrence of chronic kidney disease following recovery from acute kidney injury.

Principal Investigator: Letizia De Chiara
Supervisor: Paola Romagnani
Project Duration: 1st September 2019 – 31st August 2021
Department: Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio"
Grant Agreement N. 855774

At a time of technological transition REGinTRAN aims to understand under which conditions advanced manufacturing might turn out to be a viable driver for sustaining the development of regions suffering from structural disadvantages. On the one hand, the literature on systems of advanced manufacturing has mostly concentrated on a few highly successful regions and established a clear-cut distinction between growing and declining regions. On the other hand, studies on the national models of capitalism have tended to adopt a deterministic account of the process of economic development yet overlooking the role of actors. The main innovative contribution of REGinTRAN will be to embrace a dynamical perspective of the study of regional trajectories by taking into consideration the hitherto unrealized potential of less developed territories. More precisely, the project will investigate the linkages between social actors’ mobilizations, patterns of state intervention and the opportunities and constraints offered by digital technologies for industrial transformation. This will contribute to produce new knowledge on the institutions and mechanisms that can foster (or hinder) a process of socio-economic transition. REGinTRAN will be based on an interdisciplinary approach building on comparative political economy, sociology of public action and regional and economic geography. Apulia and Lower Silesia will be investigated in depth through a systematic comparison using causal process tracing (1999-2016). A quantitative analysis of socio-economic indicators for less developed regions in Europe will complement the case-study analysis. The project will provide policy inputs on how to build a collective capacity of action by mobilizing unused resources and promoting inclusive growth. Different measures (workshops with students and professionals; one policy-brief) will be taken in order to disseminate results and stimulate a wider non-academic debate.

Principal Investigator: Deborah Galimberti
Supervisor: Luigi Burroni
Project Duration: 1st November 2018 – 30th April 2021
Department: Political and Social Sciences (DSPS)
Grant Agreement N. 797533

The human brain is a massively complex information processing system with a hierarchy of different yet tightly integrated levels of organization. From such intricate interplay emerge our personality, emotions, memory and decision making capabilities, but unwrapping the mysteries of the brain functioning represents a huge challenge.
This research project will develop a novel dual-view inverted dual-slit confocal light sheet microscope, capable of resolving sub-cellular morphology over centimeter-sized tissues at beyond state of the art acquisition speed. This instrument will be used to perform a comparative cytoarchitectonic investigation of mesoscale human brain tissues, both healthy and affected by Focal Cortical Dysplasia, leveraging an advanced machine learning image analysis algorithm. Such study will greatly advance the medical and neurobiological understanding of the effects of neuro-degenerative pathologies.

Principal Investigator: Vladislav Gavryusev
Supervisor: Francesco Saverio Pavone
Department: Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio"
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grant Agreement N. 793849

Molecules with atypical bonds, particularly those involving f-block metals, offer valuable insights into electronic structure. However, d–4f and 4f–4f metal complexes are rare, making it difficult to design and synthesise compounds due to limited understanding of their structure-property relationships. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the METALLICUS project will advance knowledge of lanthanide-metal bonding by designing and synthesising new compounds featuring 4f-metal bonds with exceptional magnetic properties. Using a multi-technique approach that combines magnetism, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry (supported by computational methods), the project will investigate the unique characteristics of these compounds. The findings will contribute to progress in both classical and quantum information technologies, and have implications for rare earth element separation.

Principal Investigator: Carlo Andrea Mattei
Supervisor: Mauro Perfetti
Project Duration: 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2028
Department: Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS)
Grant Agreement N. 101210218

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme, localised rainfall, resulting in higher levels of soil erosion. The EU-funded SED-RUNS project will use ground-radar rainfall monitoring and hydrological modelling at the regional scale in Tuscany, central Italy, to quantify the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme rainfalls as well as runoff and soil erosion over the last 10 years. The project will also create a platform to model runoff and soil erosion in extreme events in real time, acquire data for the calibration/validation of the model and implement new monitoring methods. Researchers will then simulate in real time runoff and soil erosion from extreme rainfall by integrating the current regional warning system for extreme climatic events.

