The Italian Ministry of Universities and Research has initiated a project to develop next-generation cancer vaccines, funding it with €210,000 as part of a collaboration agreement signed on Thursday by the Ministers of Research from Italy and Serbia.
The Epic project is managed by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Trieste.
It will be conducted with the
Institute for Nuclear Energy Applications at the University of
Belgrade.
This initiative aims to create a new biotechnological
platform for developing cancer vaccines based on a specific type
of immune cell known as dendritic cells. The project will
involve microbiome research and tumor immunology specialists and
will utilize reprogrammed stem cells (iPSCs).
Italy's Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria
Bernini, emphasized the significance of this agreement. "The
collaboration between Italy and Serbia on these five projects
underscores the strength of our partnership and enhances the
cooperative path we have embarked on," she said.
"Research, innovation, and development present challenges we
must confront together. By combining our expertise—such as that
offered by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology in Trieste—we can ensure that the benefits of
progress and the advancement of knowledge are accessible and
shared by all," she added.
This initiative is part of a broader collaboration between
Italy and Serbia, which recently launched a €2 million call for
proposals to fund joint research projects. A total of 83
applications were submitted in response to this call.
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