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Advancement in polymer process engineering, driven by recent developments in fields such as nanotechnology, chemistry, informatics, engineering, electronics and textile technology itself, together with societal demand for promoting health, have led to the development of the innovative and multidisciplinary field of ''Smart Textile''. And it is from these premises that Research Module 2 (RM2) of the TINCARE Flagship Project, in collaboration with the ''Associazione Tessile e Salute'', wanted to invest in this field for the design of a new prototype T-shirt containing sections of nanoceramics.    The T-shirt has as peculiarity the ability to interact harmoniously with our body, adapting to every movement thanks to its fabric type, which provides high confort, resistance and elasticity with FIR (Far Infrared) technology thus obtaining  an elastic but non-compressive prototype.     The FIR radiation emitted by the nanoceramic particles is perceived at the skin level as a gentle radiant heat: the resulting epidermal temperature is higher when the skin is exposed to FIR. This depends on the mechanism of action associated with nanoceramics: the FIR energy emitted/dispersed normally by the human body is transferred to the ceramic particles, which act as ''reflective mirrors'' by transmitting the energy back to the skin.  Althought this may seem like an energetically neutral process, it's actually not because the material emitting FIR prevents its dispersion, allowing the body to derive the maximum benefit. Due to these properties, a clinical trial protocol has been developed for testing the prototype to explore its tolerability and beneficial properties for patients suffering from cervical and lumbar pain.  The primary objective of the study will be to explore the impact of the T-shirt on patients' quality of life, while simultaneously assessing muscle soreness and spasms. As of now, the study protocol has been drafted and we are awaiting approval from the Local Ethics Committee. 

The University of Turin and the Polytechnic  of Turin developing a metaverse where students explore 3D reconstructions of brains and participate in immersive virtual reality lessons.    The digital reproduction of the rooms in the Palace of the Anatomical Insitutes at the University of Turin (UNITO) makes it possible to visit these historical premises from all over the globe, and facilitates teaching in a completely new way.    The metaverse, a concept that combines virtual and augmented reality to create interactive digital worlds, is revolutionizing many sectors, including cognitive rehabilitation. In this context, the metaverse represents an innovative platform that allows users to interact immersivily and collaboratively within digital environments, providing new opportunities for learning and therapy.    The Department of Neuroscience of the University of Turin in collaboration with the digital media artists from the 'RKH' studio in Turin and the 3D Lab of the Department of Management and Production Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin, has developed a Metaverse that allows multi-user remote interaction, up to 50 users simultaneously.  As of today, Professor Calì, within Research Module 7 of the flagship project TINCARE, has tested the use of the platform in the Computer Vision II course of the Biotechnology for Neuroscience program. The platform utilizes three-dimensional reconstructions of nanoscale portions of the brain obtained from volume electron microscopy. This allows students to enlarge and literally immerse themselves inside small portion of the brain, exploring its processes and smallest synapses.   Furthermore, in the same manner, a group of students from IC Spaziani, Istituto Drovetti, from the first to the third grade, had the opportunity to experiment this new teaching method together. After vsiting the specialized room and observing real anatomical spcimens with their teachers, they participated in a VR lesson using some of the same specimens that had been digitized into 3D.    The goal of this work is to study the potential of an immersive environment: thorugh the typical interaction between teacher and students in a biology or anatomy class, this approach serves ad a proof-of-concept for the development usable in medical rehabilitation contexts. 

A workshop at the DiSIT in Alessandria to discuss about the exploration of new diagnostic probes and alternative MRI procedures capable of overcoming the challenges associated with gadolium use.    On friday, 31 may, at the Department of Science and Technological Innovation in Alessandria, the workshop  ''Exploring diagnostic probed and procedures beyond Gd(III) for MRI application'' was held. The event was coordinated by da Mauro Botta (DiSIT) and Giovanni Battista Giovenzana (DSF), both Full Professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Piemonte Orientale.   The workshop is the results of a collaboration between Spoke 5 of flagship project INNDIANA within NODES project and the Italian Group of Magnetic Resonance Discussion (GIDRM) and it saw a significant participation of professors, researchers and doctoral students.    It was an opportunity to discuss the latest frontiers in the development of innovative probes for diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In response to potential future concerns regarding economic, political, and environmental aspects related to the use of gadolinium-based probes, research in recent years has focused on studying alternative probes with a better dustainability profile.   Thanks to interventions and discussions with leading experts from different universities and companies, participants were able to deepen their understanding of new diagnostic probes, related techniques, and their potential impacts on clinical practice. Technological innovation and the enhancement of human capital are key pillars of the NODES ecosystem. 

