Monitoring the progression of advanced cutaneous melanoma through a simple blood draw or urine sample, in order to obtain information that can help personalise therapies and make them less invasive for patients. This is the goal of EXOMEL, the new research project coordinated by the University of Trieste, which will study the use of liquid biopsy to monitor a form of cancer in which the ability to observe disease progression accurately can have a significant impact on therapeutic decisions.

The project, entitled “Exosomal microRNA from liquid biopsy for the monitoring and personalisation of treatments for advanced cutaneous melanoma”, aims to develop and validate innovative diagnostic technologies, shared among the clinical centres involved, to make treatments increasingly targeted, effective and tailored to the characteristics of each patient. The most innovative aspect concerns the use of urine samples as a form of liquid biopsy: EXOMEL will study exosomes, small vesicles involved in communication between cells, and the microRNAs they carry, with the aim of identifying a combination of biological signals that may help distinguish patients who respond to immunotherapy from those who do not.

EXOMEL is funded by the Interreg VI-A Italy–Austria 2021–2027 cross-border cooperation programme, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for a total amount of 572,055.59 euros. The project, which will end on 31 March 2028, confirms the value of international cooperation in cancer research, bringing together healthcare institutions, universities and technological expertise from Italy and Austria.

The University of Trieste acts as lead partner and coordinates the project activities through its Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, involving a research team composed of Serena Bonin, Iris Zalaudek, Ilaria Gandin and Gabriele Grassi.

The partnership also includes the South Tyrol Health Authority, with the hospitals of Bruneck and Bolzano, an Italian small and medium-sized enterprise, and the University Clinic of Dermatology and Allergology of Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg.

“At the heart of EXOMEL,” explains Serena Bonin, lecturer in Technical Sciences of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Trieste and principal investigator of the project, “is the development and validation of liquid biopsy, a diagnostic approach that makes it possible to obtain relevant information about the disease from biological samples that are easy to collect, such as blood or urine. Today, plasma liquid biopsy is used mainly in research to detect circulating tumour DNA, that is DNA carrying tumour-specific mutations. However, this approach requires the mutations to be monitored to be already known. With EXOMEL, we instead want to study the microRNAs contained in exosomes, vesicles through which cells communicate with one another, to verify whether a combination of them can help discriminate between patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma who respond to immunotherapy and those who do not.

At present,” Bonin adds, “there are no predictive biomarkers used in hospital practice to systematically guide these therapeutic choices. For this reason, the aim of the project is to contribute to the development of tools that are more accessible, repeatable and potentially useful for the personalisation of treatments.”

During the project, liquid biopsy technology will be extended to the study of urine samples and applied in the clinical centres involved through the development of common and standardised protocols. This step will make it possible to test the robustness of the approach in different clinical settings, harmonise diagnostic practices among the partner healthcare facilities and foster the creation of a stable collaborative network between Italy and Austria.

The expected results may also have an impact beyond the strictly academic and clinical fields. EXOMEL may contribute to the development of new diagnostic tools based on liquid biopsy, opening up possible prospects for technology transfer and industrial valorisation of research, including through the interest of companies active in the biomedical and diagnostic sectors.

The security of supply chains is now one of the European Union’s central concerns, especially in strategic sectors such as critical minerals and rare earths. It is from this perspective that the new policy report by Federico Donelli, Professor of International Relations at the University of Trieste, and Riccardo Gasco begins, identifying Turkey as a possible partner in strengthening Europe’s industrial resilience.

Published by the Istanbul Political Research Institute (IstanPol) as part of the Foreign Policy Program series (April 2026-004), with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation Turkey Representation, the report, entitled Critical Minerals, Rare Earths, and the Türkiye–EU Partnership. Supply Chain Resilience and the Restructuring of the Global Order, examines the relationship between strategic raw materials, economic security and European industrial policy, focusing on the role Turkey could play in building more resilient supply chains.

The report shows how supply chains have taken on growing importance in international competition and highlights, in particular, the issue of rare earth processing and refining. According to the authors, it is especially in this segment of the value chain that one of Europe’s main vulnerabilities can now be seen, also in light of the strong concentration of capacity in China.

