Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences BtBs

RESEARCH LABORATORIES

BIOINFORMATICS, COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY

area di ricerca

The Bioinformatics, Computational Chemistry and Systems Biology area deals with the analysis and interpretation of data and models inherent to biological and chemical systems through the development and use of advanced computational techniques and artificial intelligence.

Research activities cover a broad spectrum of topics and approaches operating on different scales: from the analysis and integration of -omics data for the identification of biomarkers, to bioinformatics for the study of genomic and protein sequences; from the design, analysis and identification of mathematical models to explore the dynamics of complex biological systems, to computational chemistry and molecular modelling to investigate reaction mechanisms, catalytic processes and structure/function relationships of biomolecules.

Research Laboratories

•    Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology - Chiara Damiani
•    Computational Molecular Biology - Renata Tisi
•    Gene Expression Regulation - Mattia Pelizzola
•    Mathematical Models for Biology and Medicine - Pasquale Palumbo
•    Molecular Modeling Laboratory - Luca De Gioia, Luca Bertini, Giuseppe Zampella, Federica Arrigoni

BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES

SCIENZE BIOMOLECOLARI

The Biomolecular Sciences research area focuses on the study of biomolecules and their interactions, their (bio)synthesis, and their applications, with the goal of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying fundamental biological processes. Research in this area includes the study of the structure and function of biomolecules, ranging from macromolecules—such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and their macromolecular complexes—to small molecules, including metabolites, natural compounds, and synthetic molecules.

The area explores the genetic and molecular bases of key biological processes such as the cell cycle, genome integrity maintenance, metabolism, aging, and cellular proliferation and differentiation, both in physiological and pathological conditions (e.g., cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases).The identification and characterization of key molecular players involved in the functioning of living systems, as well as the search for biomarkers of pathological states, benefit from the application of multi-omic, biophysical, and quantitative approaches.

Finally, the research area is also involved in the design, organic synthesis, and screening of bioactive compounds, the identification of bioactive natural compounds, the chemical functionalization of biopolymers, and the development—through advanced molecular approaches—of proteins and other biomolecules with applications in industrial, pharmaceutical, and biomedical fields.

Research Laboratories

•    Biochemistry Laboratory - Paola Fusi
•    Bioorganic Chemistry - Laura Cipolla
•    BioOrgNMR Lab - Cristina Airoldi, Alessandro Palmioli
•    Cell Biochemistry and Biosignaling - Paola Coccetti, Farida Tripodi
•    Cellular and Molecular Biology of Yeast - Sonia Colombo 
•    Mass Spectrometry Laboratory - Rita Grandori, Carlo Santambrogio 
•    Molecular and Cellular Biophysics - Antonino Natalello
•    Molecular Biology of Aging and Longevity - Marina Vai, Ivan Orlandi
•    Neurobiochemistry - Maria Elena Regonesi
•    Organic Chemistry and Drug Discovery - Francesco Peri
•    Protein Biochemistry - Stefania Brocca

INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

BIOTECNOLOGIE INDUSTRIALI E PRODUZIONE SOSTENIBILE

The Industrial Biotechnology and Sustainable Production research area focuses on developing innovative biotechnological processes with a strong emphasis on sustainability, efficient resource use, and closing biogeochemical cycles. Research is particularly active in metabolic and protein engineering, synthetic biology, and biocatalysis, optimizing enzymes and microorganisms (such as yeasts, bacteria, and fungi) for the production of chemical compounds, biofuels, biomaterials, recombinant proteins, and nutraceuticals (biomanufacturing). These studies aim to create bio-based solutions applicable on an industrial scale.

Another key area of interest is bioprospecting, which explores microbial biodiversity to identify new microbial strains and enzymes with unique characteristics suitable for innovative biotechnological processes. Microbial communities are also studied through metagenomic approaches to understand their impact on the degradation of recalcitrant compounds and their role in promoting soil health.

The research area also focuses on developing integrated biorefineries to convert residual biomass into chemical platforms (e.g., monomers for biopolymers) and high-value-added products, such as heterologous proteins of pharmaceutical interest, bioactive secondary metabolites, and nutraceuticals. This approach reduces environmental impact and promotes a circular economy. Among the most cutting-edge aspects, research includes the use of C1 compounds, which can be derived from CO₂ fixation and converted into valuable organic compounds.

Research in Industrial Biotechnology and Sustainable Production includes the study of enzyme structure-function relationships, genotype-phenotype correlations, microbial robustness, and adaptation. This allows researchers to understand how microorganisms resist and adapt to extreme conditions, such as those generated by specific environmental or industrial settings. Understanding these mechanisms improves production process efficiency and enables the quantitative characterization of physiological traits.

These research lines strengthen the role of biotechnology in industrial innovation and the transition toward low-environmental-impact production models that do not rely on the depletion of natural resources. Additionally, this research serves as the foundation for the educational programs offered and for internship and research opportunities at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Research Laboratories

•    Enzymology and Biocatalysis - Marina Lotti
•    Fermentation Chemistry - Luca Brambilla
•    IndBiotech Lab - Paola Branduardi, Danilo Porro, Valeria Mapelli, Immacolata Serra
•    Industrial Microbiology - Gianni Frascotti

Subscribe to