In Novara, at the SIMNOVA research center, the second edition of UPO Anatomy Talents took place: the students of the degree course in Medicine and Surgery were confronted about anatomical knowledge through interactive and tests simulation.    On Friday, 24 May, at the Centre of Simulation and Teaching innovative SIMNOVA of Novara, took place the second edition of UPO Anatomy Talents, event coordinated by Francesca Boccafoschi, associate professor of Human Anatomy at the University of Piemonte Orientale, as well as organizer and scientific manager of the project and coordinator of the flagship project INNDIANA of the project NODES.   The flagship project is strongly engaged in research projects in the biomedical sciences, with a particular focus on regenerative medicine, for which knowledge of human anatomy is an essential link.    The competition compared six teams of future doctors from as many Italian universities against each other: UPO, Milan, Cagliari, Genoa, Turin and Verona.    <<The texts were conducted with a rotation on six different rooms - explains Boccafoschi - with competitions related to topics from the first year of Human Anatomy - namely muscles and joints -, as well as the cardiovascular system and, for the first time in the hystory of the competition, also splanchnology. A completely new feature was the use of the immersive room, which presented the contestants with ultrasound anatomy images. Obviously, we don't talk about ultrasound in clinical terms, I want to emphasize it: the competitors have been asked to demonstrate how to interpret an X-ray image from an anatomical perspective>> .    The winner of the competition, as in the previous edition, was the team from the University of Piemonte Orientalale, composed of students of the first year of the degree course in Medicine and Surgery: Chiara Ferè, Nicoloò Virga, Arianna Zenullari and Massimo Zorgno. Their preparation was overseen by coaches Giada Zanetta and Michele Lapadula (second year) and Alessio Capacchione (fifht year).    The competition was extremely close: the University of Cagliari was tied with UPO until the end, while Milan and Verona followed just a few points away.    At the conclusion of the event, professor Boccafoschi said: <<The winner is due to the first-year students and the seniors who trained them intensively over in the last three months, with daily meetings during the week before the talent. The great success of UPO Anatomy Talents was not just in reinforcing anatomical knowledge among our students, but in creating a solid group of friends who stood out for their friendship>>. 

The fourth edition of the Biennale Tecnologia at the Politecnico di Torino  From 18 to 21 April, the Politecnico di Torino organized and hosted the fourth edition of Biennale Tecnologia, a cultural event dedicated to explore the relationship between technology and society. The chosen theme for this exhibition was ''Achievable Utopias'': an invitation to conceive the future with creativity and freedom, trasforming the idea into concrete project action. The event has been a great success with the participation of more than 50.000 visitors over the four days of activities.     The contribution of TINCARE Young researchers from  TINCARE affiliated with the Politecnico di Torino also partecipated in the event. They took the opportunity to share some of the results of their research activities conducted within Research Module 4, NEWBREATH, which aims to develop a ventilation device to support patients at home, and Research Module 3, MOVEWISE, whose ultimate goal is to develop a system to monitor in everyday life those mobility parameters more related to the risk of falling  The researchers presented interactive activities that involved visitors at the ''Politecnico Aperto'' event, promoting the importance of personalized medicine and sustainable medical technologies that have a significant impact on citizens.  The flagship TINCARE is now in full swing, and its commitment to disseminate the topics and results of the research is becoming increasingly active.  

On March 22, at the ''Perrone'' Campus in Novara, the University of Piemonte Orientale hosted the scientific dissemination event ''UniStem Day2024'' , coordinated by Professor Diego Cotella.  UniStem Day is an annual international event that, since 2009, offers to high school students the opportunity to explore scientific research on stem cell. During this day, students participate in interventions, discussions, film screening, lab visits and other activities that encourage interaction with researchers. This event offers a meaningful educational and emotional experience. 

Probiota Global 2024, the leading event in the microbiome industry, took place in the world's design capital and addressed key topics such as the gut-lung axis, new frontiers for the use of probiotics, marketing insisghts, customization, skin health improvement, next-generation innovation, and regulatory developments.    Participation in scientific conferences such as Probiota Global 2024 (Milan) always allows to involve researchers to present and discuss the results obtained, establishing a strong connection between universities, scientific communication and companies experienced in the field. In this context, the collaboration between Research Module 2 (RM2) of the flagship project TINCARE and the company Probionova SA (Lugano) was among the topics presented and discussed during this important scientific conference. The aim was to disseminate the significant results obtained by RM2 in the experimental characterization of a new probiotic formulation, produced by Probionova, aimed at supporting neuronal functions and not only. The purpose was precisely to build a new reality in the landscape of human microbioma research and development, aiming to improve health through the development of new applications related to the world of probiotics. At the same time, these probiotics were also evaluated as application in new therapeutic areas, allowing to amplify the role of RM2, still extending the studies in collaboration with the industrial reality.     The common thread on which the research was based is the real connection between health and disease states with the gut microflora. For this reason, the study wanted to evaluate how to promote and maintain health by preserving intestinal well-being (intestinal homeostasis), through the use of probiotics.   Probionova, convinced that they can actively contribute to the development of new strategies for the well-being of the individual, supported the study by providing high-performance probiotic strains, which have been studied by RM2 in the context of healthy aging.  The survey led to the publication of an interesting article in an indexed journal, focusing on the beneficial role of probiotic supplementation with strains such as B. bifidum novaBBF7, B. longum novaBLG2 and L. paracasei TJB8, on the maintenance of cognitive function. In addition, a subsequent publication is underway, aimed at outlining the use of probiotics, to mitigate molecular factors related to depression and anxiety, which are closely related to the processes of brain aging and neurodegeneration.     

