Generating social, cultural, and economic development, also through the fight against inequalities and the enhancement of cultural heritage.

This is the goal reaffirmed by APEnet, the Association involving 57 Italian universities and research institutions, aimed at promoting and developing public engagement and the social impact of actions resulting from research activities, during the "Destinazione Public Engagement #6" event, hosted this year by the University of Trieste.

The meeting, which saw the participation of 130 representatives from the associated institutions, provided a broad discussion on the strategies through which the scientific and academic communities can contribute to the inclusive development of the country.

Giulia Carluccio, President of APEnet and Vice-Rector of the University of Turin, emphasized how "Destinazione Public Engagement represents a path where universities and research institutions are increasingly committed to the sustainable and inclusive development of the country through listening, valuing knowledge, and collaborating with communities."

Caterina Falbo, Delegate for the Third Mission of the University of Trieste, highlighted the example of the University of Trieste, which has long been involved in promoting Public Engagement activities that strengthen dialogue with the local community and promote community well-being. “In the San Giovanni Park, which was the site of the Basaglian revolution – explains Falbo – we promote collaborations with some social cooperatives to support the work inclusion of people in vulnerable areas and carry out initiatives for scientific and cultural dissemination. UniTS also works in synergy with other institutions and organizations to strengthen research on energy transition and green hydrogen production.”

During the two-day event, the guests outlined proposals, highlighted opportunities, and suggested possible pathways for the growth and recognition of Public Engagement, balancing public and social commitment with the enhancement of knowledge.

The recognition of Public Engagement activities in academic careers emerged as one of the key tools to value the commitment of professors, researchers, technical-administrative staff, and students in projects with high social impact. The goal is also strategic in the discussions with the Ministry and the National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System (ANVUR).

The Director of ANVUR, Daniele Livon, who spoke at the event, defined the relationship between the Agency and APEnet as one of fruitful collaboration and dialogue, especially during the evaluation of knowledge valorization, in which Public Engagement has proven to play a fundamental role.

With speeches by Laura Nota, President of the Italian Society of Orientation and professor at the University of Padua, and Lelio Iapadre, Partner of the Forum for Inequalities and Diversity, who presented the OCSE ITA.CON project, the focus was placed on the urgency of returning to universities their role as promoters of collaborations to achieve social and environmental justice objectives.

Reflections on the importance of the Faro Convention as a tool for cultural democracy were also present, thanks to the participation of Francesc Pla Castelltort (Culture and Cultural Heritage Unit of the Council of Europe), and on the role of Museums, which, in the speeches by Irene Baldriga (Sapienza University of Rome) and Paola Rodari (SISSA MediaLab), were described as mediators and places for shared cultural narratives, spaces for authentic dialogue between society and science, and safe spaces to address complex issues.

In conclusion, Pier Andrea Serra, Vice President of the Association and Pro-Rector of the University of Sassari, presented the APEnet Barometer data, which monitors the state of Public Engagement in Italian universities and research institutions.

A total of 4,025 high-school students registered to attend the presentations of bachelor’s and integrated master’s degrees during the Spring Open Day held on 21st March.

Following the welcome address by Rector Roberto Di Lenarda and the Deputy Rector for Educational Counselling, Lucio Torelli, the presentations of the course catalogue were delivered by the University’s Unit for Prospective Student Support.

The Open Day is a key event for students who wish to become part of the University community and plays a fundamental role in the strong appeal of UniTS, along with the significant expansion of its academic offer in recent years.

Thanks to the introduction of more than 20 new degree courses, including six taught in English, the University of Trieste is now one of the fastest-growing universities in Italy in terms of enrolments, including those from international students.

The number of newly enrolled students has increased by more than 30% compared to the 2019-2020 academic year – a figure six times higher than the average growth rate of Italian public universities.

In the current academic year, the number of new enrolments is close to 6,000. In just a few years, UniTS has risen from sixth to third place among universities in the Triveneto area. Over 17,500 students are enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while almost 2,000 are attending postgraduate courses, including 560 PhD students – an all-time record for the University. The percentage of students from outside the region and from abroad stands at 40% for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 60% for postgraduate courses, confirming the University’s strong appeal and bringing the goal of reaching 20,000 students ever closer.

