Medical scientific sector

“Umberto Veronesi” Foundation

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION and FATRO support various projects with the Veronesi Foundation, amongst which: GENOME REMODELLING IN LUMINAL B AND DUCTAL TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER METASTASIS AND XENOGRAFT: TARGETING DRIVER PATHWAYS TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE Whilst being a well-defined tumor, breast cancer can originate from different types of mutation in the regulation of the cycle. Therefore, knowing the disparate genetic profiles of breast cancer is a fundamental strategy for a targeted choice of the treatments the patient should undergo. The discovery of new fundamental genes at the onset of the disease and mutations that cause resistance to conventional therapies may pave the way for the evolution of new, increasingly targeted drugs.The research project aims to identify the genetic mutations involved, through both new sequencing techniques and using RNA interference. Special attention will be paid to the identification of those mutations which cause resistance to standard treatments to develop new drugs. GOLD FOR KIDS This project is devoted to children and adolescents to support the best treatments in pediatric oncology and disseminate information on infant and adolescent tumors.The "Gold for Kids" project is aimed at supporting innovative protocols for the treatment of important pediatric oncological diseases. The project has been developed jointly with AIEOP (The Italian Association of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology).See the site: www.goldforkids.it MEDULLOBLASTOMA METASTATICO The latest project adopted is: "A protocol for metastatic medulloblastoma, with residual post-surgical disease and high biological risk, called high-risk medulloblastoma". VISIT THE SITE

Study grant

THE "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION and FATRO have participated in the financing of a Study Grant to favour the "Bellaria" Hospital in Bologna, Department of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery Operating Unit, Prof. Fabio Calbucci (Consultant) and Dr. Antonio Fioravanti. Objective of the study grant: Study on the assessment of the effects of the introduction of fluorescence-guided surgery with 5 aminolevulinic acid on the prognosis of patients affected by brain glioma.

"BIMBO TU"

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION supports "BIMBO TU" (non-profit making social help organization).The "BIMBO TU" association (non-profit making social help organization) was founded in 2007 through the desire of Mr. and Mrs. Arcidiacono, in close collaboration with the neurosurgeon Dr. Ercole Galassi, head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Section of the Neurosurgery Division at the Bellaria Hospital in the city of Bologna. From the experience accumulated by the couple during the hospitalization of their own son came the desire and the determination to help, by founding the Association, people who found ourselves in a situation of need. Supporting parents and children who must live through impotent and disoriented difficulties of all kinds that almost always seem insuperable. Stimulating dialogue and close collaboration between the specialists of the various disciplines who must necessarily be involved in the treatment of diseases and between the associations that work in the same field to implement the service. The Association, which is non-profit making, is therefore intended to bring help, assistance, and material, logistic, moral, psychological, and economic support, directly and indirectly, to the children and the families of children affected by tumors of the central and peripheral nervous systems and other severe nervous system brain-medullary and cranial-vertebral diseases of a deformative, genetic, traumatic, vascular, contagious or other type, especially if invalidity-inducing, chronic or such as to require prolonged therapy and assistance. VISIT THE SITE

“Istituto oncologico romagnolo” (oncological institute of Romagna)

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION has undertaken a project with the"Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo" (IOR), a non-profit making organization, entitled "Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in a population undertaking a screening programme: an investigation into change of the acquisition angle and modulation of the dose levels". This project, conducted by the IOR in cooperation with the Scientific institute for the study and treatment of Tumors (Italian Research Hospital) in Romagna and the Local Area Health Authority of Romagna, contemplates a study on 270 women aged from 45 to 74 years undertaking a regional screening program and for which further investigation was considered necessary owing to a dubious image during mammography. This will allow the best practice to be defined for the use of two important tools, conventional planar mammography and "Amulet innovality" mammography. It will also be used as a test to assess the diagnostic capacity of the standard and high-definition acquisitions obtained with the Digital Tomosynthesis technique, producing superior-quality images.For this purpose, 12 months of training in medical radiology is contemplated, with candidates chosen through a public selection process. These will acquire the skills necessary for the correct use of the instruments and for specialization. A better and earlier diagnosis will give not only give fewer re-examinations caused by dubious results but also identify tumors earlier and save the most substantial number of human lives. VISITE THE SITE

LOTO (non-profit making organisation)

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION has recently adopted a project supporting the activity of the non-profit making association LOTO, which arose with the intention of rectifying the lack of information and awareness of ovarian carcinoma.In the context of this project, the Foundation has contributed to the purchase of a special Scanner (General Electric LOGIC mod. E 9), then donated to the Addarii Oncological Institute, Room 26 of the Sant'Orsola Polyclinic in Bologna. This particular scanner gives a better early diagnosis (secondary prevention) and a resulting increase in cure rates for ovarian tumors. VISIT THE SITE

A new scanner for the Addarii oncological institute “Sant Orsola” polyclinic in Bologna

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION, in the context of the project supporting the activities of the LOTO non-profit Association, has contributed to the purchase of a special Scanner (General Electric model LOGIC E9), then donated to the Addarii Oncological Institute Pad. 26 of the "Santa Orsola" Polyclinic in Bologna. This special scanner gives a better early diagnosis (secondary prevention) and a resulting increase in cure rates for ovarian tumors.