Against this backdrop, Turkey is presented as a potentially important partner for the European Union, both because of its geographical proximity and because of its industrial base, refining capacity and already established economic ties with the European market. The paper also points to the existence of a Turkish national strategy aimed at strengthening the critical minerals sector and recalls, among the relevant factors, the role the country already plays in certain supply chains.

Alongside these strengths, the study also highlights the limits of the current European framework. The authors note that, although the Critical Raw Materials Act sets out important strategic goals, it is still facing difficulties in the implementation phase. At the same time, the report identifies a number of open issues for Turkey, linked to governance in the mining sector, environmental standards, deposit certification and the broader political and diplomatic context shaping relations with Brussels.

“The report,” explains Federico Donelli, “also connects the issue of critical minerals to the broader evolution of the international order. From this perspective, the conflict with Iran is cited as a factor that has made even more evident the interdependence between energy, logistics, the defence industry and raw material supply, reinforcing the need for Europe to equip itself with more effective tools of economic and strategic resilience.”

In its concluding section, the report sets out six recommendations addressed to the European Commission, Member States and the Turkish government. Among them, the authors point to the opportunity to launch a formal strategic partnership between the European Union and Turkey on critical raw materials, direct European investment towards processing and refining infrastructure in Turkey, and establish a joint working group focused on supply chain resilience and the modernisation of the Customs Union.

The paper also suggests making use of the current phase of regional instability to strengthen coordination between the two sides in the energy field, developing a joint pilot plant for rare earth processing, and ensuring a more timely European presence in the main international forums where priorities and frameworks for the sector are being defined.

Federico Donelli’s contribution is part of his broader research path devoted to new geopolitical configurations and the role of regional actors in the Euro-Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and African areas. In this case, the focus on relations between the European Union and Turkey provides a useful perspective on an issue that directly affects Europe’s industrial policy, economic security and international positioning.

Joint second place with Ca' Foscari University of Venice among medium-sized universities in the North-East in the evaluation of scientific publications by researchers who achieved career advancement between 2020 and 2024, and ninth place among Italian universities overall.

Second among all universities in the North-East for knowledge valorization/public and social engagement, and seventh nationally, ahead of even very large universities.

From the first snapshot emerging from the 2020–2024 Research Quality Evaluation (VQR) carried out by ANVUR (National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System), UniTS stands out as a university with an overall evaluation of publications above the national average, where deserving researchers are promoted and, above all, as a hub of research with a strong impact on society.

This latter indicator, in detail, assesses the value generated “outside the University” in terms of impact on the local area and society: social and territorial projects and lifelong learning, public engagement, research with an impact on health, well-being, sustainability and inclusion, technology transfer, and academic entrepreneurship.

The VQR evaluated articles, monographs, and other research outputs totaling 199,816 products, compared to approximately 182,000 submitted in the previous 2015–2019 assessment. More than 75,800 researchers were accredited. The number of universities considered also increased, reaching 100. The works were divided among 19 Evaluation Expert Panels (GEV), composed overall of 719 disciplinary experts and 37 interdisciplinary experts from Italian and international institutions. In addition, more than 6,740 international external reviewers were involved in the evaluation.

The heartbeat helps slow the growth of tumors in cardiac tissue. This is the finding of an international study published in Science, coordinated by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the Monzino Cardiology Center IRCCS. 

The study, entitled Mechanical load inhibits tumor growth in mouse and human hearts, draws attention to a still little-explored aspect of cancer biology: the physical forces acting in the myocardium do not merely regulate heart function, but can also influence the behavior of tumor cells, even to the point of slowing their proliferation. 

The research involved partners in Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom, including the European Institute of Oncology, the Medical University of Innsbruck, King’s College London, the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, and the Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo. This broad and integrated network made it possible to combine experimental, clinical, bioengineering, and computational expertise. 

The work began from a medical observation that has long been known but remains only partly understood in its underlying mechanisms: the heart develops tumors very rarely and, even when it is affected by metastases, these tend to be smaller than those found in other organs. The researchers therefore investigated whether one explanation might lie precisely in the mechanical nature of cardiac tissue, which is constantly subjected to contraction, pressure, and deformation. 

