The Telethon and Cariplo foundations have renewed their engagements to “illuminate the darkest side of human genome,” this year again, by inviting researchers to study genetic aspects and molecular mechanisms which are still largely unknown or poorly understood, but can potentially help develop new treatments for rare diseases. In particular, the proposed projects must focus on the study of the so-called T-dark targets for which information on structure, function and interaction with molecules and drugs is unknown. Although the human genome has been completely sequenced, we still know very little about many genes and the proteins they encode.
The call for proposals, now in its third edition, has led to the selection of 14 new research projects for an overall amount of €3.2 million and 22 research teams involved, 14 of which located in Lombardy alone. The other 8 winning research centres are located in Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Piedmont and Tuscany and the diseases investigated include some forms of muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne’s and facio-scapulo-humeral, blood diseases, such as hemochromatosis, haemorrhagic teleangiectasia and thalassemia, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders and rare tumours.
The joint investment of the two Foundations reaches almost €14 million overall, which has led to the funding of 59 research projects involving 90 Italian research centres.
“Continuous support to basic research is fundamental, because this is the only way to answer the many questions that are still open and to try and identify new therapeutic approaches. And this is why we reconfirm our commitment to continue with this partnership to advance innovation,” said Celeste Scotti, Director of Research and Development of Telethon Foundation.
“Supporting scientific research is a way to help many people who are suffering. They seem worlds apart, but a researcher working in the laboratory and a patient are very close one to the other. The life of the latter often depends on the success of the former. This is even more valuable when we carry out research on rare diseases that affect so many people. The collaboration between Cariplo and Telethon Foundations is part of the attention we pay to the least lucky and the most fragile people, to those who in various settings, due to poverty, disability or illness, sometimes we lose sight of it,” concluded the President of the Cariplo Foundation, Giovanni Azzone.
To know more about all the winners of the third edition of the call for proposals, please click here.
