The Urology Department of the Cattinara Hospital has also received the bollino rosa (pink stamp) from Fondazione Onda – the national observatory on women’s and gender health – which recognises healthcare facilities committed to promoting women’s health and integrating gender-specific medicine.

Founded in 2005, Fondazione Onda awards the stamps based on clinical requirements, the quality of care and welcome, attention to gender differences, and training and communication activities.

This is the third accreditation awarded to the facility of ASUGI and the University of Trieste: following the bollino arancione (orange stamp) for excellence in the treatment of kidney diseases, and the bollino azzurro (blue stamp) for pathways dedicated to male and prostate health, the Urology Department in Trieste is the first in the region to earn the full trio of Onda certifications.

This recognition also extends to the educational aspect: specialist trainees begin working in a clinical environment that adopts a gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory approach to care from the outset.

‘Gender-specific medicine is not a separate field,’ says Prof. Giovanni Liguori, Head of the Urology Department of ASUGI and Professor of Urology and Andrology at the University of Trieste, ‘but an integral part of an approach to treatment that considers each person in their full complexity.’

‘Accreditations such as this confirm the value of the path we have taken together with Prof. Paolo Umari, Professor and Head of the Robotic Surgery Unit, Dr. Gianluca D’Aloia, Head of the Prostate Unit, and Dr. Francesca Vedovo, Head of Functional Urology.’

Educate, connect, inspire. With these words, the first edition of the Innovators Community Lab (ICLab) was launched—the renewed program of the University of Trieste that guides students through the discovery of innovation and entrepreneurial culture.

An evolution of the Contamination Lab, which over more than ten editions provided entrepreneurial background to around 300 UniTS students, the ICLab is designed to equip students with tools to develop business projects in emerging sectors.

The program will once again take place in the renovated spaces of the former Military Hospital, now transformed into an environment open to education, co-working, and collaboration between university, industry, and the local community. The 2025 edition kicked off with an official event attended by institutions, companies, and the 29 selected participants from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.

During the event, Salvatore Dore, Head of ICLab and Head of the Technology Transfer and Business Relations Office, also presented the main novelties of the 2025 edition: the recognition of curricular academic credits, individual mentoring programs, training and networking events with entrepreneurs and managers, and a visit to the Marcegaglia Group’s industrial plants, where students will meet the company’s top management. At the end of the program, the five best projects will be awarded scholarships of 5,000 euros each, funded by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The renewed program will also feature an international dimension, which will be presented in the coming weeks.

In his opening remarks, Professor Rodolfo Taccani, Rector’s Delegate for Technology Transfer and Business Relations, reflected on the value of the work done over his six-year term, now nearing its conclusion:
“The Contamination Lab has for years been a living lab of ideas, but also of people. We have seen skills, relationships, and initiatives grow, capable of going beyond the boundaries of the university. This path has accompanied six years of work in which we focused on the connection between education, youth, and business. The future also starts here.”

A central moment of the event was the keynote speech by Gianluca Bisol, President of the winery Bisol 1542. His talk, “Innovating within tradition,” recounted the story of a family business able to combine territorial identity and transformation across generations.

The 29 students selected for the new ICLab training program—18 enrolled in bachelor's degrees, 10 in master's or single-cycle master’s degrees, and 1 in a doctoral program—concluded the meeting with a brief individual presentation, sharing their motivations, goals, and expectations for the journey ahead.

Women account for more than a third of the group. Reflecting the program’s ability to attract diverse skills and interests, this year’s cohort also includes students from humanities programs, such as Philosophy, Psychology, and Law.

With the ICLab, the University of Trieste reinforces and structures its commitment to innovation training, creating real spaces for dialogue between academia and the production system and promoting, within the university path, a vision of business as a tool for growth, connection, and impact.

Prof. Pierangelo Gobbo’s research group from the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Trieste has taken an exciting step forward in the creation of artificial tissues that respond to light, which they have called ‘photonastic prototissues.’