An international study, co-ordinated by the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the local health services (Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina – ASUGI), and the National Amyloidosis Centre in London, may revolutionise the prospects for early treatment of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), a rare and progressive heart disease caused by the abnormal accumulation of a protein – transthyretin – that is deposited in cardiac tissue, compromising its structure and function.

The study, published in the prestigious journal JAMA Cardiology and presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Congress, analysed for the first time patients with transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloid infiltration who had not yet developed signs or symptoms of heart failure. Using an advanced imaging technique, the researchers demonstrated that patients with moderate to severe cardiac infiltration (scintigraphic grades 2 and 3) already exhibited typical features of amyloid cardiomyopathy, with abnormalities visible on both echocardiogram and serum biomarkers. In these patients, the disease progressed more rapidly, with over 50% developing signs and symptoms of heart failure requiring diuretic therapy within three years of diagnosis.

Aldostefano Porcari, research assistant at the University of Trieste and first author of the publication, explains: ‘Current European and American guidelines recommend treatment with the drug tafamidis only for patients who have already developed overt heart failure. However, our study suggests that even asymptomatic patients with advanced cardiac infiltration could benefit from early treatment, potentially slowing or even halting disease progression. These findings pave the way for a possible revision of therapeutic recommendations, with the aim of intervening before the onset of symptoms.’

This study represents a key starting point for future research into cardiac amyloidosis. The findings suggest that, in the early stages of the disease, amyloid deposits may bind less tightly to the heart’s extracellular matrix — the network of proteins that provides structural support to cardiac tissue. This phenomenon could make amyloid deposits more susceptible to potential treatments. As new therapies are developed to target amyloid removal, these insights will be crucial for improving treatment effectiveness, enabling more targeted intervention in the early phases of the disease.

THE DISEASE

The term amyloidosis refers to a group of disorders characterised by the abnormal and harmful accumulation of amyloid protein in the extracellular space. Amyloidoses are multisystem diseases, and one of the organs most commonly affected is the heart. The term ‘cardiac amyloidosis’ refers specifically to heart conditions associated with amyloidosis. These diseases primarily affect men over the age of 60. Risk factors include plasma cell disorders, chronic illnesses, and genetic mutations. Currently, treatment involves specific medications depending on the type of amyloidosis diagnosed, with the aim of eliminating or stabilising the source of the amyloid-forming protein.

Until a few years ago, this condition was typically diagnosed only at an advanced stage, when the heart was already severely compromised. Today, thanks to advances in non-invasive diagnostics, it is possible to detect the disease at an earlier stage, opening up new possibilities for intervention. Although overall mortality rates were similar across patient groups, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes in patients with grade 2 and 3 cardiac infiltration was found to be approximately five times higher than in those with grade 1, where deaths were more often attributed to non-cardiac causes.

A key role was played by the use of an advanced imaging technique – bone tracer scintigraphy combined with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) – to identify ATTR cardiac amyloidosis in asymptomatic patients and to study disease progression in this population.

THE TEAM

The study was led by a team from the University of Trieste and ASUGI, including Aldostefano Porcari, research assistant and first author of the publication; Gianfranco Sinagra, professor in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences at the University of Trieste and Head of the Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Department at Cattinara Hospital; and Valentina Allegro, a medical resident at the University of Trieste.

The research project involved a total of twelve leading international cardiology centres.

Dr. Porcari was invited to present the study’s findings in the prestigious ‘Samuel A. Levine Early Career Clinical Investigator Award’ session, an honour reserved for young researchers who have made significant contributions to clinical cardiology.

Research in this field will continue at the University of Trieste with the involvement of Rossana Bussani, Professor of Pathological Anatomy and expert in the histological assessment of cardiac and extracardiac amyloid deposits, and Gabriele Stocco, Associate Professor of Pharmacology. Together with Gianfranco Sinagra, Professor Stocco promoted the acquisition of a mass spectrometer in Trieste for the advanced characterisation of amyloid deposits. Through these initiatives, the University of Trieste aims to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with the goal of enabling earlier and more targeted interventions in the management of cardiac amyloidosis.