To do so, they used different and innovative experimental models. On the one hand, they studied what happens when the heart is mechanically “unloaded”: under these conditions, tumor cells proliferate much more extensively. On the other hand, they used engineered cardiac tissues grown in the laboratory, where they were able to modulate mechanical load and directly observe the response of tumor cells. 

The result was consistent: when cardiac tissue beats and generates mechanical load, tumor growth slows down; when this stimulus is reduced, tumor cells resume proliferating. 

“Our findings show that cardiac pulsation is not only a physiological function, but can also act as a natural suppressor of tumor growth,” said Professor Serena Zacchigna, Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste and head of the Cardiovascular Biology laboratory at ICGEB. “This suggests that the cardiac environment is unfavorable to tumor cells not only for immunological or metabolic reasons, but also because its continuous mechanical activity physically limits their expansion.” 

Professor Giulio Pompilio, Scientific Director of the Monzino Cardiology Center IRCCS and Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences of the University of Milan, added: “One of the most fascinating aspects of this research is that it shows how the mechanical forces regulating heart activity, already known to create an environment hostile to its regenerative ability, conversely exert a beneficial biological action in counteracting tumor growth. Perhaps these are two sides of the same coin. I would also like to stress that this work was made possible thanks to the collaboration of experts from different fields, ranging from cardiology to oncology, bioengineering, and bioinformatics.” 

The most interesting finding concerns the level at which this effect occurs. The study shows that the mechanical forces exerted by the heart do not stop at the surface of tumor cells, but also affect internal mechanisms that regulate their ability to multiply. 

This is an important step because it concretely links the mechanical dimension of the cellular environment with the epigenetic regulation of the tumor. In other words, the heart may be hostile to tumor cells not only for immunological or metabolic reasons, but also because its very movement physically limits their expansion. 

Another major strength of the study lies in its ability to connect basic research with clinical observation. The results obtained in experimental models were compared with human cardiac metastases, analyzed in parallel with lesions located in other organs of the same patients. This made it possible to verify that the molecular signatures observed in the laboratory are also found in human samples, reinforcing the robustness of the work and its potential impact. 

This research opens up a potentially transformative direction: understanding whether and how mechanical stimuli might one day be harnessed as a therapeutic tool against cancer. The idea that a “mechanical therapy” could complement or inspire new oncological strategies still remains to be developed, but the principle emerging from the study is clear: physical forces are not just a backdrop to disease, but could represent an important brake on it. 

Antonio Luca Cucchiara, a resident physician in the Dermatology Specialization School of the Università degli Studi di Trieste, is the winner of the “Current topics in acariasis” section of the 4th Logofarma Award conferred by SIDeMaST.

“The idea of presenting the clinical case that won the award came from observing an atypical presentation of scabies with involvement of the nail apparatus, which made diagnosis and treatment particularly complex,” explains Cucchiara. “Scabies is an increasingly common parasitic infection in the general population and represents a highly relevant current issue. This work highlights the role of dermoscopy and the importance of a careful evaluation of the nails as well, in order to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.”

SIDeMaST is the leading Italian scientific society in the field of dermatology. It brings together dermatologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals engaged in the study, prevention, and treatment of skin diseases and sexually transmitted infections. The organization aims to promote scientific research, disseminate up-to-date knowledge, and improve the quality of dermatological care in Italy.

“Quantum technologies will define the coming decades, not only for states and territories but also for businesses and individuals: the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region understood this as early as 2018 and has since continued to invest resources and support projects developed by our university system. Q-Connect FVG and Quasar-FVG address highly strategic aspects such as connection security and the creation of quantum computers.”

This was the summary provided today by the Regional Councillor for Universities and Research, Alessia Rosolen, during a press conference presenting the two new projects coordinated by the universities of Trieste and Udine, in collaboration with Cnr-Ino, Cnr-Iom, Sissa, and the Synchrotron.

“Quantum technology, together with hydrogen,” Rosolen recalled, “is the key trajectory on which Friuli Venezia Giulia has focused to remain at the forefront from a system development perspective, in which the benefits must extend to the entire range of stakeholders, from research institutions to public bodies, from businesses to individual citizens.”

“Collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has been essential in recognizing the potential of the quantum technology sector, in which we have made significant territorial investments. The projects presented today position the University of Trieste as a leading player at the national level, with international opportunities both for fundamental research and for applications with companies across various sectors. We are already one step ahead nationally thanks to our strong partnership with the regional ecosystem,” added the Rector of UniTS, Donata Vianelli.

The role of UniTS

The University of Trieste, with Professor Angelo Bassi, coordinates the QUASAR FVG project, which aims to develop new experimental, theoretical, and algorithmic protocols for quantum computation and simulation. This role has been assigned to UniTS due to the laboratories of the university’s ArQuS group (Artificial Quantum Systems), led by Professor Francesco Scazza and Dr. Matteo Marinelli.

Professor Scazza leads a laboratory focused on the simulation of complex quantum systems, using the cooling, trapping, and control of two-electron atoms. By employing high-precision optical manipulation techniques and spectroscopy, it is possible to achieve control at the level of a single atom.

The new laboratory currently under development is coordinated by Dr. Marinelli and will specifically focus on creating new interfaces between atoms and photons for modular quantum computing.

These laboratories, unique at the national level for their research areas, together with the theoretical expertise that earned the UniTS Department of Physics the “Excellence” certification from the Ministry of Universities and Research, provide the ideal experimental and technological environment for the development of the QUASAR FVG project.

UniTS also participates as a partner in the Q-Connect FVG project, thanks to the existing quantum link between UniTS and UniUD, inaugurated in February 2025 at the Trieste campus. This link represents the first step toward an infrastructure that aims to become a model for Italy and Europe.

Formula 1 drivers develop highly specific physiological adaptations closely linked to the demands of ultra-high-intensity driving. Accelerations of up to 3–4 g, mechanical loads on the neck, constrained postures, thermal stress, and limited recovery periods shape the driver’s body in a unique way. This is the key finding of an international review conducted by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the University of Roehampton (London), with the direct involvement of three Formula 1 performance coaches working at the highest levels, including the trainers of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

The study, aimed at addressing the lack of specific scientific knowledge on drivers’ physiology, was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the leading peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of sports medicine and science.

Formula 1 drivers, the authors explain, are not necessarily “outliers” in general parameters such as height, body mass, or aerobic capacity compared with other professional athletes. However, highly specific adaptations emerge, first and foremost the development of neck strength, which is essential to counter the high multidirectional forces acting on the head—and helmet—during cornering, braking, and acceleration, and to preserve visual stability, driving precision, and reaction time, all decisive factors for both performance and safety. In addition to neck strength, researchers identified other specific adaptations: the ability to withstand repeated and asymmetrical loads—including those affecting the lower limbs, especially during braking—adaptations of the trunk muscles, shoulder girdle, and deep stabilizers, as well as the heart’s capacity to manage peaks in heart rate.

Alex Buoite Stella, co-author of the study and lecturer in Physiology at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste, explains:
“The Formula One championship is one of the most fascinating and globally visible sports, but it is also among those that impose some of the most complex physiological demands on the athlete’s body. Accelerations, braking forces, thermal stress, constrained postures, and limited recovery accumulate throughout the season. With this work, we aimed to systematically understand how the driver’s body responds and adapts to these demands, combining scientific research with the direct experience of coaches working in Formula 1.”

The study also highlights the growing impact of environmental and logistical factors in modern Formula 1. With twenty-four races across twenty-one countries, intercontinental travel, and events held in extreme climatic conditions, thermal stress and recovery management become central elements. Researchers from the University of Trieste, together with several students from the Racing Team UniTS—the university’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team participating in the international university engineering design competition—analyzed the environmental conditions of all races in the most recent championship, estimating their potential thermal impact on drivers. Recent episodes, such as the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, have shown how extreme heat can pose a real risk not only to performance but also to drivers’ health.

In this context, strategies such as heat acclimatization, pre-race cooling, and targeted hydration management are increasingly widespread, but—according to the authors—many practices are still guided more by experience than by data collected directly during races.