Principal Investigator: Rossano Ciampalini
Supervisor: Sandro Moretti
Project Duration: 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2024
Department: Earth Sciences (DST)
Grant Agreement N. 101033236

In physics and engineering, fluid dynamics is the subdiscipline of fluid mechanics that studies liquids and gases in motion. Lately, it has been used to describe the whirling dynamics of the quark–gluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions that take place in powerful particle accelerators. Furthermore, it can describe statistical fluctuations of physical properties near the quantum chromodynamics critical point. Fluid dynamics can also shed more light on the physics of quantum chaos. The EU-funded UniCHydro project will offer researchers the opportunity to expand their methodological skill set on fluid dynamics to analyse statistical fluctuations and chaotic quantum systems.

Principal Investigator: Natalia Pinzani Fokeeva
Supervisor: Francesco Becattini
Project Duration: 1st February 2021 – 26th May 2026
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Grant Agreement N. 886540

The European project Cyano4REST addresses land degradation processes in drylands, where traditional restoration techniques fail due to water scarcity. This research investigates an innovative, environmentally-friendly biotechnology based on cyanobacteria inoculation. The objective is to evaluate how the polysaccharidic matrix (EPS) affects physico-chemical soil properties, enhancing water retention, soil stability, fertility, and CO2 fixation. Through experiments under laboratory and field conditions, Cyano4REST aims to develop a sustainable technology to foster soil recovery, protect the environment, and combat climate change.

Principal Investigator: Sonia Chamizo de la Piedra
Supervisor: Roberto de Philippis
Project Duration: 1st November 2016 – 31st October 2018
Department: Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)
Grant Agreement N. 706351

Addressing global food security challenges, this project investigates unexplored salt-tolerance mechanisms in dicotyledonous halophytes to improve traditional crops. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the research focuses on four species (Atriplex nummularia, Chenopodium quinoa, Salicornia dolichostachya, and Beta vulgaris) to unravel how they manage cytotoxic sodium. By decoding key traits like vacuolar Na sequestration, cytosolic K retention, and bladder cell-based desalination, the project aims to develop resilient, salt-tolerant crops.

Principal Investigator: Nadia Bazihizina
Supervisor: Stefano Mancuso
Project Duration: 1st December 2016 – 30th November 2019
Department: Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)
Grant Agreement N. 700001

Medieval and Renaissance panel paintings are at risk from hygrothermal climate changes. These environmental changes cause the wood to expand and contract, leading to potential cracks and damage. Traditional museum climate control systems help, but they are expensive and consume a lot of energy. The challenge is how to protect these treasures in a sustainable way. The MASTERPIECE project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, offers a smart solution. It combines energy-efficient climate control with advanced digital modelling to create digital twins of the paintings. These replicas predict how artworks will react to environmental changes, helping museums to better protect them. By balancing preservation and sustainability, MASTERPIECE aims to set new standards in the conservation of wooden cultural heritage.

Principal Investigator: Lorenzo Riparbelli
Supervisor: Marco Fioravanti
Project Duration: 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2028
Department: Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)
Grant Agreement N. 101155233

Every year in the EU, cardiovascular diseases claim more than 1.8 million lives. Implantable electronic devices (IEDs) such as pacemakers and defibrillators are critical in managing these conditions, yet their reliance on traditional batteries limits their lifespan and efficiency. The current technology faces challenges of sustainability and cost-effectiveness, hindering widespread accessibility and patient care. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NEW-TECH project will develop an advanced energy harvest (EH) device based on porous piezoelectric polymers. Led by experts in computational mechanics and polymer physics, the project aims to harness porous piezoelectric polymers like P(VDF-TrFE) and innovative EH designs to create durable, sustainable, and cost-effective power sources.

Principal Investigator: Hamdi Ezzin
Supervisor: Roberto Brighenti
Project Duration: 1st October 2024 – 30th September 2026
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA)
Grant Agreement N. 101147327

Increasing frequencies of drought in Mediterranean-like environments globally have led to diminished soil water availability for vegetation, forcing reliance on groundwater for photosynthesis. Sustainable groundwater management necessitates quantifying recharge and evapotranspiration, interconnected through critical zone processes. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RECHARGE project combines field observations and modelling to assess groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration. This interdisciplinary endeavour aims to recognise vegetation adaptations to evolving climates, crucial for informing effective climate adaptation policies. RECHARGE will provide insights crucial for sustainable groundwater management in changing environments. Overall, the project is expected to drive research towards innovative solutions for sustainable groundwater management.