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Full study published in Jama Cardiology

Clinical Phenotype and Prognosis of Asymptomatic Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloid Infiltration

Aldostefano Porcari, MD1,2,3; Yousuf Razvi, MBChB, BSc1; Francesco Cappelli, MD, PhD4,5; et al

1. National Amyloidosis Centre, Division of Medicine, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
2. Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiomyopathies, Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
3. European Reference Network for Rare, Low Prevalence and Complex Diseases of the Heart, ERN GUARD-Heart, Trieste, Italy
4. Cardiomyopathy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
5. Tuscan Regional Amyloidosis Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

World Water Day will be celebrated on 22nd March, and this year, the United Nations has chosen ‘Glacier Conservation’ as the central theme — a critical and increasingly urgent issue linked to the ongoing effects of climate change.

We spoke with glaciologist Renato R. Colucci, contract lecturer in glaciology at the University of Trieste and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), for his expert insights.

‘At this time of year, Alpine glaciers are still in their accumulation phase. Until the end of April, and well into May, they will continue to accumulate snow,’ explains Colucci. ‘Winter snow is a valuable resource which – provided summer 2025 does not bring prolonged periods of extreme heat but rather milder, more typical conditions – could be transformed into ‘reserve ice’ to be redistributed to the glacier’s lower sections in the coming years.’

‘However, March is also a key month for monitoring conditions in polar regions, especially in terms of sea ice extent. In Antarctica, early March marks the end of summer, and every year this is when the sea ice reaches its minimum extent. In contrast, mid-March marks the Arctic’s exit from winter, with the sea ice reaching its maximum extent.’

‘According to recent data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Antarctica has now recorded the second-lowest sea ice minimum ever measured by satellite (dating back to the 1970s), with an extent of just 1.98 million square kilometres. This marks the fourth consecutive year below 2 million square kilometres, compared to an average of 2.4 million.’

‘The data from the Arctic is even more concerning,’ Colucci continues. ‘This year, the Arctic recorded the lowest sea ice maximum extent ever observed since satellite monitoring began, with just over 14 million square kilometres, compared to an average of almost 16 million.’

The second edition of ‘Universities Unveiled’, the National Universities Day, will take place on 20th March 2025. The initiative is promoted by CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) under the patronage of the Ministry of Universities and Research.
More information is available at: https://www.crui.it/archivio-notizie/universita%E2%80%99-svelate-20-marzo-2025.html

The theme of the 2025 edition, organised with the support of ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), is the relationship between universities and local authorities – a collaboration aimed at creating a dynamic and innovative environment where knowledge, creativity and participation can flourish. The goal of this partnership is to provide university students with the ideal conditions to make the most of their experience, integrating study, social life, culture and leisure within university cities.

To mark this occasion, UniTS wishes to highlight its collaboration with the Municipality of Trieste, which has been strengthened through numerous joint initiatives carried out over the past year:

• The exhibition ‘1924-2024. A Century of History of the University of Trieste. Images and Documents’ was hosted at San Giusto Castle from 15th March to 10th November 2024.
• The MOVIEUNITS festival offered a series of film forums between March and June 2024, in collaboration with University departments, enriching the city’s cultural programme.
• On 23rd July 2024, in collaboration with the Giuseppe Verdi Opera House and as part of the ‘Trieste Estate’ summer programme, the UniTS Centenary Concert took place, celebrating the University’s 100th anniversary with a prestigious musical evening.

• The Castles Run on 20th October 2024 saw enthusiastic participation from both the academic and local communities, strengthening the sense of belonging and collaboration between the University and the city.

Several science outreach activities were also jointly organised: 

• The regional selections for the international talent show FameLab, on 31st March 2024
• The Trieste Next Festival, from 27th to 29th September 2024
• The European Researchers’ Night – SHARPER, on 27th September 2024

• Bloomsday, celebrated from 14th to 16th June 2024, followed by the Trieste Joyce School from 30th June to 5th July 2024, promoting the cultural legacy of the Irish writer

The UniTS - Municipality collaboration will of course continue in 2025 with: 

• The FameLab regional selection, to be held in the Luttazzi Hall on 4th April 
• Trieste Next Festival, from 25th to 27th September 
• Researchers' Night, on 25th September 
• Bloomsday, in the week of 16th June, and the Trieste Joyce School from 29th June to 4th July.

During the inauguration ceremony of the 101st academic year, Rector Roberto Di Lenarda and President of Fondazione CRTrieste, Massimo Paniccia, awarded the most deserving first-year students for 2023-2024.

Each student received a €1,500 grant, funded by Fondazione CRTrieste.