Prevention of tumors

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION, in the context of its initiatives in favor of medical-scientific research, has organized information meetings for employees of the FATRO Group: With the "UMBERTO VERONESI" Foundation organizes information meetings on the Prevention of Male and Female tumors conducted by Dr. Agnese Collino and Dr. Alessandro Vitale, Biologists and Scientific Supervisors of the "UMBERTO VERONESI" Foundation. Prevention can make a difference every day. Prevention and early diagnosis are the best ways of protecting against diseases, first and foremost tumors. Scientific research has taken giant steps: since the end of the 1990s the survival rate from breast cancer, far and away the most common tumor in women, has increased from 74% to 87%. Scientific progress continues. In the meantime, what we can do is keep up to date, use authoritative sources, and always adopt behavior complementing our health. During this meeting, the "UMBERTO VERONESI" Foundation offers an overview of the lifestyles that will help us for the prevention of tumors and the tests and examinations that will defend us against female and male tumors. With LOTO (a non-profit making organization), informational meetings regarding ovarian tumors held by Dr. Claudio Zamagni, the Director of the Scientific Committee of the association and the Head of the Addarii Medical Oncology department at the S. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic. With the "Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo", sensitization and information meetings on tobacco smoke were held by Dr. Claudia Monti and Dr. Franca Gentilini, biologists at the Institute.

Inside night - outside day

A project arising from the experience of Francesca Falsetti, a cancer patient who, from her treatment, produced a book on her disease, defeated partly through the help of art."Within the life of a patient and a night without hope often descends, formed of fear, unspoken words, and a senses of guilt while, externally, the sun outwardly seems to shine.Life is transformed into an absurd stage on which the patient feels she is living out a scene from a play. Alone.Mine is a story of courage. Not only mine but hers, who was able to impress silence inside herself and, with a strong spirit, accepted the burden of emotions and pain that disease always involves.The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION enabled the administration of viaticum.You hear the idea of one, made possible by the acts of many.Thank you”. Anybody who wishes to purchase the book should contact the publisher TIPOARTE directly or order it from a bookshop.www.tipoarte.it - info@tipoarte.it The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION, the Author, and the publisher Tipoarte will devolve all proceeds from the book to projects involving cancer research.

Adoption of research project on Cystic Fibrosis

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION supports 2 projects for research into cystic fibrosis: CFTR MRNA ANALYSIS AS A KEY STEP TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF CFTR GENE MUTATIONS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS DISEASE EXPRESSION Responsible person: Stefano Duga (Dept. of Biology and Genetics for Medical Science, University of Milan)   Duration: 2 years  . Objectives: In spite of the fact that sophisticated tests, through DNA analysis, are available to identify the mutations responsible for cystic fibrosis, in approximately 5% of patients with cystic fibrosis a complete molecular diagnosis cannot be obtained. Certain of the mutations that cause cystic fibrosis are located in regions of the gene that are not normally analysed, as this analysis would be too long and expensive with the technologies currently used. To discover these hitherto unidentified mutations (more specifically the "splicing" mutations) and to highlight changes to gene function, it is important to analyze the messenger RNA (mRNA), which is the molecule through which the gene DNA transfers the information needed for protein synthesis. The mRNA of the CFTR gene may be analyzed on nasal epithelium cells (collected through "brushing"). This project is intended to analyze the mRNA of the CFTR gene in a select group of patients in whom it has not been possible to identify the mutations responsible for the disease. In cases in which this analysis should not be decisive, ultra-massive sequencing (using the NGS or Next Generation Sequencing technique) of the entire gene will be performed. In addition to cystic fibrosis patients, subjects showing a disease that is totally similar to cystic fibrosis but without the fundamental diagnostic aspect (positivity to the sweat test) will also be studied.  TASK FORCE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS Responsible person: Luis Galietta (Molecular Genetics Lab., G. Gaslini Institute, Genova) Duration: 3,5 anni. Objective:The development of the new FS08del correctors and potentiators and possibly other Cystic Fibrosis mutations. The project, expected to last three and a half years, is subdivided into three phases:1) Hit identification (identification of the active starting compounds);2) Hit to lead (from the active starting compound to the leader compound);3) Lead optimization (optimization of the leader compound). VISIT THE SITE

Research project A.I.L.