Structured interviews with performance coaches made it possible to describe how physiological demands translate into highly personalized training programs, tailored to the type of circuit, the characteristics of the driver, and the expected environmental conditions.

“By combining clinical and research expertise with the experience gained daily in the paddock, we were able to build the most up-to-date picture currently available of the physiological profile of a Formula 1 driver. Our work not only identifies areas where further research is needed but also proposes practical strategies to optimize performance while protecting athletes’ health,” Buoite Stella adds.

The authors and coaches point to the need for increasingly specific studies for Formula 1, conducted as close as possible to real racing conditions, capable of measuring parameters such as heart rate, body temperature, oxygen consumption, and lactate levels. Such research could also help clarify possible long-term health effects, particularly regarding the lumbar spine and exposure to vibrations from the cars.

Kim Keedle, a Formula 1 performance coach involved in the study, concludes:
“Since regulations prohibit the use of monitoring devices inside the car, we rely on data collected outside the vehicle, which entails certain limitations. For instance, it would be interesting to compare heart rate responses while driving on different circuits and under varying conditions. Compared with other sports, heart rate measurement may seem relatively simple, but it would represent a major step forward and would allow us to quantify the physiological demands more precisely and prepare drivers accordingly.”

***

Full study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
The physiological and health demands of Formula One motor racing: a comprehensive review with driver performance coach insight
Christopher James Tyler¹, Luke Felton¹, Andrea Ferrari², Kim Keedle³, Rupert Manwaring⁴, Alex Buoite Stella⁵

1. School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, SW15 4JD
2. Motorsport Performance Coach, Italy
3. Motorsport Performance Coach, Australia
4. Motorsport Performance Coach, United Kingdom
5. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

In occasione della Giornata internazionale delle malattie rare 2026, che si celebra il 28 febbraio, l’Università di Trieste, rinnova l’attenzione verso un ambito di ricerca in cui la dimensione scientifica si intreccia in modo diretto con i bisogni delle persone e delle famiglie. Le patologie rare – spesso complesse da riconoscere e da trattare – richiedono percorsi diagnostici più rapidi, terapie mirate e una presa in carico sempre più personalizzata: obiettivi che richiedono competenze diverse, dal laboratorio alla clinica, dalla genetica ai dati, fino allo sviluppo di nuovi modelli sperimentali.

In questo contesto, UniTS contribuisce con gruppi e progetti che lavorano per migliorare la comprensione dei meccanismi di malattia, affinare gli strumenti diagnostici e costruire soluzioni con un impatto concreto sulla qualità della vita. Un esempio arriva dall’area delle malattie epatiche rare, dove la ricerca si concentra in particolare sulle patologie colestatiche. L’Ateneo partecipa allo studio multicentrico nazionale dedicato alla ricerca di mutazioni associate alla Colestasi Intraepatica Familiare Progressiva (PFIC) in pazienti adulti con colangite sclerosante dei piccoli dotti, integrando dati clinici, biochimici, radiologici e istologici con analisi genetiche dell’esoma (con attenzione a geni come ABCB4). L’obiettivo è duplice: riconoscere forme genetiche dell’adulto che possono rimanere a lungo non identificate e contribuire a ridefinire l’inquadramento diagnostico delle colestasi criptogenetiche attraverso correlazioni genotipo–fenotipo.

Accanto a questo filone, è attiva la collaborazione con la Struttura Complessa di Genetica Medica dell’IRCCS Burlo Garofolo per identificare nuove varianti patogenetiche nelle colestasi geneticamente determinate in età adulta. La ricerca include anche lo sviluppo di modelli cellulari utili a studiare la funzione delle varianti individuate e, più in generale, l’identificazione di nuovi geni responsabili delle PFIC, un gruppo di malattie rare prevalentemente pediatriche su cui UniTS e Burlo lavorano in stretta sinergia.

Contributi scientifici: prof.ssa Lory Crocè (Gastroenterologia, Università di Trieste); dott. Adamo Pio D’Adamo (Genetica medica, Università di Trieste e IRCCS Burlo Garofolo).

