General Aspects
IDF SHARID estimates, for its fulfilment, a total expense of 9.2 million euros. It has the ambitious aim to conceptually enable the molecular prediction of diabetes type 2 and the response or resistance to molecular targeting interventions through the development of an innovative LOC (lab-on-a-chip) able to reveal important epigenotypes and rare genetic variations. This aim is coherent with the purposes of the MIUR call, where the project ranked fourth at national level in the “Health” Area and was entitled to obtain the financial facilitations provided for by the national call. IDF SHARID focuses on the application of key technologies in the bioinformatics, biomedical and biotechnological fields, and their subsectors, through which it aims at developing innovative therapy instruments based on: prediction approaches and personalized medicine; development of new molecules and low-cost innovative medical devices; and identification of new diagnostic approaches for important human diseases in order to support active and healthy ageing.

Research Activities
Different studies have so far proved that some epigenotypes present a much stronger predictive power than all genetic variants identified to date. Therefore, once the epigenetic profiles associated to the main risk factors are identified and interpreted, as proposed by IDF SHARID, we will be able to rely on biomarkers that are much more useful than the existing ones. LOC (lab-on-a-chip) high performance integrated systems, made available by the development of nanotechnologies and capable of producing epigenetic proliferations, will revolutionize not only early diagnosis but also current diabetes treatment. Through the identification of well-validated markers, these innovative devices will enable the molecular prediction of diabetes and its co-morbidity. LOC have indeed the potential of advancing prediction from the present evaluation of questionnaires filled at a clinic to molecular medicine, through a wide range of applications spanning from determination of responsiveness to physical activity to individual prediction of diabetes; however, they have not been employed in the diabetic field yet. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis of the intestinal microbiome and associations among specific microbiota modifications and epigenetic and metabolic markers studied through LOC may not only provide further diabetes markers but also lead to the isolation of new protective intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites (e.g., Akkermansia muciniphila), facilitating the development of new drugs for diabetes.

Lead Partner:
Campania Bioscience Technology Cluster

Partnerships:
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (UNICAMPANIA)
University of Catania (UNICT)
Meccatronica Cluster (as implementing entity for the University of Bari Aldo Moro, UNIBA)
Toscana Life Sciences (as implementing entity for the University of Siena, UNISI)
SCAI Finance S.r.l.
TME S.r.l.