‘Awarding a prize to the most deserving first years means valuing merit, encouraging excellence, and promoting an academic environment that fosters commitment and personal growth,’ said Massimo Paniccia on the occasion.

The prize-winning students, along with their degree courses and departments, are:

• Simone Barbon (Civil and Environmental Engineering – Department of Engineering and Architecture)
• Reka Cikalese (Applied Interlinguistic Communication – Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies)
• Erasmo Ferrara (International Economics and Financial Markets – Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics)
• Giulia Fignon (Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics – Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences)
• Jacopo Qualizza (Political and Administrative Sciences – Department of Political and Social Sciences)
• Antonio Santini (History and Philosophy – Department of Humanities)
• Noemi Sartor (Physiotherapy – Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences)
• Luna Sorgente Scemama (Psychology – Department of Life Sciences)
• Giulio Ticli (Physics – Department of Physics)
• Maria Toso (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology – Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences)

For the last six years the entire UniTS community has worked to make the University more solid, efficient and attractive to prospective students. As his term of office comes to a close, the Rector Roberto Di Lenarda leads the inauguration ceremony for the 2024-2025 academic year as UniTS begins its 101st year.

In addition to marking the fundamental tenets of his rectorate, Prof. Di Lenarda wanted to reiterate his position on two important current issues.  Firstly, the green light given to the reform that will abolish the admission test to master’s degrees in medicine and surgery, and dentistry and dental prosthetics, replacing it with exams taken at the end of the first term, and, secondly, the growth of telematic universities.

‘The significant and, in my opinion, pathological growth of online universities (which is also supported by legislation) does not only challenge us in terms of competition and alternative educational models, but also in terms of the ethics of teaching, empowered as they often are by foreign investment funds whose sole purpose is profit,’ underlined the Rector. ‘The problem is not the teaching tool itself, but its methods, purposes and objectives.’

The outgoing Rector takes a similarly strong position on the delegated law that will lead to the abolition of admission tests for master’s degrees in medicine.

‘The law must always be respected and so UniTS fully intends to respect it, but I cannot refrain from expressing my deepest opposition to changing the admission methods to degree courses in medicine and surgery, and in dentistry and dental prosthetics,’ he continued. ‘This is a dangerous, unworkable measure, which holds negative effects for many other degree courses and is founded on false premises. The regional health service does not lack practitioners, it lacks attractiveness. Admissions will remain competitive after this reform, but building a national ranking on the basis of the marks acquired in exams taken during the first term is unthinkable.’   

During the inauguration ceremony, the invited authorities who spoke wanted to leave a message of good wishes to the University.

'The relationship between Generali and the University of Trieste is long-lasting and enriched by significant collaborations,' stated Andrea Sironi, Chairman of Assicurazioni Generali. 'The sharing of knowledge and the development of new skills represent a fundamental cornerstone for people’s personal growth and an increasingly valuable asset for the community, demonstrating the vitality of the social fabric in which they take shape. In an extremely complex and competitive global context, the creation of joint projects between companies and educational institutions can build an important advantage to face and overcome the big challenges of our time. The opening ceremony of the Academic Year, which concludes the celebrations for the Centenary of the University of Trieste, is a very important moment not only because it celebrates the university institution and the value of the high educational path of the individual, but also because it represents a moment of dialogue with city institutions, private actors, and the community.'

‘The regional administration will continue to invest in knowledge, research and education, because we are fully aware that the development of our community depends on knowledge and innovation,’ said the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Massimiliano Fedriga. ‘Over the three-year period 2022-2024, the total funding allocated to the regional university system exceeded 80 million euros, significant resources to support teaching, research, technological innovation, the right to education, the modernisation of infrastructure and the ability to attract talent. The Region and the University of Trieste are united in a strategic alliance that will deliver important results in areas that are still crucial today, such as quantum communication, green hydrogen, life sciences, the blue economy, trade districts and the health system.’

