European Research Council (ERC) honors Federicians Ballabio and Auricchio

Awarded for the third time by the European Research Council (ERC) two Advanced Grants to Pozzuoli-based TIGEM researchers Andrea Ballabio, director of the Institute and the only one in Italy to have won 3Advanced Grants, and Alberto Auricchio, coordinator of the Molecular Therapy area, of 2.5 million euros each, both professors at the University of Frederick. Theexcellence in rare genetic disease research of the Telethon Foundation and theUniversity of Naples Federico II is once again confirmed.

ERC Advanced Grants are the largest grants awarded by the European Research Council and are worth up to 2.5 million euros for five years, a feature that makes them not only difficult to obtain but also very prestigious. This year, out of 1,647 projects submitted, only 218 were awarded funding, 13.2 percent. In particular, the winners' studies will focus on the INCANTAR projects , directed by Andrea Ballabio, and EXPEDITE, directed by Alberto Auricchio.

INCANTAR will study a group of inherited genetic diseases, such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome and tuberous sclerosis, characterized by an increased risk of developing cancers, such as kidney and brain tumors. The project aims to identify the mechanisms by which tumors develop, new therapeutic targets and new drugs to treat these types of tumors, as well as for other types of cancer. EXPEDITE, on the other hand, will focus on the study of new gene therapy platforms, based on gene editing, that will overcome some of the limitations of the current one, thus expanding the spectrum of diseases, genetic and otherwise, that can be treated with gene therapy.

On average, only 10 percent of researchers participating in major ERC calls (starting, consolidator or advanced) get funding each year. Not only that: of this small group of valuable scientists, less than 1 percent have ever managed to get three grants , as happened to Andrea Ballabio and Alberto Auricchio. Notably, this year out of five projects won in Italy in the Life Sciences, two were obtained by professors from the Federico II University and will be carried out at the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine in Pozzuoli. It should be noted that in Italy, considering all areas (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities) and all types of grants (Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced), besides Ballabio and Auricchio only 3 other researchers have won 3 ERC grants. In addition, Ballabio is the only one in Italy to have won 3 Advanced Grants.