Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Unimore Strengthens Leadership in Nanomedicine: Professor Giovanni Tosi Elected to the New Executive Board of ETPN

Professor Giovanni Tosi, Full Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology and Coordinator of the PhD Programme in “Health Innovation Products and Technologies” at Unimore, has been elected Secretary of the new Executive Board of the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine (ETPN) for the 2025–2027 term.

The election took place during the ETPN General Assembly held in Barcelona as part of the Nanomedicine Europe Conference (NME25) . The new board will be led by Laurent Lévy (CEO of Nanobiotix), supported by an international team tasked with guiding the strategic programme “Expanding Legacy”, aimed at strengthening the European scientific community, accelerating clinical translation, and promoting collaborative projects at the continental level.

The appointment of Professor Tosi reflects the increasingly central role of nanomedicine in the development of advanced therapies. Nanoparticles are now key tools in enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects, thanks to their ability to deliver drugs in a targeted manner, cross complex biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier, and optimise the release and bioavailability of active substances. In this context, nanomedicine also plays an essential role in gene and RNA-based therapies, contributing significantly to the protection, stability and delivery of therapeutic molecules to target tissues.

These technologies are fully expressed within the National Centre for the Development of Gene Therapies and RNA-based Drugs, a strategic initiative supported by Italy’s NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), which aims to strengthen the country's competitiveness in the field of advanced biotechnologies. Unimore plays a leading role in the project, coordinating the spoke dedicated to genetic diseases, one of the five main research areas. The project starts in research laboratories where candidate drugs are identified and continues through to the implementation of clinical trials, including the development of advanced technological and digital infrastructures essential to supporting the entire innovation pathway.

“Joining the ETPN board,” says Professor Giovanni Tosi of Unimore, “is a strategic opportunity not only for Unimore’s internationalisation efforts, but for the entire ecosystem surrounding research in health-related nanotechnologies. Being confirmed in the role of Secretary—which I had already held during the previous term—is a source of pride and recognition for the work carried out. This election allows us to align the actions of the Italian Nanomedicine Platform, which was born right here in Modena and has now finally become a reality, with European strategies. It highlights the multidisciplinary expertise present in our country and facilitates interaction with other international networks. In particular, the connection with the National Centre for Gene Therapy enables us to put nanomedicine at the service of increasingly effective and personalised gene therapies, benefitting both patients and the healthcare system. I wish to emphasise the crucial role of dialogue among colleagues, the growth of new scientific minds, and the commitment to creating synergies and harmonising the many players in this field. Only through a shared and integrated vision can we tackle the major challenges of the medicine of the future.”

Within this framework, nanomedicine also continues to play a pivotal role in gene and RNA-based therapies, crucially contributing to the protection, stability and delivery of therapeutic molecules to their intended targets. These technologies are at the heart of the National Centre for the Development of Gene Therapies and RNA-based Drugs, a key initiative under the NRRP, aimed at bolstering Italy's standing in the advanced biotechnology sector. Unimore is a primary contributor to this project, leading the spoke focused on genetic diseases, one of five vertical research pillars. The initiative spans from laboratory-based drug candidate selection through to clinical trial implementation and includes the development of advanced technological and digital infrastructures to support the full innovation cycle.

The appointment of Professor Tosi as Secretary and Unimore’s involvement in the European Nanomedicine Platform go hand in hand with the establishment of the Italian Nanomedicine Platform. Involving over 140 researchers from more than 50 institutions, including universities, research centres and companies, the Italian Platform is rapidly becoming a national benchmark for technology transfer and innovation in the life sciences. It is built on a solid foundation of collaboration among peers and stems from the Unimore Nanomedicine Platform, launched several years ago with the aim of overcoming disciplinary barriers and integrating expertise. This integrated approach has also found further expression in the HIP TECH doctoral programme, currently led by Professor Tosi, which is strongly oriented towards interdisciplinarity.

This harmonisation project, from its local origins to a European dimension, began nearly ten years ago. Now, after a decade of development and dialogue, it is bearing fruit in terms of visibility for Unimore, but above all in the alignment of projects and ideas, and the training of young researchers in the field of nanomedicine.

Unimore’s platforms—both national and European—aim to foster networks and collaborative projects, but most importantly, to involve young researchers in a cross-disciplinary understanding of nanomedicine and its applications in therapy, diagnostics, and personalised medicine. This is especially vital for high-impact diseases that currently lack effective treatments. Another key objective is to translate scientific research into tangible industrial and clinical applications, by integrating diverse skill sets and collaborating with institutions, organisations, and associations such as Farmindustria and major international companies, including Chiesi Farmaceutici.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng