Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Stefano Ferrari' Regenerative Medicine Centre: a look to the future and a tribute to the origins

The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia welcomes with deep satisfaction the acquisition of Holostem srl by Fondazione Enea Tech and Biomedical, announced a few days ago by the "Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy", Hon. Adolfo Urso, and now about to take place.

This step represents an important milestone, since the Foundation, chaired by Prof. Giovanni Tria, was set up precisely with the aim of promoting research, development and industrial reconversion in the biomedical sector at a national level.

Holostem will therefore continue to be active at the headquarters of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CMR), built thanks to the far-sighted contribution of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena and granted for use to Unimore. On this occasion, we remember with deep affection and gratitude Prof. Stefano Ferrari, the founder and, since 2005, the first Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences and Biotechnologies established at our University, with an initiative that was absolutely avant-garde at national level, who unfortunately passed away prematurely in 2008. Thanks to his passion and strategic intelligence, constantly focused on the common good, he gave a fundamental impetus to the development of research into cell and biotechnological therapies, not least by recruiting an initial group of internationally renowned researchers and professors in the field of stem cells and cell and gene therapy. The Centre dedicated to him thus rapidly became an international reference point for advanced therapies using epithelial stem cells, also thanks to the support of the previous Rectors of Unimore: Gian Carlo Pellacani, Aldo Tomasi and Angelo Andrisano.

The activity of Holostem Terapie Avanzate (Holostem Advanced Therapies), a spin-off of our University with the majority shareholding of Valline (Chiesi Group), and with Professors Graziella Pellegrini and Michele De Luca as partners together with Unimore, has developed within the CMR 'Stefano Ferrari'. The enlightened support of the Chiesi family and the synergy between the partners have created the conditions for the development by Graziella Pellegrini and Michele De Luca, and the research groups they lead, of extraordinarily important research, which has led to advanced therapies for hundreds of people in Italy and abroad who otherwise would not have found adequate answers to their suffering.

Since 2022, the transition from a pioneering phase to a new corporate configuration capable of enabling production stability and further development of innovative therapeutic products has become necessary.

During this very complex period, and in particular throughout the interaction with Fondazione Enea Tech and Biomedical, Unimore has worked with assiduity, commitment and responsibility, through the direct commitment of the Rector and the Director General, as well as Prof. Stefano Cosma on the Board of Directors, and with the support of the Economic and Financial Management, the other competent Departments and a team of consultants on the legal side to whom we are deeply grateful, in order to effectively tackle the complexities of this transition.

The support of eminent members of the government, the ministerial structure and the Foundation, to whom the University is absolutely grateful, was essential to the success of the operation.

The support of the Chiesi Farmaceutici Group, which also provided invaluable backing during this transitional phase, and the work of Dr Mario Tardini and his collaborators, who conducted the negotiations with competence and patience, was fundamental. 

Special thanks are due to all those who have worked and are working at Holostem, whose dedication to the cause, combined with exemplary professionalism, has contributed significantly to progress in the field of regenerative medicine.

It is also important to emphasise the support and interest shown by civil society in the work carried out by Holostem. Their trust, expressed in various ways, has had a significant impact on the development and success of our initiatives.

Special thanks also go to the patients who have played a crucial role in this journey, not only scientifically but also humanely. Their trust in new therapies and their participation in research have helped to bring hope and new possibilities to many others.

The 'Stefano Ferrari' CMR will therefore continue to produce research and advanced therapies, not only thanks to the new Holostem but also to Unimore researchers who, in various fields, carry out excellent scientific work and are part of interdepartmental centres such as the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Centre, accredited by the Region as a laboratory of the Life Sciences Platform of the Emilia-Romagna High Technology Network.

Unimore's key role in advanced biomedical research is well demonstrated by the leadership of Spoke 1 "Genetic Diseases", directed by Prof. Antonello Pietrangelo. Antonello Pietrangelo, in the research programme "National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology", one of the so-called "National Champions" of Research and Development on some Key Enabling Technologies, which is flanked by the leadership of Spoke 6 of the Diagnostics and Innovative Therapies in Precision Medicine Partnership directed by Prof. Massimo Dominici, both funded by the Ministry of University and Research within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

We are therefore grateful to our scientists and clinicians for their excellent work and we are looking to the future aware that we can contribute significantly as a University in the field of biomedical and biotechnological research and therapy.

A heartfelt welcome and best wishes for the new institutional partner, Fondazione Enea Tech e Biomedical.  

Categorie: International - english