The AIRC Foundation supports research at the University of Padua
07.02.2025
The AIRC Foundation has allocated over 5.5 million euros to support cancer research projects promoted by the University of Padua for 2025.
The projects are distinguished by the high profile of the research, the potential impact on understanding the mechanisms underlying the onset and development of tumours, and the possible new treatments, which are increasingly effective, precise and targeted, with the least possible impact on patients' quality of life.
The funding involves 44 researchers from the University, including four researchers from the "5 per mille" programme coordinated by Stefano Piccolo, in addition to the PI, and 24 recipients of the Investigator Grant, which include names already well-known internationally.
Among the Investigator Grants, the following three new projects supported by AIRC stand out:
Dissecting liabilities and dependencies to target transcription-replication conflicts in tumours, the project by Stefano Campaner, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, focuses on the study of the CDK12 protein that regulates molecular traffic on DNA in tumour cells. When CDK12 malfunctions, it causes collisions that fragment the DNA and kill tumour cells. The main objective of the research is to understand how CDK12 can prevent the collision between replication and transcription.
Impact of diet on mitochondrial contactome and its relevance in cancer, the project by Luigi Leanza, Department of Biology, University of Padua, starting from the discovery that the addition of nutrients can influence connections in tumour cells, impacting growth, migration, and metastasis, studies how diet regulates these contacts in tumours to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs and reduce proliferation and metastasis, thus emphasising the importance of metabolic state and diet in treatment resistance.
Deciphering phase separation and aggregation mechanisms driving von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor function, the project by Silvio Tosatto, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, focuses on von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the pVHL gene that increase the risk of various tumours. The research aims to understand how certain proteins influence the development of these tumours, particularly clear cell renal carcinoma. The goal is to identify new molecular mechanisms in tumour progression and select potential therapeutic targets to develop innovative therapies, improving understanding and treatment of tumours associated with the syndrome, offering hope and improving patients' quality of life.
The researchers who received the My First AIRC Grant MFAG were six, while three female researchers obtained Italy Pre-Doc scholarships, and six scholars received Italy Post-Doc fellowships.