‘The quality of life offered by any place is determined by many complex elements: the presence of businesses and therefore job opportunities, knowledge exchange, cultural events and opportunities for personal enrichment, innovation processes and propensity for innovation,’ stressed the Deputy Mayor of Trieste, Serena Tonel. ‘Every day, our municipal administration works to maintain and continue to increase the quality of life for not only its citizens but also the thousands of university students who study and live in the city. I am thinking about the public transport system, cultural activities, opportunities to initiate, set up and consolidate economic initiatives as well as career opportunities after studies. We are working, alongside other institutions in the area, with the University but also with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, to perfect the synergy between research and its technological applications. I would like to thank President Fedriga for the investments in the public sector he has guaranteed and for the policies he has put in place to increase the attractiveness of the area for businesses and highly qualified workers. All this constitutes a system that we want to make all the more integrated and successful. The University has been able to look with pride to the past and with determination to the future, expanding its range of courses and welcoming an ever-increasing number of students, investing in the quality of teaching and research. The city of Trieste and its administration are proud of the University, an institution that has distinguished itself as an important landmark in the panorama of higher education and scientific research in Italy and rest of the world.’

Following, the key points of the speech by the Rector, Roberto Di Lenarda.

Reflections after the Rector’s six-year term (2019-2025)

‘The fundamental starting point for this governance was the improvement of teaching and of the course catalogue,’ explained Prof. Di Lenarda. ‘Thanks to the activation of more than 20 new degree courses, today the University of Trieste is one of the fastest growing Italian universities in terms of both national and international intake.’

Student intake grew by more than 30% compared to 2019-2020 (six times more than the average growth of Italian public universities). The percentage of students who enrolled from outside the region and abroad (40% in first- and second-cycle courses and 60% in third-cycle courses) confirms the University’s attractiveness and makes our target of reaching 20,000 students not only more concrete but also more tangible in the short term.

Social responsibility and historical moment

The Rector recalled the Covid-19 pandemic, a period in which UniTS stood out for its strong opposition to anti-scientific approaches, for maintaining in-person teaching (especially for students in their first years of study) at a time when this couldn’t be taken for granted and for its commitment to supporting public health. 

‘Only a few months later, on 13 July 2020, we signed the pre-agreement for the return of Narodni Dom to the Slovenian community. On 28 March 2022, President Mattarella’s participation in the inauguration ceremony for that academic year was a momentous moment not only for the University and the city of Trieste but, more generally, for Italy-Slovenia relations. Our university has been recognised as a promoter of this process, as a link and as an important mediator.’ 

In April 2024, this direction was confirmed with all due ceremony when honorary degrees were conferred on President Mattarella and former Slovenian President Borut Pahor.

Key actions and strategic investments

There has been a lot of investment in the UniTS community, both through recruitment and career progression. 75 teaching staff have joined in the past five years and a further 56 recruitments are planned in the coming months. A similar investment has been made in technical and administrative staff through the addition of 95 new recruits and a further 55 new employees will be added in 2025.  

‘We are also very proud to have launched the extraordinary recruitment plan for female teaching staff which will allow us to recruit 10 female full professors, one per department, by the end of the year,’ added Prof. Di Lenarda.

Also worth mentioning is the 6 million euros of funding planned for updating and upgrading scientific equipment and measures to make the University’s spaces more modern and welcoming.

Future prospects: growth, innovation and sustainability

‘A project which we will be, or at least I hope we will be, heavily involved in is the redevelopment of the Old Port, a great opportunity for Trieste to relaunch itself as an internationally attractive city,’ continued the Rector. ‘The new Cattinara Campus will also contribute decisively to this, an investment of over 50 million euros by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region that will bring our university to new heights in healthcare and scientific research.’ 

At the end of his speech, Prof. Di Lenarda thanked the entire UniTS community and its closest collaborators as well as the Municipality of Trieste and the FVG Region which, under the guidance of President Massimiliano Fedriga and with the commitment of the regional Councillor for University Alessia Rosolen, have given ready, generous and strategic support to the University. 

A special thanks also went to the CRTrieste Foundation that supported the cost of the prizes awarded to the ten most deserving first years at the inauguration ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by the President of the Student Council Anna Colussi, the Representative for Technical and Administrative Staff Francesca Tardio, the Deputy Mayor of Trieste Serena Tonel, and the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Massimiliano Fedriga.

The opening lecture was given by Andrea Nardini, Full Professor of Plant Physiology at the Department of Life Sciences, on the topic ‘Some Lessons from Trees on the Risks of Climate Change’. 

STUDIO DUE – GONGO 2025 has been officially launched. This inter-university teaching project involves students and lecturers from the University of Trieste (UniTS), the Polytechnic University of Milan, Federico II University of Naples, and the University of Salerno.