The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION and FATRO support 2 BolognAIL research projects by Dr. Antonio Curti*: MOLECULAR AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION OF LEUKEMIC STEM CELLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL IMMUNOLOGICAL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES: FROM THE LABORATORY TO THE CLINIC AND BACK THE ROLE OF THE LEUKEMIC MEDULLARY MICROENVIRONMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEUKEMIA AND IN THE RESPONSE TO THERAPY * Dr. Antonio CurtiDoctor and Researcher at the "L. and A. Seragnoli" Department of Oncological Science and Haematology, Institute of Haematology, University of Bologna, Italy VISIT THE SITE

Crigler Najjar Syndrome

What is Crigler-Najjar Syndrome? Crigler-Najjar Syndrome is a rare hereditary disease with recessive autosomal transmission, characterised exteriorly by the fact that people affected have a yellow skin (jaundice). The jaundice is due to an accumulation of bilirubin, a pigment produced only by the healthy organism. This accumulation of bilirubin derives from the partial or total lack of a liver protein, an enzyme called Uridine Diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase (abbreviation UDPGT), which normally metabolizes bilirubin so it can be eliminated with the bile through the intestine. If there is a total lack of the enzyme (Type I C-NS) the quantity of bilirubin is very high; however, if the deficit is partial (type II C-NS), bilirubin is less than 20 mg/dl (the normal value is below 1 mg/dl). Therefore, people affected by this deficit (1 person per million) must coexist with this excess of bilirubin. They do not have other physical problems. It is not contagious. The disease, which is present all around the world and is a problem only for those affected by it. High bilirubin levels, in addition to causing minor disorders, can be toxic to the central nervous system: at high bilirubin concentrations, the neurons, that is to say the brain cells, undergo severe damage. No drugs are helping to reduce excess bilirubin. To avoid (or reduce to a minimum) the risk of brain damage, patients must undergo daily phototherapy, which exploits the effect of light of a particular wavelength, produced by special lamps; the patients spend 8-10 hours per day under these lamps. A radical alternative consists of a liver transplant, a solution which is not free from risk; the transplant permits "cure" of the disease, because the transplanted liver has normal production of the enzyme, the one the patient lacks. As for many other hereditary diseases arising from a genetic defect concerning just one protein in the human organism, research programs have been underway for years throughout the world, to find different, definitive therapies based on the replacement of the missing or defective gene, without having to turn to the transplant of an entire organ, which is actually healthy. This research is obviously expensive and the results, as with all scientific research, cannot be certain or immediate. RARE DISEASES... but they do not only affect small numbers of people only. Over 5,000 people are known at the moment and they are destined to increase unfortunately. More than 20 million people are affected in Europe alone.Prevention through immediate diagnosis with DNA analysis or gene therapy remains the only way to defeat these diseases caused by a genetic anomaly.The associations, that promote solidarity initiatives are a significant source of vitality and hope for people affected by rare diseases.If this solidarity has the potential of saving just one life, contribute generously. "save a life and you save the entire world" For donations:The association is entirely dependent on the generosity of people:EMIL BANCA: IBAN number: IT44 P070 7237 1300 0700 0021 075ITALIAN POST: Current Account no.: 25 84 55 46"BANCO POSTA": IBAN number: IT47 X076 0102 4000 0002 5845 546Contributions are tax deductible, in accordance with Art. 13 of Legislative Decree 460/97 How to contact the association:CI AMI onlus (Non-Profit Making Social Help Organisation)Via Ivo Peli, 21 - 40033 Casalecchio di Reno (BO)Tax code: 91210030374 President: Velio Venturi - velio.venturi@ciami.it Vice-president: Carmelo Impalà - Rossana CantùScientific Director: Flavio Ronchi - flavio.ronchi@ciami.it Telephone 051 575835 - Fax 051 575835website: www.ciami.it - e-mail: info@ciami.it VISITE THE SITE

Every day for Emma - an onlus

EVERY DAY FOR EMMA - an Onlus (a non-profit-making social help organisation)The association was founded in 2010 when young Emma Della Libera, born in 1998, was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, with no hope of a future.The Association collects funds through the direct sale of four books that have been written in 4 years (to date 20,000 copies have been sold) with the support of many people.The "CORRADO E BRUNO MARIA ZAINI" FOUNDATION and FATRO have also decided to support the association. PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE ASSOCIATION: 1) Support for pharmacology trials on a potential drug “RG2833”, developed in America (by the Repligen Corporation, which has now become part of the American Bio Marine company), tested for the first time in the world in man in Italy, in Torino between 2012 and 2013.Stage 1 has given encouraging results, we now await stage 2.At the moment, there is no public funding.2) Diagnostic studies are aimed at improving awareness, monitoring the disease and ascertaining whether any rehabilitative drugs/therapies could be effective.The project arose in 2011, in collaboration with the “La Nostra Famiglia” Hospital Institute in Conegliano, Treviso, and the "IRCSS MEDEA" scientific research institute, entirely supported by the Association thus far.This project is finishing the first important stage and is examining the data obtained.This innovative study can be applied to other similar or non-similar pathologies. The person responsible for the Project is Dr. Andrea Martinuzzi, a consultant neurologist and medical-scientific researcher.The work will be presented at the world conference on Ataxia diseases, which will take place in London in March 2015. INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASEGiven that is a rare disease, no official data yet exist but it is estimated that 1 in 50,000 people are affected.In Italy, there are probably around 2,000 people suffering from the condition, and therefore the incidence could be greater.However, around 1 person in 50 is a healthy carrier. VISIT THE SITE

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