This initiative, carried out in collaboration with TINCARE researchers, marked a significant moment in the advancement of the understanding and application of movement analysis through wearable sensors, promising new frontiers in research and practical application to improve patients' quality of life.   The workshop offered by the Italian Society of Clinical Movement Analysis (SIAMOC), free for members, took place simultaneously in the eight universities of Turin, Ancona, Milan, Bologna, Rome, Padua, Catania and Sassari. Over 200 participants registered for the event that had the peculiarity of combining the complementary points of view of various professionals in the industry, from engineering to the clinical practice, in a productive dialogue.    Highlighting recent innovations in the field of wearable inertial sensors, the workshop alternated theoretical sessions, led by movement experts, with practical moments where participants had the opportunity to engage with the technology thorugh hands-on exercises and case analysis. The high satisfaction recorded through post-event questionnaires reflects not only the appreciation for the educational approach, but also the achievement of the main objective: to increase awareness of the potential and limits of this increasingly widespread technology.    The Hub was represented by the Politecnico di Torino, where Engineer Marco Caruso (scientific director of the event) and Professor Andrea Cereatti (president of the society), both involved in the activities of TINCARE project within the NODES Ecosystem.        

On March 24, 2024, the Spoke 5 Stakeholder Committee met virtually to review the progress of the project and discuss key agenda items.  The project manager of Spoke 5, Professor Marco Invernizzi, introduced the NODES project, emphasing the importance of the Stakeholder Committee presence in guiding the project's objectives and purposes. On this occasion, the latest partner to join, called Associazione Cluster Tecnologico Nazionale Scienze della Vita - ALISEI, was introduced.     The meeting continued with the presentation of the first results of the cascade calls (both aimed at companies and researchers) and the progress of Spoke 5's flagship project, INNDIANA and TINCARE, highlighting the successes achieved and the scientific results obtained.  Finally, the training activities implemented by the NODES project, including the funding of industrial PhD and Lifelong Learning initiatives, were presented.    Soon after, a discussion among the attendees to discuss the new themes of the Roadmap, with particular emphasis on internalization and entrepreneurial development.  The next meeting has been scheduled for the end of 2024 to discuss the project's progress.      

On Friday, March 1st, at the Perrone Biomedical Campus in Novara, the initiative ''Ricercatori a Merenda'' took place, a scientific dissemination event organized by the Department of Health Sciences of UPO as part of ''Qualunquemente'' project. The event is part of initiatives open to the population and the number of high school students was high.  The researcher of the flagship project INNDIANA, coordinated by Professor Francesca Boccafoschi, spoke about the themes of their research, giving a general overview of the state of the art and innovative approaches in the field of renerative and personalized medicine.   The students of the Hotel School ''Giuseppe Ravizza'' Insitute of Novara contributed to making the initiative special by preparing excellent themed snacks for each of the interventions.    Dr Manuela Rizzi and the Anatomy group of Prof. Boccafoschi (RM1) along with Dr. Giuseppe Cappellano (RM5) carried out dissemination activities related to the NODES project (Spoke 5).  Dr. Rizzi presented the snack ''The bionic man: when anatomy and innovative research meet together'', offering revolutionary perspectives in the field of tissue regeneration compromised by degenerative and inflammatory processes. With the advancement of science, we could see a new era in which tissue regeneration and the replacement of damaged organs will become easier, promoting suitable solutions to ensure an adequate quality of life even for elderly individuals affected by age-related degenerative diseases.     Dr. Cappellano presented ''Health in miniature. The future of Medicine is in the organs-on-chip'' illustrating the importance of organs-on-chip in personalized medicine, with a specific focus on rheumatoid arthritis. It was emphasized that not all patients react in the same way to the available drugs aimed at slowing down the progression of the disease.    The students showed great involvement, actively participating with questions and expressed great appreciation for the event.     

