DiMIT Research

The scientific activity of the Surgery group focuses on the development and implementation of advanced surgical strategies.

The main research lines include:

• the optimisation of kidney transplant outcomes through advanced graft assessment methods, intraoperative imaging and predictive models based on artificial intelligence;
• the development and consolidation of robotic surgery applied to transplant, pancreatic and hepato-bilio-pancreatic surgery;
• oncological pancreatic surgery, with a focus on the technical aspects of anastomoses and the organisation of Pancreas Units;
• endocrine surgery aimed at preventing, reducing and appropriately managing complications through the use of new technologies and medical devices;
• research into oncological issues in patients undergoing organ transplantation;
• emergency surgery and visceral trauma, with multicentre studies on minimally invasive and robotic approaches;
• the use of automated three-dimensional reconstruction models for surgical planning and precision surgery;
• clinical and translational research on cutaneous melanoma, with particular reference to surgical aspects, lymph node staging, oncological outcomes and integrated patient management.

The group’s activity has a strong translational, educational and organisational value, with direct impacts on clinical care and the definition of new models of care.

• General Surgery research group.

Study of the organisation of collagen fibres, the extracellular matrix and mineralisation processes using optical microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, advanced imaging techniques, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, and 3D scanning and printing.

Study of the organisation and morphometry of tendon and ligament collagen fibres in order to identify any fragility and assess their possible surgical use for the replacement of damaged ligaments.

Human Morphology research group.

The group’s activity focuses on the study of the mechanisms regulating gastrointestinal function in pathophysiological conditions, with the aim of contributing to the development of new pharmacological treatments or nutritional strategies. Research interests concern the interaction between the enteric nervous system, innate immunity and the gut microbiota in the development of enteric neuropathies associated with gastrointestinal disorders, such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

A further area of interest is the study of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, both to investigate the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with intestinal inflammation and IBS, and to assess its possible involvement in the onset of oncological diseases.

Gastrointestinal Pharmacology research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on the study of lymph formation and propulsion using in vivo and ex vivo models. The laboratory’s research concentrates on vascular mechanics, studying the regulation of the intrinsic lymphatic pump mechanism following exposure to physical, chemical and humoral factors in the interstitium surrounding the lymphatic vessels themselves.

The lymphatic vascular bed studied is represented by the lymphatics of the thoracic cavity, with particular attention to those of the diaphragm.

Human Physiology research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on clinical and translational research in gynaecology, with particular reference to gynaecological oncology and minimally invasive surgery. Current projects mainly aim to study surgical morbidity, with the objective of improving treatment personalisation through the integration of clinical, surgical and molecular data.

The main research lines are developed through observational and prospective studies aimed at assessing surgical and oncological outcomes, as well as the quality of care, and include:

• minimally invasive surgical treatment of ovarian cancer;
• reduction of surgical morbidity in endometrial cancer;
• use of artificial intelligence in the selection of patients with advanced ovarian cancer;
• implementation of molecular analyses in subgroups of patients with endometrial cancer;
• reduction of surgical morbidity at national level in hysterectomy for benign disease.

Gynaecological Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on diseases of the female genital tract, and in particular on the integrated clinical-pathological and molecular characterisation of gynaecological tumours.

The objectives are to:

1. identify the histological lesions or molecular alterations that precede the development of gynaecological tumours;
2. improve the diagnostic criteria and classification of gynaecological tumours;
3. identify prognostic and predictive markers, both clinical-pathological and molecular.

The research activity is based on the analysis of tissue samples from gynaecological tumours through histological, immunohistochemical and integrated multi-omics molecular examination, combined with relevant clinical data.

This research line therefore aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological tumours.

Gynaecopathology research group.

The scientific activity focuses on the development of cancer vaccine strategies based on the stimulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, which are essential for coordinating the adaptive immune response. This approach has been validated in several murine models of solid tumours.

In recent years, the research has focused on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive brain tumours, through combined strategies involving peptide vaccination and oncolytic virotherapy in preclinical models.

A translational aspect of the activity involves the isolation of primary GBM tumour cells from patients, which are modified to express MHC class II. Immunopeptidomics is used to identify MHC-II-restricted peptides as candidates for personalised peptide vaccines.

The group is also involved in the development of mucosal vaccines against COVID-19 and in the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of HTLV-1 infection.

Cancer Immunotherapy research group.

Study of micro- and nanoplastics released from dental materials in in vivo and ex vivo experimental models, in order to assess their impact on cells and tissues using optical microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, advanced imaging techniques, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology.

All members of the Human Morphology Laboratory working group actively contribute to the implementation and progress of the different research lines.

Human Morphology research group.

The group’s scientific activity, directly integrated with its healthcare activity, is structured around the following translational and diagnostic-clinical themes:

1. molecular dissection of the humoral immune response against various infectious agents, through the cloning and characterisation of human monoclonal antibodies;
2. study of microorganism–host interaction at mucosal level, with particular attention to the containment role played by innate immunity;
3. assessment of the role of the human microbiome and other microbiological indicators as possible prognostic markers in transplant patients, and study of the related pathophysiological mechanisms;
4. development and clinical validation of new methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of bacterial and fungal infections, with particular attention to their application in the rapid diagnosis of sepsis;
5. molecular epidemiology and comparative genomics of antibiotic resistance, with an interest in identifying genetic markers for bacterial tracing and describing the evolutionary trajectories of multidrug-resistant pathogens;
6. molecular epidemiology of emerging and re-emerging pathogens and their specific variants.

Medical Microbiology and Virology research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on the characterisation of the molecular mechanisms associated with glioblastoma (GBM) progression. This tumour is characterised by high plasticity and heterogeneity, with cells found in different states reminiscent of distinct developmental phases.

MES-like cells contain a high proportion of slow-cycling cells, defined as quiescent GBM (qGBM), which are important for therapy resistance and immune surveillance evasion.

Our group has previously identified ZBTB18 as a transcriptional repressor of MES genes and a tumour suppressor in GBM. The group is currently involved in several projects aimed at better understanding the role of ZBTB18 and associated factors in maintaining the quiescent state and regulating the expression of tumour antigens.

Molecular Neuro-Oncology research group.

The group’s scientific activity mainly focuses on three areas:

1. neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on learning disorders and their early identification in the first years of schooling. Since 2017, through the IndiPote(dn)S project, a protocol has been established for the early identification and enhancement of children in the final year of nursery school and the first two years of primary school who show risk indicators. This project later fed into the INDACO project, which extended the protocol at regional level. Within the European ESSENCE project under Horizon 2020, a digital platform was developed to support early identification and enhancement activities. As part of the PRIN “e-School 2.0” project (2023–2025), the effectiveness of paper-and-pencil and digital interventions on graphomotor fluency in the first year of primary school was assessed. The new research lines for 2025–2027 aim to validate digital tools for identification and enhancement, including serious games and action video games for training attentional functions, and to develop solutions for telemedicine and telerehabilitation. Finally, a project has been launched to monitor neurodevelopment in the first 1,000 days, with a particular focus on autism, using the teleNIDA tool — video recordings in the home context — at 18–24 months of age;
2. headaches in developmental age;
3. Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders.

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on clinical and translational research in gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal, gastro-oesophageal, hepato-bilio-pancreatic and neuroendocrine tumours.

At the University Oncology Unit of ASST Sette Laghi in Varese, academic and investigator-initiated phase II and III clinical trials are active, including multicentre studies promoted by national and international research networks. The main areas of activity concern first-line treatment of advanced colon cancer and colon cancer in elderly patients.

The translational activity focuses on identifying biomarkers useful for the personalisation of cancer therapies and, in particular, on assessing the prognostic and predictive role of liquid biopsy in gastrointestinal tumours, through the evaluation of circulating tumour DNA mutations and microRNAs in patients undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy for advanced disease.

Gastrointestinal Oncology research group.

The group’s scientific activity focuses on neuroendocrine neoplasms, with particular reference to those of the pituitary gland and digestive system. In particular, it is dedicated to the integrated clinical-pathological and molecular characterisation of neoplasms, with the aim of improving diagnostic criteria and classification, and identifying prognostic and predictive markers.

Research activity on diabetes focuses on deepening understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms and identifying specific metabolic pathways that may prove useful for the development of new therapies.

Endocrine Pathology research group.

The group’s scientific activity is structured across several areas, the two main ones being:

1. the study of pathogenetic mechanisms and molecular profiles — genetic and epigenetic — of solid tumours, with particular emphasis on neoplasms of the digestive system, gynaecological tumours and head and neck cancers. The research is aimed at the clinical validation of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers for molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The group integrates advanced morphology — optical and electron microscopy — immunohistochemistry and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). In addition, thanks to research carried out in recent years on neuroendocrine neoplasms of the digestive system, the group has become an international reference point and has been involved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in drafting the classifications of these neoplasms. The implementation of Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence algorithms represents the new frontier for optimising diagnostic accuracy and managing large volumes of data;
2. the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the use of stem cells for the correction of type 1 diabetes and its complications. Animal models and cultured cells have been used in these collaborative studies.