After two and a half years, the Horizon Europe Green-GEAR project, focused on reducing the environmental impact of air traffic, has come to an end. Among the project partners was the Università di Trieste, represented by the research group of Prof. Lorenzo Castelli from the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA).

Currently, every flight crossing European airspace is subject to charges proportional to the distance flown and the aircraft’s weight, with rates varying depending on the country overflown. Flying through the airspace of Switzerland or the Netherlands, for example, entails significantly higher costs than crossing Ireland or Croatia.

These differences may lead airlines to choose longer routes to avoid more expensive airspaces: a strategy that results in higher fuel consumption and, consequently, additional and unnecessary carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

With the aim of correcting these distortions and reducing the sector’s environmental impact, the contribution of the Trieste team focused on defining new charging models consistent with current European regulations, capable of mitigating disparities among States and encouraging more direct trajectories. The theoretical models were formulated using mathematical programming tools and validated on real traffic data provided by EUROCONTROL, a project partner.

Large-scale tests produced tangible results: a reduction of up to 1.46% in flown distance and up to 1.44% in CO₂ emissions. Considering that more than 10 million flights operate in Europe each year, even apparently small percentages translate into millions of tonnes of CO₂ avoided. Recent estimates indicate that flights departing from European airports alone generate between 130 and 140 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

“Working on charging mechanisms that may appear purely technical actually means intervening structurally in the system,” Prof. Castelli emphasized. “By reducing economic disparities among national airspaces, it is possible to encourage more direct routes and achieve significant environmental benefits without compromising operational efficiency.”

The professor also acknowledged the key contributions of post-doctoral researcher Andrea Gasparin and PhD candidate Fulvio Vascotto, who worked on the project alongside him.

Green-GEAR represents the tenth European project developed by the UniTS research group over the past twenty years, always in collaboration with major continental stakeholders in the sector, and focused on the mathematical optimization of air traffic management.

The new Director of the Department of Engineering and Architecture, Giorgio Sulligoi, highlighted the strategic importance of this research, which is closely aligned with the European Commission’s objectives to reduce the climate impact of industrial activities, including air transport: “This is a crucial field of research for the ecological transition of the aeronautical sector. We are particularly pleased with the strong positioning of our group within the European landscape, further confirmed by the recent funding of a new Horizon Europe project that will extend the analysis beyond CO₂ alone, considering additional effects such as contrails and nitrogen oxide emissions.”

Most recently, the approval of FairSky has been announced. The project will broaden the analysis to the overall climate impacts of air traffic and will further strengthen UniTS’s role in European research on optimization and sustainability in air traffic management.

A study published in Microplastics has highlighted the presence of microplastics in deep karst caves connected to the Timavo river system, one of the main underground water systems in the Alpine-Dynaric area. The research shows that even extreme and uninhabited environments are not isolated from anthropogenic pollution.

The analyses confirm that the presence of microplastics in the Timavo system was consistent with what is already known for surface-connected river environments: the study’s contribution lies in clarifying how these particles are distributed in underground water systems, revealing marked spatial variability even over short distances.

The study was carried out by the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the Adriatic Society of Speleology, the Municipality of Trieste and the Bioscience Research Center (BsRC), a centre specialised in microplastics. 

Sampling was carried out in rarely accessible environments, including Maucci Cave, which can only be reached via cave diving, and Luftloch cave, discovered only recently after decades of exploration. 

The study was carried out by Raffaele Bruschi, a researcher at the University of Trieste and responsible for sampling and analysis, together with professors Manuela Piccardo, Monia Renzi and Stanislao Bevilacqua from the Department of Life Sciences at UniTS and Lucia Gardossi from the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. For the BsRC, Tecla Bentivoglio and Serena Anselmi were involved.

The research is dedicated to Patrice Cabanel, 32, (Fédération Française d’Études et de Sports Sous-Marins), an experienced cave diver who carried out the sampling at Maucci Cave.  Cabanel sadly disappeared a month after the sampling.

A second methodological study, published in Environmental Pollution https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127208 and developed in collaboration with Manuela Piccardo, addresses the strategies necessary to properly study highly heterogeneous underground environments.