As part of the second day of the Conference of Science and Space Attachés and Agricultural Experts – promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in coordination with the Ministry of Universities and Research – a visit took place today to the Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care (CABHC) of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Naples, one of the most advanced facilities in Europe in the fields of bioengineering and biotechnology.
The initiative forms part of the program promoted by the National Committee Neapolis 2500, chaired by Prefect Michele di Bari, which included the CABHC among the emblematic stages of the celebrations for the city’s 2,500th anniversary, underscoring Naples’ strategic role as a driver of innovation for Southern Italy and the entire country:
“The conference is part of the path traced by the National Committee Neapolis 2500 for Naples, a city that not only preserves a millenary history, but today also establishes itself as a place of knowledge, technology, and vision. Centers of excellence such as the IIT’s Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care attract talent and contribute concretely to addressing major global challenges. It is in contexts like this that the future is built, through dialogue among institutions, science, and the local community.”
Among the most significant innovations developed at the Center are organs-on-chips, microfluidic devices that replicate the functioning of human organs. These models, derived from human cells and assembled using 3D printing and microfluidic technologies, reproduce tissues such as skin, lungs, intestine, brain, and liver, overcoming the limitations of animal models (such as biological variability) and offering a revolutionary platform for studying diseases, testing drugs, and developing personalized therapies.
CABHC is also working on integrating these physical models with computational systems and artificial intelligence algorithms to build digital twins of patients: virtual replicas capable of simulating disease progression and individual responses to treatment. This integration marks a groundbreaking shift in personalized medicine.
“CABHC was established with the goal of developing technological solutions inspired by biology, fostering dialogue across diverse disciplines: from tissue engineering to regenerative medicine, from controlled drug delivery to advanced diagnostics. Thanks to this multidisciplinary approach and the connection with IIT’s international network, we collaborate with leading scientific institutions and attract researchers from all over the world. Today, 50% of our staff come from abroad, with an average age of 36 – a strong signal of how research can act as an engine of attraction, growth, and development,” said Paolo Netti, Director of the CABHC of the Italian Institute of Technology in Naples.
The Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care at IIT
Located within the Mostra d’Oltremare, the Center covers more than 1,200 m² of laboratories equipped with cutting-edge facilities for the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of biomaterials and biomedical devices. It is organized into two highly specialized research units:
The Bio-logic Materials Unit, led by Paolo Netti, focuses on designing bioactive materials capable of interacting with biomolecules, cells, and tissues. Its activities range from regenerative medicine to diagnostics, with a strong focus on modulating biological–synthetic interfaces. Among the Center’s flagship projects is CERES (CErebral three-dimensional bioprinted biological REplica for drug Screening and development), aimed at creating advanced in vitro brain models capable of replicating the human organ microenvironment. Funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Universities and Research under the D34Health initiative, the CERES project combines 3D bioprinting with tissue cell culture to accelerate the development of new neurological therapies.
The Synthetic and Systems Biology for Biomedicine Unit, led by Velia Siciliano, develops genetic circuits based on DNA and RNA for therapeutic applications, with a particular focus on microRNAs and the regulation of cellular processes. The laboratory also explores optogenetic technologies and computational models to understand and intervene in the biological mechanisms underlying complex diseases.
“The Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care is a virtuous example of how research can generate concrete innovation, leveraging diverse expertise and building valuable connections with industry. This is the model to follow: not only to train talent, but to create the conditions for them to remain, grow, and contribute to the development of the territory. A systemic vision is needed to foster technology transfer, patent valorization, and the attraction of investments, in order to transform ideas into solutions and knowledge into a driver of growth,” added endocrinologist Salvatore Longobardi, member of the National Committee Neapolis 2500 and promoter of the visit.
Multimedia materials available:
IIT institutional video: https://multimedia.iit.it/asset-bank/images/assetbox/19772720-ebac-4931-8608-2404b88d757d/assetbox.html
Organ-on-chip (photos and videos): https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/35740be4-c4b9-4fa3-94b9-eac2ca878c16