BioGeM

The BioGeM Institute (Biologia e Genetica Molecolare, "Biology and Molecular Genetics") is a nonprofit consortium formed by the National Research Council (CNR), the University of Naples "Federico II", the LUMSA of Rome, the Trieste AREA Science Park, the University of Udine, the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples, the University of Sannio in Benevento, the University of Foggia, the University of Milan Bicocca, the Second University and the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, the Chamber of Commerce of Avellino and the local mountain community of Ufita Valley.[1]

BioGeM Institute

Established	2006
Mission	Biological research
Focus	Molecular genetics
President	Ortensio Zecchino
Location	Ariano Irpino , Italy
Coordinates	41.199442°N 15.134100°E / 41.199442; 15.134100
Address	Camporeale
Website	http://www.biogem.it
BioGeM (Ariano Irpino) Location in Italy

BioGeM was inaugurated in 2006 by Nobel laureate Rita Levi Montalcini[2] and comprises research laboratories, services and teaching facilities. Scientific research, led by “Gaetano Salvatore” Genetics Research Institute (IRGS), takes place within Genetics and Translational Medicine (GTM) department and is aimed at understanding biological mechanisms and identifying the genes involved in the development and proliferation of various human diseases; the research is based on the use of animal models raised in a high level laboratory[3] after the approval of the ethics committee for animal experimentation.[4] Research primarily aims at fighting cancer and degenerative diseases,[5][6] often in collaboration with international groups.[7][8][9]

Furthermore, the pharmacological research is carried out by a proper department named Medicinal Investigational Research (MIR), whose task covers the experimental verification of new drugs and the release of the related certifications.[10] Furtermore, the training activities take place in a specific functional area named Life and Mind Science School (LIMSS).

Since 2010 Biogem has yearly hosted a meeting named Le due culture ("The two cultures") which over the years has been attended by a number of Nobel laureates[11] and also (in 2018) the president of Italy Sergio Mattarella.[12][13] The objective of the meeting is to find a common ground between humanistic and scientific knowledge.[14]

Starting from 2013 Biogem also has a forensic genetics laboratory.[15]

Museum

Within the research center there is also Biogeo, a museum[16] dedicated to the origins of geological history throughout the eras from the Precambrian until the Jurassic. Founded in collaboration with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the museum attempts to showcase and illustrate the origin and development of life on Earth, with particular regard to the relationship between genome͵ environment and evolution.[17] Starting from 2012, Biogeo has provided itself with a tetrasphere, designed by the Italian physicist Paco Lanciano.[18]

References

1. "Home". Biogem.
2. "Montalcini battezza Biogem 'Premio alla ricerca del Sud'" [Rita Levi Montalcini christens Biogem: 'That's a prize for southern Italy's research']. La Repubblica (in Italian).
3. Fulvio Bufi (2014-09-10). In Irpinia la biogenetica vince anche senza Rete [In Irpinia biogenetics wins even without the web] (PDF) (Report) (in Italian). Federazione ordine dei farmacisti. pp. 16–26.
4. Carchia, E.; Porreca, I.; Almeida, P. J.; d'Angelo, F.; Cuomo, D.; Ceccarelli, M.; De Felice, M.; Mallardo, M.; Ambrosino, C. (2015). "Cell Death and Disease". Cell Death & Disease. 6 (10): e1959–. doi:10.1038/cddis.2015.319. PMC 5399181. PMID 26512966.
5. Lino Patruno (2015-08-06). Il meglio Sud: attraversare il deserto, superare il divario [The best South: crossing the desert to bridge the gap] (in Italian). ISBN 9788849845877.
6. "Biogem: nuova scoperta nella lotta al cancro" [A new discovery for the fight against cancer]. Link Campus University (in Italian).
7. "Biogem:meeting. Prof. Zichichi: from the beauty of creation to the superworld". L'italo-europeo.
8. "A metabolic function of FGFR3-TACC3 gene fusions in cancer". Nature.
9. "The molecular landscape of glioma in patients with Neurofibromatosis 1". Nature. 2018-12-10.
10. "Biogem, da eccellenza nella ricerca genetica a certificatore dello sviluppo dei farmaci" [Biogem, an excellence in genetic research to be a certificator of drugs' development]. Il Sole 24 ore Newspaper (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
11. "I Nobel tornano a Biogem al Festival delle due culture" [The Nobel laureates come back to Biogem at the Two cultures festival]. Il Sole 24 Ore Newspaper (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
12. "Il Presidente Mattarella alla giornata inaugurale della X edizione del meeting "Le due culture"" [The president of Italy Mattarella is staying at the first day of "Two cultures meeting" - 10th edition]. The Presidence of the Italian Republic (in Italian).
13. "Ricerca, Mattarella visita la Biogem e stringe la mano agli studenti" [Research: the president Mattarella visits Biogem and shakes hands with students]. La Repubblica Newspaper (in Italian). 2018-09-05.
14. "Ariano Irpino, il meeting Le Due Culture aprirà le porte di Biogem" [Ariano Irpino: The 'Two cultures meeting' opens Biogem's door]. La Repubblica Newspaper (in Italian).
15. "Inaugurazione Laboratorio Genetica Forense Biogem" [Inauguration of the forensic genetics laboratory at Biogem]. Ordine dei medici di Napoli (in Italian). General medical council of Naples.
16. "Biogeo Museum". Touring Club Italy (in Italian).
17. "Storia della Terra a della Vita" [History of Earth and Life]. Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo, Government of Italy.
18. "Riapertura del Museo di Storia della Terra e della Vita BIOGEO" [Reopening of the Museum of Earth and Life's History]. National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (in Italian).

External links

• BioGeM Website