Extract from ANSA article dated 01/02/2023
(ANSA) – PERUGIA, February 1 – The University of Perugia and the Diabetes Research Foundation Ets (Drf), affiliated with Confindustria Perugia and chaired by Prof. Riccardo Calafiore, have signed an articulated memorandum of understanding, lasting for five years, renewable, approved by the academic Senate of the University and by the executive committee of Drf.
The memorandum will see the two entities committed to working on scientific research in the field of diabetes, with the specific aim of developing innovative models of cure, based on cellular and molecular approaches, for type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent).
Although in the past the two institutions had signed collaboration agreements, on this occasion – explains the university – it is a structured and well-coded alliance by the memorandum, with the direct involvement of institutional members of both parties in the implementation of research initiated 40 years ago in the Laboratory for Endocrine Cell Transplants and Biohybrid Organs (Liceob) of the University of Perugia, founded in 1987 by Calafiore, which has long benefited from international collaborations and support. The alliance aims to integrate a consortial structure that will bring together academic and industrial entities, both national and international, associations such as AILD (Italian Lions Association for Diabetes) and Foundations, already founding members of DRF, to strengthen financial resources to be allocated to research, towards the pursuit of the ultimate goal, which remains the cure of type 1 diabetic disease.
“Such an ambitious strategic horizon – emphasizes a note from the University of Perugia – must be able to rely on a structural alliance between DRF and the University, the latter capable of coordinating the know-how of the researchers involved towards the future, desirable clinical application of therapeutic products currently under investigation, with institutional steps at the Italian regulatory health agencies (AIFA) and European ones (EMA).” (ANSA).