Young people and biomedical research: a scientific day promoted by Insubria and La Gemma Rara Association to be held in Varese on 30 March.

“Young people and biomedical scientific research: what future?” is the important topic at the centre of the conference organised by the University of Insubria, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, together with La Gemma Rara Odv Association, and includes themes such as innovation, prospects for young researchers and applications of Artificial Intelligence. Scheduled for Monday 30 March in Varese, from 8.45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Granero Porati Lecture Hall in Via Dunant 3, the public-facing scientific day is aimed at the University’s students and the general public, with the patronage of the Municipality of Varese, ASST Sette Laghi and Il Ponte del Sorriso Association.

The event opens with institutional greetings from the Pro-Rector of the University of Insubria, Umberto Piarulli; the Director of the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Flavia Marinelli; the President of La Gemma Rara Association, Giulio Broggini; the Association’s Scientific Director, Rosario Casalone; the Mayor of Varese, Davide Galimberti; and the Health and Social Care Director of ASST Sette Laghi, Giuseppe Calicchio.

This will be followed by a talk by Alessandro Fermi, Regional Councillor for University, Research and Innovation of Lombardy Region, entitled “Young People, Research and Artificial Intelligence: Lombardy Region’s Strategic Role in the Development of Future Biotechnologies”.

The programme continues with talks by two Insubria professors: Elena Bossi will address the topic “Young People, Talent and Research, from Bachelor’s Degree to Academic Career: Challenges, Opportunities and Obstacles”, while Francesco Acquati will present “Genius and Lateral Thinking in Science: A Short Biography of John Craig Venter”. This will be followed by Rossana Righi, from the Cytogenetics and Medical Genetics Unit of ASST Sette Laghi, with the talk “Young People and Research: Why Science Needs Young People. What Future?”.

One session will be dedicated to the research projects supported by La Gemma Rara Association in the Varese area, with contributions from Niccolò Callegari and Caterina Barbieri of the Cytogenetics and Medical Genetics Unit of ASST Sette Laghi, and Alessandra Giannatiempo of the University of Insubria.

The final part of the meeting will focus on the activities of La Gemma Rara Association. Paola Granata, genetic biologist, will present the “Online guide to services for rare disease patients in the province of Varese” and the “Always by your side” project, while Valeria Caruso will illustrate the outreach initiatives that the association carries out in local secondary schools.

Founded in Varese in 2007, La Gemma Rara Odv supports scientific research in medical genetics by funding scholarships for biologists and doctors, professional training activities and support for research projects and scientific publications. The association also promotes outreach activities on rare genetic diseases and support initiatives for affected people and their families, offering guidance along the diagnostic pathway and facilitating dialogue with doctors. Its active projects include an online guide to services for rare disease patients in the province of Varese, the “Always by your side” project, with video tutorials for patients and caregivers on the use of home medical devices, and outreach meetings in schools.

(In the photo, from left, without lab coats: Rosario Casalone, Valeria Caruso, Tania Jemoli, Giulio Broggini, Dario Grisostolo, Paola Granata; on the right, wearing a lab coat in the foreground, Rossana Righi and some of the facility’s staff)