“On the border between skin and heart: the emotions of science in the fight against cancer” is the theater show proposed by ICGEB, with the partnership of the University of Trieste, on the occasion of the European Capital of Culture GO!2025. A total of five performances will be staged from May to October in Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Udine and Trieste. In the Julian capital, the initiative will find space during the Trieste Next scientific research festival, promoted by UniTs.

The project, funded by the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, stems from scientific evidence: despite being constantly traversed by blood flow, the heart rarely develops tumors. Hence the development of an innovative cancer therapy that passes through wearable robots capable of mimicking the heartbeat. The researchers will retrace their experiences in this adventurous study on stage, bringing the highlights of their project to life through words, gestures and music. The boundary to be crossed is understanding the reasons for the low incidence of cancer in the heart and transforming this knowledge into an innovative cancer treatment.

Taking up this challenge are Serena Zacchigna, head of the Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory at ICGEB and professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste, and Domenico Prattichizzo, professor of Robotics at the Universitỳ of Siena and senior scientist at IIT, Genoa. The two scholars have been collaborating for some years in the development of a new cancer therapy through wearable robots. The play features Alessandra Cotoloni and Sarita Massai for text and screenplay. 
Project partners, in addition to the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSM) of the University of Trieste, include the University of Siena, the Vicino/Lontano Festival and the ISISS D'Annunzio-Max Fabiani of Gorizia.

PROGRAM:

Saturday, MAY 10
3 p.m.
TRIESTE
Science and Virgula Festival (SISSA)
Miela Theater

Sunday, May 11 
4:00 p.m.
UDINE
Festival Vicino/Lontano (with sign language interpreters)
St. Francis Church

Saturday, Sept. 27
TRIESTE
Trieste Next Festival (with interpreters in sign language)
Miela Theater

Friday, october 24
6:00 p.m.
NOVA GORICA
University of Nova Gorica (in Italian with English subtitles)
Lanthieri Palace, Vipava

Saturday, October 25 
11:00 a.m.
GORIZIA
Aula Magna University of Trieste, Gorizia