News

As announced in the NODES News dated 04/07/2024 (available at the following link), the new PhD student MS Skylar Tang has been recruited by Politecnico di Torino to assist the startup Paperbox Health in the development of the software DINO, a gamified computer app designed to assist in the early identification and possible diagnosis of learning disabilities. The student is enrolled in the PhD program in Mathematical Sciences, 40th cycle.    The software is based on a hierarchical Bayesian model, a special kind of content-based AI tools, implementing ideas coming from Item Response Theory (IRT). 

“Inside the heart of Industrial Piemonte, to discover the value of those who create value” is the claim of the fifth edition of ''Open Factories'', the initiatives of the Region of Piemonte aimed at promoting the value of business culture and, in particular, the ''factory'' as an essential element of the social, entrepreneurial and professional wealth of Piemonte.    Also this year, the Bioindustry Park, partner of NODES' Spoke 5, participated together with 140 facilities across the region, which were exceptionally opened their doors for the occasion. The initiative allowed visitors to gain direct insight into industrial production sites and to ''experience firsthand'' the ability to transform ideas and projects into outstanding processes and products.    Over two afternoons, on October 24th and 25th, Colleretto Giacosa headquarters welcomed groups of visitors, predominantly young people interested in the reality of the Science and Technology Park. They were guided through an exploitation of the heart of biotechnological innovation, discovering advanced technologies for the health and life sciences sector.    Over 11.000 visitors registered, and 150 school classes organized a company visit.   The reality of the PArk was presented togeher with companies : Merck Serono, AorticLab, Bridge4pharma and Fondazione ITS Biotecnologie e Nuove Scienze della Vita Piemonte which accompained the participants on a visit to the laboratory with the help of teachers and students.    The event was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), serving as an opportunity to showcase to citizens the various ways in which ERDF resources can be effectivaly utilized. It was organized in partnership with the NODES project - Innovation Ecosystem for a Digital and Sustainable Northwest, funded by the MUR - PNRR, D.D. n.1054. 

Dr. Alessandra Audisio from the Politecnico di Torino was awarded the Best Scientific Work for her innovative technique to monitor mobility in everyday life environments.    In the splendid setting of the hotel ''La Palma di Stresa'', overlooking Lake Maggiore, the MOVEWISE project was presented to the Italian Society for Movement Analysis in Clinics(of which Prof. Cereatti is the president) during the XXIV National Congress. The project of the Research Module 3 of the flagship project TINCARE, aims to develop a wearable system for monitoring mobility parameters most related to the risk of falls in everyday life. The dissemination took place in oral form and through poster, presented by ing. Marco Caruso, by dr. Marco Boldreghini, by prof. Valentina Agostini and by prof Andrea Cereatti, who facilitated a rich discussion with colleagues and experts in the field.    The most exciting news, however, was the awarding of thE SIAMOC 2024 Best Works Society Prize to dr. Alessandra Audisio, a young PhD student at the Polytechnic University of Turin in Prof. Cereatti's group, in collaboration with engineers Daniele Fortunato, Paolo Tasca and Marco Caruso. Her study within the MOVEWISE project, titled ''Validation of a new method for center of mass trajectory estimation in simulated daily life activities based on inertial and barometric pressure data fusion'', has allowed a significant advancement in reconstructing the vertical displacement of the center of mass during daily activities using inertial and environmental pressure sensors through advanced sensor fusion techniques, thus overcoming  previous technological limitations. Thanks to the recognition received, the work will undergo a fast-track review process for publication in the prestigious Journal of Biomechanics.       Anyone who need more information can send an email to andrea.cereatti@polito.it.  

In Novara, a full day divided into four sessions to esplore innovative solutions in the field of regenerative medicine, marked not only by the presence of a large number of young researchers in the audience but also by the participation of international guests.    The academy dedicated to regenerative medicine took place on October 10, 2024, at the ''Gaudenzio Cattaneo'' Auditorium in Novara. The event was organized by professor Francesca Boccafoschi, , full professor of Human Anatomy and Scientific Coordinator of the flagship project ''INNDIANA'' of the Spoke 5 of NODES.  The academy concluded with great satisfaction among participants, confirming the crucial role of advanced training initiatives in the professional development and growth of students, PhD candidates, researchers and professionals in the field, also used in industry.    The initiative provided a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions in the field of regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on the use of stem cells and their reprogramming, advanced biomaterials, and new therapeutic approaches.  The contributions of experts from prestigious European universities and Italian research institutes enriched the program, offering an international and multisciplinary vision. Thanks to their expertise, the sessions covered topics ranging from the challenges of basic research to clinical applications, fostering discussions on topics of great relevance.    <<Due to the progressive changes in the population, a global phenomenon that is certainly prominent within Italy as well  - stated Professor Boccafoschi -, regenerative medicine has become increasingly important in the last decade, confirmed by the interest in science and research as well as strong market trends from companies operating in the biomedical sector. It was an important day for all of us, not only due to the presence of a large number of young researchers in the audience, who needed to learn about new fields of science application, but also because they had international guests, which have strengthened existing partnerships with UPO and created new ones>>.   The feedback collected from participants highlights the success of the initiative and the added value brought by the highly interactive, in-person sessions. Particular appreciation was given to the focus on attendees' opinions, the quality of the hospitality, and the enthusiasm shown by the speakers, emphasizing the importance of informal discussions between espertx and young researchers. The academy also stimulated suggestions for improving future editions, such as extending the time allocated for debates with the experts.     Watch the video summary of the day: Click here   

New perspectives on Fe(III)-based MRI contrast agents: NODES researcher awarded for innovative research on iron-based contrast agents.   During the ''13th conference on Fast Field Cycling NMR Relaxometry'', held in Palermo from September 10th to 13th, an important award was given to Dr. Alessandro Nucera of the University of Piemonte Orientale, a researcher of the group of Professor Mauro Botta.  His presentation entitled ''Relaxometric investigations of Fe(III)-based complexes as T1-weighted Contrast Agents'', was awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry as the best oral presentation (RSC Award Under 35). The work, evaluated by an international jury of experts, focuses on the study of Fe (III) complexes as potential paramagnetic probes for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to the commonly used gadolinium complexes. This research is contextualized in the activities of Spoke 5 - Health Industry and Silver Economy and more in detail in the macro-area of innovative and sustainable diagnostics.     

UNINIGHT 2024 at the Royal Museumes of Torino UNINIGHT took place on Septmber 27th and 28th, 2024, in Torino, as well as across Europe, inviting everyone to come together to celebrate the European Researchers' Night. It was an immersive experience in the world of research, aimed at encouraging active participation in the scientific process, with the goal of showcasing research outcomes and helping people undersrand their impact on our daily lives.    The challenges of engineering for health  Among the 250 activities offered, researchers from NODES at the PolitoBIOMED Lab have prepared a challenge for both adults and children consisting of three games related to three Research Module of the TINCARE and INNDIANA projects: home respiratory ventilation, wearable sensors and nanotechnology.  The proposed challenge was very successful and provided an opportunity for older participants to learn about the activities conducted in NODES research, while younger ones could engage in physical, logical, and memory activities to earn a spot in the Night's Hallo of Fame.     

On Saturday, September 28th, the University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO) took part in the second edition of Health Festival in Novara, an initiative promoted by the ASL and the Municipality of Novara. The event took place in front of the Sant'Agabio Parish and featured the participation of the NODES group, the Aging project, UPO BIOBANK-Novara Cohort Study and the Sant'Agabio's pharmacies.  These groups shared the results of their research with the general public and highlighted their impact on public health, promoting scientific outreach.    Among the activities offered, the INNDIANA and TINCARE project team illustrated the social impact of innovation and sustainability initiatives through practical demonstrations aimed at improving the care of vulnerable individuals. The high participation and 100% of satisfaction recorded through a survey confirmed the success of the initiative, encouraging the researchers to participate in future editions of the Festival.  Games were the key element in engaging the public, making the activity attractive not only for adults and elderly people interested in the topics presented, but also to children and young people eager to explore scinece in an interactive way. This approach helped create a calm and stimulating atmosphere, fostering dialogue and curiosity on a peaceful Saturday afternoon. Moreover, the initiative represented an important moment of connection between the university and the community, providing valuable tools for the prevention and promotion of public health. 