Synthetic biology is a discipline which straddles the border between engineering and biology, and was created in order to build artificial biological systems by combining chemistry, biotechnology and engineering. The work of Prof. Pierangelo Gobbo’s research group addresses a key challenge in the field: to create artificial tissues that not only mimic the structure of living systems, but also integrate movement and biochemical functions. The UniTS research group has created a powerful platform for designing materials that do not merely exist passively, but react and actively adapt to their environment.

The potential applications will have a significant impact on scheduled drug delivery techniques, the field of bioinspired materials and the field of soft robotics, a discipline which uses soft and flexible materials to create robots that can bend, deform and adapt to their environment.

The researchers, inspired by how real tissues convert energy into movement and function, have designed synthetic tissue-like materials that can contract and switch off their internal reactivity when exposed to light.

The secret of these dynamic proto-tissues lies in the combination of two elements: gold nanoparticles that convert light into heat and a polymer ‘proto-cortex’ that is sensitive to thermal changes. Similar to the cortex of living cells, this is nothing more than a polymer layer that covers the inside of the protocell membrane and gives the protocell greater mechanical strength. When exposed to light, the gold nanoparticles generate heat and trigger the contraction of the proto-cortex. This causes the individual proto-cells that make up the material to contract just like a small muscle. When the light is switched off, the structure promptly relaxes.

In addition to movement, they have shown that these contractions can regulate the enzymatic metabolism of the tissue, blocking or allowing access to small substrate molecules. In other words, light intensity can be used to induce reversible contractions that can modulate a biochemical process housed within the material.

The work, now published in Advanced Materials, https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202502830 was developed in collaboration with Professors Piero Pavan and Silvia Todros (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua; Tissue Engineering Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza).

The research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant PROTOMAT, 101039578), the Next Generation EU (PRIN project NRRP 3D-L- INKED, P2022BLNCS; PRIN project SAMBA 2022285HC5_002; PNRR project ‘Metabolic and cardiovascular diseases’ CN000041) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship ‘SAPTiMeC’ (101023978).

Addressing pediatric emergencies such as arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, severe abdominal and spinal trauma, as well as effectively managing healthcare teams—these are the central themes of a high-level scientific training activity with an international scope. The initiative is promoted by the University of Trieste and the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, focusing on advanced management of pediatric emergencies. Approximately 60 residents from the University's Pediatric Specialization School and about 15 healthcare professionals from the Institute participated.

Leading the initiative were two world-renowned experts visiting Trieste for the first time: Professor Marc Berg from Stanford University, a specialist in pediatric simulations and a prominent member of the American Heart Association, and Professor Brent Barber from the University of Arizona, an expert in pediatric and neonatal cardiology. Both have extensive clinical experience in emergencies and are among the authors of international guidelines for pediatric resuscitation.

The event, conceived and coordinated by Dr. Stefania Norbedo, an emergency pediatrician at Burlo and a simulation instructor at the University of Trieste's Specialization School, began on Wednesday, 7 May, with an introductory seminar at Burlo. During the seminar, the two American professors presented and discussed critical clinical scenarios.

Participants engaged in high-fidelity scenarios, managing complex clinical situations in real-time, such as cardiogenic shock, major trauma, poisonings, and respiratory failure. This was made possible through the use of mannequins capable of realistically reproducing the physiological and clinical conditions of pediatric patients.

The 14th edition of Roses, Books, Music, Wine gets underway, the cultural festival organised by the social cooperative Agricola Monte San Pantaleone and the University of Trieste. From 9th May and on each Friday of the month, the rose garden in San Giovanni Park (awarded the Certificate of Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2015) will host meetings, walks, conversations around books, wine tastings, and musical performances.

At the heart of this fourteenth edition, the festival invites reflection on the theme What kind of power?, exploring how to recognise and promote forms of power that differ from those based on oppression, violence, and domination. This reflection is guided by the legacy of Franco Basaglia, who in 1979 observed that real change lies not in winning, but in persuading: The moment we persuade, we win, that is, we bring about a transformation that is difficult to reverse. Nearly fifty years later, this vision continues to inspire the spirit of the festival, which offers a space to nurture the belief that the impossible can become possible, that walls can be dismantled, gates opened, utopias imagined, and even realised, and that the most valuable capital a community holds is its people.