On Saturday 15th March 2025, the Conference Centre at the UniTS Gorizia campus in Via Alviano will welcome over 200 students and around fifteen lecturers and teaching assistants for a study day dedicated to architectural design and the urban transformation of the cross-border areas of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The event, open to the general public, forms part of the calendar of initiatives organised by the University in celebration of GO! 2025 – Nova Gorica and Gorizia European Capital of Culture.

Launched in 2023 by UniTS Architecture lecturers Thomas Bisiani and Adriano Venudo, Elvio Manganaro from the Polytechnic University of Milan, and Alberto Calderoni from Federico II University of Naples, the project has since grown to include additional ‘Composizione 2’ studios at the Polytechnic University of Milan, led by Giacomo Ortalli, Aleksa Korolija and Luca Cardani, as well as the University of Salerno with Felice De Silva.

Prof. Adriano Venudo explained the aim of the project: ‘Gorizia, together with Nova Gorica and the border, has unique characteristics that make it stand out. This seminar and exchange will allow us to gain an external perspective. We will also produce a publication to collect the outcomes.’

‘This is a project that connects urban planning with the university world, something we believe in strongly. Our university courses are an extraordinary asset, and we are committed to promoting them to the fullest,’ said Chiara Gatta, Deputy Mayor of Gorizia.

Patrizia Artico, Municipal Councillor for GO! 2025, added: ‘Our border, with its history and unique features, is of great urban interest. The fact that prestigious universities have chosen to study it confirms this.’

After working on the historic centre of Naples in the first year of the project, the students will now turn their attention to the Transalpina Station in Nova Gorica and the cross-border urban areas between Italy and Slovenia.

During the day, Prof. Paolo Nicoloso from the University of Trieste will give a lecture entitled ‘Gorizia: 1900–1950’, followed by architect Nejc Koradin’s talk on ‘Nova Gorica: The Birth of a City’. Participants will then take part in an exploratory walk to discover the sites under study.

Programme STUDIO DUE - GONGO 2025

UniTS x GO! 2025

A young, dynamic, and ambitious initiative, yet already demonstrating excellent organisation: this is ASTREO, the new UniTS team bringing together students with a shared passion for aerospace. Their mission? To collaborate and challenge themselves alongside colleagues from other Italian and international universities, developing cutting-edge solutions for the sector with a strong focus on sustainability.

Astreo is the third student team active at the University of Trieste, joining the already established Audace Sailing Team and UniTS Racing Team. Founded within the Department of Engineering and Architecture, Astreo has already built a solid foundation, with nearly 30 members from five different departments. The project’s scientific lead is Stefano Seriani, a professor of Robotics at the University of Trieste and an expert in satellite development, with experience collaborating with ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA.

The team operates with a clear and efficient organisational structure, complemented by specific working groups dedicated to key areas: Design, Electronics, Scientific Performance, Outreach, Finance & Legal, and Software.

One of Astreo’s first projects is the development of a detector for space debris in low Earth orbit – an urgent response to concerns highlighted in ESA’s annual reports, which warn of increasing space traffic and the growing risk of collisions between satellites and debris. To ensure sustainability in their research and make experimentation more accessible, the team is committed to using innovative and modular technologies. They aim to adopt the CubeSat standard – small satellites used for scientific and experimental purposes – and employ 3D printing for prototyping.

From 3rd to 7th March 2025, Astreo had its first opportunity to engage in an international setting. Giuseppe Basile, a UniTS student and Astreo member, took part in a workshop organised by ESA after successfully securing a place through a competitive selection process. During the workshop, participants worked on designing a CubeSat based on requirements defined by ESA experts.

The Italian Medicines Agency - AIFA has given the green light for the world's first clinical trial of the drug Mirtazapine in Rett Syndrome,  MirtaRett, after receiving approval from the national ethics committee for paediatric studies. 

The trial is coordinated by the University of Trieste and will be conducted in the main Italian referral hospitals for patients suffering from Rett Syndrome. It is entirely supported by non-profit grants, particularly the non-profit project ‘Angelini for future ’ from Angelini Pharma SpA, together with the Canali Onlus, Ico Falck Onlus and Amadei and Setti Onlus Foundations. The trial will be managed by the consortium for biological and pharmacological evaluations (Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche, CVBF), a non-profit organisation providing services for clinical research in Italy. 

