The research activity of the DBM is strongly characterized by the development of Interdisciplinary Transversal Projects, each involving many of the different research groups within the department. Among the main research areas are: Genetic bases of susceptibility to specific complications in critically ill patients; Genetic bases of rare diseases and complex diseases; Biomaterials and development of new tests to assess biocompatibility and interaction with the host and pathogenic microorganisms; Molecular diagnostics in medicine for the development and validation of new tests; Quantitative methods for clinical decision support; Direct and inverse interpretative models applied to biomedical systems; Immunopathology of infectious diseases and vaccines and animal models; Research on new biomarkers, development, and validation of new diagnostic tests for monitoring critically ill patients; Role of infectious agents and genetic factors in oncogenesis; Development and spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
The scientific project of the Department is characterized by multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research topics, with the aim of promoting vertical scientific interactions between disciplines dedicated to basic and pre-clinical research and those disciplines more closely involved in clinical research. This multidisciplinary approach involves collaboration between clinical research in gynecology, reproductive medicine, neonatology, and pediatrics, and basic research conducted by faculty in the biological, histological, anatomical, physiological, pathological, and public health sectors. Within this framework, there is a synergistic scientific interaction between psychiatry and pharmacology, particularly concerning the development and study of experimental behavior models, as well as with maternal and child clinical care in the study of women's and children's health issues. Additionally, a significant aspect of the Department's scientific activity is the development of the study of hygiene, prevention, and public health directed towards the community, industry, and education.
The Department's project is centered around translational research, which encompasses activities spanning from the patient's bedside to the laboratory and back into clinical practice and the wider community. This approach entails engaging with industry sectors such as biotechnology, pharmacology, and biomedical technology, as well as internationalizing research efforts, fortifying existing collaborations, and developing specific multidisciplinary projects. Within DSMCN, faculty members delve into researching the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie specific diseases, aiming to identify effective tools for investigating, diagnosing, and treating immunological, inflammatory, and oncological pathologies, and to devise new molecular therapies tailored to individual patients. DSMCN's expertise lies within the realms of Medical, Surgical, and Onco-Hematological Sciences, with precision and translational medicine serving as focal points of research endeavors. Additionally, DSMCN fosters collaborations, agreements, and training opportunities with biotechnology entities in the region, facilitated by the presence of some of our laboratories in the Tuscany Life Sciences bio-incubator.