On 20th March 2024, National University Day was recognised in Italy. Researchers working on the EU FET Open PRIME Project at the University of Ferrera (Unife), welcomed members of the public inside the laboratories of the university to learn about the daily life of a researcher. Unife took part in the ‘Unveiled Universities’ campaign, established by the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI), sponsored by the MUR, which included exhibitions, seminars, conferences and open days being held at universities across the country.
Interested members of the public had the rare opportunity to go ‘behind the scenes’ in several university departments to learn more about their day-to-day activities. Whilst visiting the extensive laboratory at Unife, members of the public had a glimpse at the ongoing work on the EU FET Open PRIME project, in which researchers are working on a device with living cells capable of ‘sensing’ the arrival of an epileptic seizure and ‘reacting’ by delivering antiepileptic compounds in a personalized way.
Unife is one of several multi-disciplinary European partners working on the PRIME project, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. The PRIME project aims to prevent epileptic seizures by developing autonomous implantable living cell systems for the brain. At Unife, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology Michele Simonato leads the team supported by scientific researchers Marie Soukupova and Barbara Bettegazzi.
Speaking about the Unife’s participation in National University Day, Rector of Unife Professor Ramaciotti said “We have joined with great enthusiasm the National Day of Universities organised by the CRUI. This is further opportunity to disseminate the cultural and scientific heritage and skills of our University outside the academic context, sharing them with the community. This adds to the constant commitment of our University in the field of the Third Mission and Public Engagement , encouraging the exchange of knowledge, interaction and dialogue between the academic community and society, to the benefit of social, cultural and economic development”.
“The University of Ferrara will open its doors to the local and national community, including students, teachers, researchers in a day dedicated to exploration, discovery and celebration of the academic world,” commented Professor Roberta Rizzo, President of the Council for Research and Third Mission and Unife contact person for the initiative. This event is not only aimed at strengthening the link between universities and society, but also helps to promote greater awareness of the importance of higher education and scientific research for the progress and well-being of our nation.”
Led by Walton Institute at South East Technological University, PRIME project’s consortium of European partners is made up of Tampere University Finland, University of Ferrera Italy, EPOS-IASIS Cyprus, Aarhus University Denmark, Omiics ApS Denmark and Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Ireland.