The actual start of the trial will take about two months, during which UniTS, the coordinating centre, and the four clinical centres in Milan, Genoa, Siena and Messina, will set up the organisational machinery for the recruitment and treatment of the patients. The patients are exclusively female, as Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 10,000 girls and is the second most common cause of intellectual disability in females worldwide (Petriti et al. Systematic Reviews (2023) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02169).

The trial will involve a total of 54 patients aged between 5 and 40 years. They will be divided into three groups of 18 with varying age brackets (5-10, 11-17 and 18-40 years).

Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by unpredictable mutations of the MECP2 gene in the reproductive cells (spermatozoa or oocytes) of completely healthy parents. Symptoms appear in the second year of life when girls begin to speak and walk, displaying rapid regression of speech and the inability to make voluntary hand movements. In later years, girls develop epileptic seizures and respiratory difficulties, which are the main cause of death. Many patients reach adulthood, albeit with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. 

Restoration experiments on the mutated gene conducted in animal subjects have demonstrated that the disorder can be completely reversed, but to date there is still no definitive cure. 

The project started in 2009, thanks to funding from Telethon, Fondazione San Paolo, Fondazione Casali, Beneficentia Stiftung and the parent associations AIRETT Onlus and ProRett Ricerca Onlus. Across15 years of study carried out in the laboratory directed by Prof. Enrico Tongiorgi at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste, abundant experimental evidence of Mirtazapine's efficacy in the recovery of certain symptoms has been collected. Further evidence in favour of the drug was then gathered through a retrospective investigation in collaboration with the Rett Reference Centre at Le Scotte Hospital in Siena, where the drug was administered as standard treatment for anxiety, repetitive behaviour and sleep disorders for a period of 1 to 5 years in 40 adult Rett patients. In addition to the beneficial effects the drug had on anxiety and sleep, the study also revealed it as being beneficial to slowing the progression of Rett syndrome, demonstrating improvements in some typical symptoms such as self-harm, irritability, motor difficulties and loss of communication skills. 

‘At the moment, no one has been able to test the effects of this drug in girls suffering from Rett syndrome yet,’ said Prof. Tongiorgi, ‘We therefore believe it is necessary to proceed with a rigorous clinical trial like the one proposed in the MirtaRett project. We have set ourselves the goal of keeping this project entirely in Italy, involving the main referral clinical centres. The trial will test the efficacy of the drug on general symptoms and in particular on motor skills, such as the use of the hand, the ability to communicate and on psychological disorders. We will also monitor the quality of sleep and the basic parameters of breathing and the heart, thanks to a new Italian-made smart T-shirt that we have tested, allowing us to make important discoveries on breathing defects in these patients.’ 
The study also involves monitoring the stress levels of caregivers and detecting biomarkers in the blood, such as neurotrophic factors, which are useful for assessing the effects of the drug on developmental recovery and plasticity of the nervous system.

Every clinical trial has high costs, but thanks to the non-profit nature of the project, it has been possible to reduce them considerably and, thanks to the generosity of donors, the hospitals in Messina, Milan and Siena will also be equipped with the instrumentation to conduct the actigraphy, and 54 smart T-shirts will be purchased. 

Centres and researchers involved in the experimentation:

Coordinator - Prof. Enrico TONGIORGI, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.
Partner 1 – Prof. Maria Paola CANEVINI, Dr. Ilaria VIGANÓ, ASST Ospedale Santi Paolo Carlo - Via di Rudinì 8; Milano; Prof. Aglaia VIGNOLI (MD) ‘Statale’ University of Milan.
Partner 2 – Prof. Lino NOBILI, Dr. Giulia PRATO – Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Sciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa - Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Research Hospital, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa.
Partner 3 – Dr. Salvatore GROSSO, Dr. Claudio DE FELICE – Rett Syndrome Research and Experimentation Centre - Paediatric/Neuropaediatric Unit, Mother and Child Department – Polyclinic ‘Santa Maria alle Scotte’, Siena.
Partner 4 – Prof. Gabriella DI ROSA, Dr. Antonio NICOTERA - ‘Gaetano Barresi’ Department of Human Pathology of Adults and the Age of Development, ‘G. Martino’University Polyclinic, University of Messina.