New technologies to fight tumours and ocular melanoma, the creation of a regenerative medicine centre to address the issue of transplant rejection as well as design projects employing adult stem cells. These are just a few of the fronts on which the Lazio Region is promoting support actions for applied research in the medical field.
The Regional Government has approved the proposal by Economic Development, Research, Innovation and Tourism Councillor Claudio Mancini to allocate a Fund to support research and experimental development in the medical sector as established by the 2008 Regional Budget. The Fund allocates €30 million over the 2008.2010. The Fund, which will be managed by Filas, addresses projects pursuing specific agreements with universities, research organisms and enterprises.
In greater detail, €9 million have been reserved to the project launched through an agreement with Enea to construct a linear accelerator for proton therapy. This highly innovative system – the only one in south central Italy – will be implemented together with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and IFO Regina Elena. By 2010, this system will allow ocular melanoma and other tumours to be treated with a less invasive methodology than traditional radiotherapy.
Fifteen million euro will be allocated to the Lazio Region Bioscience Technological District (DTB) and four and a half million euro will finance the creation of a multi-purpose regenerative medicine centre at the University of Tor Vergata.
One and a half million euro will be reserved for experimental development projects that will be conducted through agreements with hospitals and hospital research centres on adult stem cells.
“The distribution of the funds,” Councillor Mancini points out “represents another step forward in the new financing mechanism developed by the Lazio Region for medical research. These investments aim to catalyse the most advanced frontiers of research and promote projects of excellence that will provide citizens with innovative therapies.”