The Metaverse enables new possibilities for remote monitoring and treatment of patients through the use of innovative devices such as Head-Mounted Display.    The 3D LAB of the Department of Management and Production Engineering at the Polytechnic of Torino and the Department of Human Anatomy of the University of Torino have developed a virtual reality (VR) Platform integrated into the Metaverse for remote monitoring of users' cognitive status. This technology aims to enable the evaluation of cognitive fucntions through immersive activities in real time.   The system collects test results, providing doctors with detailed information on users' cognitive abilities and highlighting any critical findings. This approach allows for remote cognitive assessments, reducing the need for face-to-face visits and offering a cost-effective option for continuous monitoring in order to achieve personalized and participatory medicine.  An experiment was conducted to validate the use of VR in non-pathological subjects. The 42 participants provided extremely positive feedback on the involvement and usability, and highlighted areas of improvement in kinetics that will be the focus of future research for use by patients. 

On September 17th,2024, the event ''Showcase of NODES' project: Pitch & Poster Session'' took place at the Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero SpA, a day that represented a real springboard for innovation and strategic synergies.   Organized in collaboration with BioPmed, partner of Spoke 5, the event highlighted the Proof of Concept (PoC) developed through the NODES project's cascade calls.    The event was a unique showcase for grant recipients, providing a platform for sharing both industrial and academic Proof of Concept (PoC).   During the Pitch Session dedicated to industrial PoC, partecipants presented progress made in their projects, highlighting the technological innovation achieved with the support of the NODES project. Each presentation demonstrated how collaboration between the industrial and academic sectors can lead to concrete market solutions, as well as the potential transformative impact on crucial sectors, from biomedicine to advanced biotechnology.    In parallel, the Poster Session gave space to accademic PoC. researchers from universities and research centers presented their results through posters, attracting great interest and attention from visitors. This section showed the value of academic research in developing new technologies and practical applications to build future centered around sustainable innovation.    The event achieved its main objectives: promoting innovation, facilitating the creation of new collaborations, and expanding the network among companies, universities, and healthcare institutions. The participant of key stakeholders contributed to fostering strategic synergies, providing opportunities for growth and innovation in the biotechnology field.  With strong attendance and dynamic interactions, the meeting reaffirmed the crucial role of NODES in supporting the development of cutting-edge technologies and facilitating connections between the industrial and academic worlds. 

The company IngeniArs S.r.l. has been delivered the devices to the TINCARE researchers for use in the INTERCOACH study, which will assess the feasibility of a nurse-managed telemonitoring intervention for patients discharged from the hospital after heart failure.  The TINCARE researchers have completed their training to use the remote telemonitoring platform and they are ready to begin recruiting the first patients. The INTERCOACH study will officially start in the coming weeks.     The telemonitoring platform allows the nurse to remotely monitor the patient's vital signs, as well as to send them questionnaires or initiate a telehealth conditions require it.  The patient will receive a smartphone connected to devices that allow the detection of weight, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation.  On the scheduled day and time, the patient will receive an audible signal that will remind him to proceed with the detection of the required parameters. The nurse and clinicians from the Maggiore della Carità University Hospital in Novara who have discharged the patient, will be able to access the platform and monitor the individual's health status, allowing for prompt intervention if necessary.   The patient may interact with the nurse asking for device or clarification about positive lifestyles and behaviors to prevent relapse of disease. 

NODES - Spoke 5 sostiene l'iniziativa "Fabbriche Aperte Piemonte" grazie alla partnership con bioPmed.   Lo Spoke 5 è lieto di annunciare il suo supporto all'iniziativa "Fabbriche Aperte Piemonte", promossa e organizzata dalla Regione Piemonte che si terrà giovedì 24, venerdì 25 e sabato 26 ottobre. Quest'evento, giunto alla sua quinta edizione, rappresenta un'opportunità straordinaria per il pubblico di visitare i luoghi della produzione industriale nel territorio piemontese. Negli anni, "Fabbriche Aperte Piemonte" ha attratto oltre 21.500 visitatori, offrendo un'esperienza diretta nei processi produttivi manifatturieri delle aziende partecipanti. Questo evento non solo promuove la trasparenza e l'apertura delle industrie, ma rafforza anche il legame tra le imprese e la comunità locale.   La partnership tra lo Spoke 5 e bioPmed è fondamentale per sostenere questa iniziativa, che mira a valorizzare l'innovazione e l'eccellenza nel settore industriale piemontese e contribuisce a promuovere lo sviluppo economico e tecnologico della regione, facilitando l'accesso ai suoi stabilimenti e ai suoi processi produttivi. Le aziende interessate sono invitate a partecipare a "Fabbriche Aperte Piemonte" aprendo le porte dei loro stabilimenti per condividere la loro storia, i loro successi e le loro pratiche industriali con il pubblico.   Le manifestazioni di interesse devono essere presentate entro il 20 luglio 2024, attraverso il modulo disponibile su https://lnkd.in/dAFv8PEa.   Questa è un'opportunità unica per le imprese piemontesi di mostrare la loro innovazione e il loro impegno verso la trasparenza industriale.

