Research: Departments

Structural and Functional Biology

The Department of Structural and Functional Biology (DBSF) was founded in 1997 to organize the biological research activities of the University of Milan in the city of Varese. With the establishment of the new University of Insubria in 1998, the DBSF became part of the University.
The DBSF includes over 40 staff scientists and technicians, plus several research and Ph.D. students, postdocs and undergraduates in Biology, Biotechnology and Natural Sciences.

Two main research areas are developed in the Department: one with a naturalistic and environmental character, the second related to functional and structural themes. All studies have strong connections with the interests of the region in which the University of Insubria is located, where problems concerning the protection of the environment are strictly related to a wide and highly qualified industrial presence.
The environmental and naturalistic research shows a relevant applicative character, and is aimed to catalogue ecological systems, to study their dynamics and to monitor pollutants. The functional and structural studies are developed at the molecular and cellular levels in a number of fields, including physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry and pharmacology.
The most preeminent aim is the enhancement of knowledge, but the possible links with applied research in biotechnology, medicine and industry are also considered.

The Sections of Environmental Studies, Physiology and Biophysics, Zoology and Paleontology are located in Varese, while the Sections of Molecular Biology, Pathology, Pharmacology are located in Busto Arsizio.