Principal Investigator: Simone Gelsinari
Supervisor: Daniele Penna
Project Duration: 1st April 2025 – 30th June 2027
Department: Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)
Grant Agreement N. 101154855

PHOTOCODE project aims to harness the chiral induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect to control electron spin in organic semiconductors with light. This process could have important implications for industries such as renewable energy, display and illumination, and healthcare. Despite the promise of the CISS effect, lack of direct experimental evidence has hindered its full potential. PHOTOCODE’s goal is to extend the CISS effect from spintronics to organic optoelectronics, providing unprecedented control of electron spin in organic molecules and devices. Utilising advanced photophysical characterisation, molecular engineering and quantum mechanical calculation methods, PHOTOCODE will seek to fabricate spin photovoltaic devices and expand the reach of organic materials into the organic opto/spintronics field.

Principal Investigator: Alberto Privitera
Supervisor: Andrea Caneschi
Project Duration: 1st October 2023 – 31st October 2025
Department: Industrial Engineering (DIEF)
Grant Agreement N. 101104276 

Today, reducing energy consumption and utilization of natural resources whilst maintaining high productivity is a necessary step to accomplish both sustainable agricultural and the supply of an increasingly worldwide food demand. For these reasons, improving precision and automation in horticulture farming are the main future challenges. In this context, the project focuses on the development of an automated hydroponic cultivation system driven by the plant “itself” able to optimize the request of light, water and nutrients. The aim is to develop an automated system able to detect the needs of the plants by the interpretation of the electrical signals generated by the plants under specific stresses.

Principal Investigator: Diego Comparini
Supervisor: Stefano Mancuso
Project Duration: 1st January 2018 – 31st December 2019
Department: Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)
Grant Agreement N. 750807

Rising atmospheric CO2 and climate change accelerate terrestrial water cycles, triggering more frequent and severe droughts and reducing soil moisture. This disruption endangers the stability of terrestrial carbon budgets by altering vegetation functions. Human activities exacerbate these effects through deforestation and intensive water use. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TYPIC project will explore how socio-environmental changes affect carbon-water dynamics. Using Earth observations and big data, TYPIC maps global variations and disentangles underlying mechanisms. By identifying hotspots, it aids in land-based mitigation strategies and water resource sustainability. TYPIC promises to unravel associated complexities, informing crucial environmental policies.

Principal Investigator: Chen Zefeng
Supervisor: Giovanni Forzieri
Project Duration: 1st October 2024 – 30th September 2026
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA)
Grant Agreement N. 101152010

People adapt to their environment. The ability of early humans to adjust to extreme environmental conditions was the key to the survival and evolution of Homo sapiens. But why did they choose to live in extremely different environments (high mountains versus low lowlands)? The MSCA-funded HUMA project will answer this question. It will also explain how high-altitude settlements relate to the lowland sites in the framework of land management. This is particularly the case of the finale Pleistocene to mid-Holocene period in the Horn of Africa. In this context, HUMA is the first project to fully explore the contribution of a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to the understanding of human adaptation to the different environments in the Later Stone Age of the Horn of Africa.

Principal Investigator: Giuseppina Mutri
Supervisor: Domenico Lo Vetro
Project Duration: 1st March 2023 – 28th February 2026
Department: History, Archaeology, Geography, Fine and Performing Arts (SAGAS)
Grant Agreement N. 101067493

Misinformation and misleading advice can lead caregivers of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) astray, impacting their care decisions and diverting them from evidence-based approaches. While the EU emphasises the importance of media literacy to combat misinformation, there is a lack of tailored initiatives for caregivers of children with NDDs. The MSCA-funded MediaCare project aims to address this gap by developing a web-based app to enhance media literacy skills for caregivers of children with NDDs. The app will counter common caregiver misinformation on NDDs with trusted resources and a digital care community. Ultimately, the project aims to provide a pioneering solution for caregivers, empowering them to navigate media confidently and make informed, evidence-based care decisions.

Principal Investigator: Eva Bei
Supervisor: Christian Tarchi
Project Duration: 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2027
Department: Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (FORLILPSI)
Grant Agreement N. 101151750