TINCARE researchers presented the results of their research at the congress of European Society of Biomechanics.  From June 30th to July 3th, the European Society of Biomechanics gathered in Edinburgh for its annual congress, the main European event bringing together experts in the field of biomechanics.  Young researchers from the group led by Professor Alberto Audenino participated in the event, who took the opportunity to disseminate some of the results of the research results from NEWBREATH, the Research Module of TINCARE aimed at developing a ventilation device to support patients in a home environment.  The researchers presented their work on numerical modeling and experimentation related to the performance and safety assessments of ventilator devices. Specifically, they introduced a new model capable of distinguishing the effects of CPAP therapy on different alveolar health conditions. This model can provide valuable insights not only on the most effective therapy but also on the risks that patients may face during treatment.   In addition, an experimental study was presented on the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the interfaces used for the administration of CPAP therapy to patients was presented. This study highlighted safety implications of the therapy, even when routine methods are employed in clinical practice.  The occasion was a stimulus and allowed the sharing of progress in research on non-innovative ventilation, the focus of NEWBREATH, with European researchers working in the field of respiratory biomechanics.  

On July 16th, the beautiful setting of Villa San Remigio, the General Assembly of the Ecosystem of Innovation NODES - Nord West Digital and Sustainable. The event was a valuable opportunity to compare the results of the 15 flagship project presented by the respective researchers, who enthusiastically participated in the Pitch&Poster competition. The competition featured three awards: best industrial impact, best social impact, and best quality of dissemination of results.    An extraordinary result was obtained by Spoke 5, led by University of Piemonte Orientale as the lead institution, which includes two main projects: INNDIANA and TINCARE.    The success of these projects was made possible thanks to the synergistic collaboration of the Politecnico di Torino, the University of Torino, the AOU Maggiore della Carità of Novara, and the IRCCS Auxologico, who contributed their valuable commitment and expertise.  A heartfelt thanks goes to the entire Spoke 5 - NODES team for achieving this extraordinary milestone, highlighting the value and the importance of collaboration in innovation and sustainable development in our region.   

From June 24 to 28, the 7th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society was held in Seattle. The event brought together experts from around the world, with an attendance of over 1,000 registrants. Representing the University of Piemonte Orientale, Dr Dalila Di Francesco and Dr Simona Casarella, PhD students led by Professor Francesca Boccafoschi, Full Professor of Human Anatomy and scientific manager of the INNDIANA flagship project of the Spoke 5 of the NODES project.  Both presentations of the PhD students have attracted a lot of interest and have been useful to strengthen international collaborations with world reference groups in the field of regenerative medicine. Within the context of the presentations at the congress, the fundamental role of the NODES flagship in supporting and promoting research in the field of regenerative medicine clearly emerged.   NODES, through the INNDIANA project, is positioned at the forefront of research in regenerative medicine, facilitating collaboration between researchers and promoting discoveries that can revolutionize future medical care. The presentations not only highlight their commitment and talent, but also the support and guidance provided by NODES, consolidating the role of the University of Eastern Piedmont as a leader in scientific and technological research.

The software DINO by Paperbox Health is geared towards the identification of early signs of learning disorders in children, e.g. dyslexia. It is based on a statistical model which is being studied by a team of researchers of the start-up Paperbox Health and statisticians in the Department of Mathematical Sciences of Politecnico di Torino, a participant to the flagship project TINCARE of Spoke 5 of NODES. It will also be one of the core activities of a new doctoral student who will be recruited by the team in the secondo hald of 2024.    The main ideas laying the foundations of the statistical model are rooted on Psychometry and its digital applications, and in particular on interacting videogames evaluated using Item Response Theory (IRT), They have been presented by professor Mauro Gasparini at the 52nd Meeting of the Italian Statistical Society in Bari on June 20, 2024 on behalf of coauthors Cecilia Campanile (Politecnico di Torino), Stefano Piacentini (Sapienza Università di Roma) and Giacomo Pratesi (Paperbox Health s.r.l.).