Alongside this vision comes a bitter awareness: new walls are being erected, new forms of exclusion are emerging, rights seem to be in retreat, and collective memories are fading. The power on the rise is not the one evoked by Martin Luther King, the kind that changes reality, but rather a power that subjugates, deceives, bullies, annihilates. And yet, as Italo Calvino reminded us, there is an antidote: To seek and know how to recognise who and what, in the midst of hell, is not hell, and to make it endure, and give it space.

During GO!2025 - European Capital of Culture, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) will present ‘Between skin and heart: the emotions of science in the fight against cancer’, a cycle of five theatre performances scheduled between May and October 2025 in Trieste, Udine, Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The initiative is financed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

The University of Trieste is also a partner in the project, with participation from Serena Zacchigna, professor of Molecular Biology at UniTS and head of the ICGEB Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory. Together with Prof. Domenico Prattichizzo (University of Siena and IIT Genoa), Zacchigna brings a story which is both scientific and personal to the stage, inspired by an innovative challenge in research: to develop new anti-cancer therapies inspired by the heart, an organ rarely affected by cancer, using wearable robots that mimic a heartbeat.

The project interweaves science, storytelling and theatre to bring the public closer to the world of biomedical research, through an accessible, emotional and engaging language. On stage, researchers retrace each phase of their scientific adventure: hypotheses, obstacles, eureka moments, failures and progress, told in the first person and without the aid of slides. The show will be performed in Italian, with Slovenian subtitles and translation into sign language, making it accessibile to all.

The texts and script are by Alessandra Cotoloni and Sarita Massai, with participation from Davide Costabile, Giuseppe Di Mauro, Maryen Vasanthakumar and Alberto Villani.

Calendar of events

• 10th maggio 2025 at 15:00 – Trieste
  Scienza e Virgola Festival (SISSA) – Miela Theatre
  (event for schools)
• 11th May 2025 at 16:00 – Udine
  Vicino/Lontano Festival – Chiesa di San Francesco
  (with sign-language interpreters)
• 27th September 2025 – Trieste
  Trieste Next – Miela Theatre
  (with sign-language interpreters)
• 24th October 2025 at 18:00 – Nova Gorica
  University of Nova Gorica – Palazzo Lanthieri
  (in Italian with English subtitles)
• 25th October 2025 at 11:00 – Gorizia
  University of Trieste – Gorizia Campus – Main Hall
  (event for schools)

A prestigious international award for Federico Rosei, Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Trieste, is among the winners of the Nano Energy Award 2025. This is one of the most important international prizes in the field of nanoenergy, awarded every two years during the International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (NENS). The official ceremony will take place on 30th June 2025 in Beijing, where Professor Rosei will also give a plenary lecture.

The prize was awarded for his pioneering contributions to the study of innovative nanomaterials, such as multiferroic materials and quantum dots. More specifically, Professor Rosei analysed the relationships between the structure and properties of these materials, using them as building blocks in nanoscale energy conversion devices, including photovoltaic cells, photoelectrochemical cells for hydrogen production and solar windows. His research has revealed new perspectives for the development of advanced solar technologies and innovative electronic devices.

Over the course of his career, Federico Rosei has won several important international awards. Among the most recent are the Nanotechnology Recognition Award 2024 from the American Vacuum Society (AVS), appointment as Fellow of the Materials Research Society, Fellowship Award 2024 from the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) and election as Foreign member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science.

His scientific work focuses on next-generation energy technologies based on nanomaterials, with an emphasis on the production, transformation and application of inorganic, organic and biocompatible materials. Professor Rosei is also internationally recognised for his commitment to training young researchers and promoting scientific excellence on a global scale.

A village fair, a family lunch, a Japanese restaurant, a parish party, a food stall at an alpine gathering, a meeting between fan groups, a farmhouse. How many ways can we unknowingly encounter a foodborne infection?