After obtaining the authorization to proceed, the University Hospital Maggiore della Carità of Novara, a partner of the project, published a public call to finalize the procurement procedure for telemonitoring devices.     Ethical Committees are independent bodies whose function is to protect the rights and safety of individuals participating in scientific research. In Italy, all study protocols involving human beings must undergo evaluation for ethical and sceientific aspects to ensure compliance with principles outlined in the Helsinki Declaration and the Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine (of Oviedo).    The Territorial Ethical Committee has approved the protocol of the TINCARE study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a nursing support program that includes remote telemonitoring of patients with heart failure. This has allowed the initiation of the procurement process for surveillance systems that will be provided to the users participating in the study. The system comprises a set of devices for measuring vital parameters, which will be automatically transmitted to an experienced nurse who will remotely assess the health conditions of the patients and if necessary, it will activate a multisciplinary intervention protocol aimed at preventing disease exacerbations.  

Despite the identification of several innovative strategies to prevent cognitive decline, there is currently no single effective approach to minimize the deterioration of cognitive function. Recent studies suggest that the regulation of the strong connection between intestine and brain, with probiotics, is a potential therapeutic strategy to support brain health. 

The Research Module 5 of the flagship project TINCARE of the Spoke 5, aims to develop and validate a platform for the cognitive rehabilitation of elderly fragile people. To ensure accessibility to rehabilitation protocols, digitalization can help: if made available from one's own home, rehabilitation protocols could be easier for users to access and also more readily available for healthcare personnel administering them. In the clinical settings there is increasing importance placed on personalized treatment approaches, based on the individual characteristics and needs of each patient.     For this reason, thew research group BIP, led by Professor Katiuscia Sacco, has started a collaboration with Brainer S.r.l., a company specializing in developing products for digital cognitive rehabilitation. The aim of the collaboration is to propose, as part of their research, some exercises whose mechanics are based on standard cognitive rehabilitation, typically carried out in a pen-and-paper format, enhanced with key elements of gamification, which allow to engage the user also from a motivational point of view.    Moreover, the proposal of ecological tasks is relevant because it can simulate everyday life situations in which frail elderly individuals may encounter greater difficulties.  Furthermore, the research interest of the BIP group is oriented towards aestethic gratification and its effect on intrinsic motivation. Since patients motivation is often a determining factor in the success of rehabilitation protocols, it is essential to consider it in therapeutic procedures. In this sense, comes into play Neuroaesthetics, a discipline that investigate the link between beauty and brain function, including learning, memory, attention and motivation.     The collaboration between the research group BIP and Brainer S.r.l. aims to study the characteristics of digital rehabilitation protocols that can maximize motivation for therapeutic adherence, using musical, visual and gamification elements.       

Spoke 5 - Industry of Health and Silver Economy - recently meet online on January 10, 2024 to take a crucial step in the analysis of the state of work for the upcoming General Assembly of the Ecosystem.  Bringing together the working groups and partner involved, the event provided a valuable opportunity to closely examine the progress made so far, starting from the point-by-point progress of the invidual Work Packages.   During the meeting, the creation of two new Working Group on the themes of internationalization and enterpreneurial development was announced. These groups will actively work to bring together ideas, experiences and good practice, promoting proposals that will be presented during the next General Assembly, scheduled to take place at the University of Pavia on February 13, 2024, providing fertile ground for shared growth and development among the various actors involved.     The online meeting of 10 January has not only highlighted the progress made until now, but also laid the foundations for an even closer collaboration and knowledge sharing, which promises to be fundamental for the future success of the Ecosystem. 

The metaverse is a virtual space where multiple users can interact, including doctors and patients among them.      Today, there is a widespread adoption of digital therapies in home-based treatment, both for continuos monitoring and rehabilitation. In fact, digital therapies can reduce burdens on healthcare facilities by encouraging remote rehabilitation and follow-up visits through the adoption of the ''Augmented Humans'' paradigm, where immersive XR technologies and artificial intelligence assessment tools support the activities of physicians in patient care.    The Department of Human Anatomy at the University of Turin and the 3D Lab belonging to the Department of Management and Production Engineering of the Polytechnic of Turin have developed a preliminary shared Virtual Reality environment that enables interaction between two users, doctor and patient. This means having a tool for telerehabilitation and to support territorial assistance.  This type of assistance can be particularly useful, especially but not exclusively, for vulnerable individuals (e.g. the elderly) whose movements are limited. All of this falls within Research Module 7 of the Flagship Project TINCARE titled: Monitoring mood and cognitive status of patients in the Metaverse.  The goal of this environment is to make it possible to perform excercises that can lead to the assessment of the patient's cognitive state by the doctor within the Metaverse.    The test phase for the validation of the exercises and the optimization of the user experience will start soon.