Molecular Pathology research group.

The group’s scientific activity concerns:

• the study of a new index to assess the severity of sleep-disordered breathing in paediatric patients;
• the study of the association between sleep-disordered breathing and bronchial asthma;
• the study of sleep-disordered breathing in children with genetic and/or rare diseases, including Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, achondroplasia and congenital central hypoventilation;
• the study of risk factors for SIDS and high-risk life-threatening events in infants — SUPC, ALTE and BRUE — both during pregnancy and in the perinatal period, with particular attention to environmental risk factors such as exposure to cigarette smoke, drugs or microplastic pollution;
• the study of possible correlations between apnoea and gastrointestinal disorders.

Paediatric Pulmonology research group.

Study of the different compartments of facial adipose tissue from a structural and ultrastructural perspective, in order to describe their organisation and age-related changes.

Study of the different compartments of visceral adipose tissue to highlight ultrastructural differences in the organisation of adipocytes and the extracellular matrix component. The investigations carried out involve optical and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology.

• Human Morphology research group.

The group’s scientific activity concerns the development of clinical studies on the treatment and early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Research protocols:

• Co-investigator in the SINODAR-ONE study, in collaboration with Istituto Clinico IRCCS Humanitas Rozzano, Milan — Principal Investigator Dr Corrado Tinterri — from October 2018 to present.
• Co-investigator in the LN-NEO01 study, a multicentre retrospective observational study aimed at developing predictive tests of axillary status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer, in collaboration with Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Pavia (2023).
• Co-investigator in the Localization01 study, a multicentre retrospective clinical study comparing preoperative localisation methods for non-palpable breast lesions in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery, in collaboration with Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Pavia (2024).
• Co-investigator in the study “ROLL Versus Magnetic Seed for Preoperative Localization of Non-palpable Breast Lesion: Comparison Between Techniques (SEED01)”, in collaboration with Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Pavia (2024).
• Co-investigator in the study “Proteomic Analysis for the Detection of Salivary Biomarkers in Early-Onset Breast Cancer”, in collaboration with SC Odontostomatologia, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, and the Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation of the University of Insubria, Varese (2025).

Breast Unit research group.

The research line on benign prostatic hyperplasia focuses on the prospective collection of clinical, functional and instrumental data from patients undergoing surgical treatment for BPH using laser endoscopic techniques — thulium or holmium laser enucleation — and robotic approaches. The main objective is to systematically compare postoperative functional outcomes, as well as the safety profile in terms of perioperative and postoperative complications.

The research line on erectile dysfunction focuses on assessing the efficacy and safety of emerging regenerative and biological therapies for the treatment of ED and Peyronie’s disease. Through controlled prospective studies, functional outcomes are evaluated using validated tools — IIEF and PGI-S — and objective parameters, including dynamic penile colour Doppler ultrasound and goniometry. The aim is to identify the patient profiles most responsive to each treatment, optimising personalised therapeutic protocols.

The research line on urological tumours focuses on the immunophenotypic and functional characterisation of NK cells in patients with bladder, kidney and prostate cancer. The main objective is to identify immunological biomarkers predictive of treatment response and prognosis, as well as potential targets for immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies.

Urology research group.

The research group studies the persistence of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) and its interaction with the immune system, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms regulating the stability of the human virome and enhancing the value of TTV as a functional indicator of the host’s immune status.

Since the processes of viral persistence are still poorly understood, partly due to the lack of adequate experimental models, the group develops and uses three-dimensional cellular models capable of reconstructing complex tissue microenvironments and differentiated immune conditions, including states of immunosuppression.

Through integrated approaches involving advanced cell culture, molecular virology and experimental immunology, the group analyses TTV replication and persistence, the mechanisms of immunomodulation and the determinants of viral entry.

The research activity aims to support the development of virome-based diagnostic tools and to strengthen the use of TTV as a biomarker of immunocompetence in various clinical contexts, including transplantation, immunosuppressive therapies and oncology, also thanks to highly translational clinical collaborations.

Virology research group.