Starting from these seven realistic scenarios, an educational workshop was developed involving around sixty students from the degree programmes in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, Health Assistance, and Environmental and Workplace Prevention Techniques at the University of Trieste — the latter two run in collaboration with the University of Udine. The activity took place at the University Campus in Gorizia and proposed an interdisciplinary approach to managing foodborne illnesses.

Often underestimated, foodborne infections are caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with viruses, bacteria, or parasites and can lead to severe symptoms. Possible causes include improper food storage, poor handling, environmental contamination, and also the rise of mass catering services and global food flows.

The training activity included a preparatory phase featuring three introductory videos—one for each professional field—followed by guided discussions led by course tutors, group formation, and case assignments. Each scenario was supported by educational materials and photographs, with new elements gradually introduced to simulate the evolving nature of a real-life investigation into suspected cases.

In the afternoon, practical exercises took place, including microscope use for slide analysis, culturing with agar plates, tools for detecting simulated contamination, sample preparation using real minced meat packaging, and simulated phone interviews for gathering epidemiological data. Each student had the opportunity to observe and understand the role of all three professional healthcare profiles, gaining insight into how their skills are interconnected.

The workshop highlighted the complementary roles of biomedical laboratory technicians—responsible for analyzing biological samples; health assistants—focused on prevention and public health promotion; and prevention technicians—tasked with inspections in places where food is produced, processed, or served.

Thanks to the diversity of activities and the integration of different competencies, the training day helped consolidate theoretical knowledge, enhance teamwork, and offer a hands-on experience of the shared responsibilities involved in protecting public health.

From 2nd to 3rd May, the 31st Annual Congress of the European Surgical Association (ESA) will take place in Geneva. The event marks the end of Professor Nicolò de Manzini‘s two year term, Director of the Surgical Clinic at the University of Trieste and former Head of the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences.

Founded in 1993, the European Surgical Association brings together some of the most authoritative figures in European and world surgery. The association aims to promote scientific excellence, disseminate research results and foster interdisciplinary dialogue through its annual congress and careful selection of content.

The conclusion of de Manzini's term of office has coincided with a positive outcome: the association has continued to stand out for the high standard of the scientific activities it has promoted, which has seen the presentation of 45 papers selected by prestigious surgical teams, discussed during the congress activity and destined for publication in one of the most authoritative journals in the field.

Among the most significant initiatives promoted this year by de Manzini, the society will open itself up to young surgeons, with the creation of ‘Next Generation ESA’, designed to accompany and enhance the future protagonists of international surgical research.

Internationalisation, multidisciplinary collaboration and openness to young surgeons have characterised this period in the ESA’s evolution, which for the fourth time in thirty years has been led by an Italian surgeon, testimony to the European scientific community’s recognition of Italy.

The University of Trieste has inaugurated the experimental ‘Community Justice’ multi-service hub: an innovative project that brings together universities, institutions, third-sector organisations and the public to promote social inclusion and restorative justice.

The initiative is the result of an agreement between the University of Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Justice - Cassa delle Ammende. The hub will be housed on the premises of the former Casa del Marinaio in Via Principe di Montfort 3 and represents an important point of connection between the world of criminal law enforcement and the community.

The centre will be the operational hub of the ‘Ripar(t)iamo’ and ‘INclusione, CONfronto, TRAttamento’ projects, which are co-funded by the Region. The projects aim to foster the socio-occupational reintegration of people who are subject to restrictions of freedom during criminal investigations, offering concrete support to crime victims and promoting programmes for restorative justice and victim-offender mediation. This work is in line with the principles of the Cartabia Reform (Italian Legislative Decree No 150/2022), which emphasises restorative justice as a tool for reintegration, reconciliation and empowerment.

The new hub will be open at least three days a week, guaranteeing welcome, support and training activities for people subject to restrictions of freedom during criminal investigations, victims of crime and practitioners. Within the hub, public bodies, third-sector organisations and academic staff will collaborate with the aim of offering innovative services and strengthening the link between institutions and citizens.

The Rector, Prof. Roberto Di Lenarda, the Regional Councillor for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Prof. Giovanni Grandi, and Dr. Gianna Zamaro attended the inauguration.