Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), headed by Andrea Ballabio, was created by the Italian Telethon Foundation in 1994. Its mission is the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of genetic diseases with the aim of developing preventive and therapeutic strategies.

TIGEM laboratories are part of a developing science and technology research area, which also includes the CNR's International Institute of Genetic and Biophysics (IGB) and the Institute of Protein Biochemistry (IBP), in Naples.

TIGEM is a reference centre for Italian and international research on genetic diseases. The Institute currently hosts 13 research groups; a total of more than 150 people, including students, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, technicians, and administrators.

TIGEM’s funding is renewed every five years through a non competitive call and a rigorous revision process. Each TIGEM scientist presents her/his project and is evaluated according to peer review criteria. Also, a small group of Scientific Committee members (link to CMS)  performs a site visit of the Institute. The final decision is taken during the plenary meeting, where the projects are discussed singularly and only the best ones are selected for funding.

Since 1995 Telethon has invested approximately 36,000,000 Euros in TIGEM.
The last site visit took place in March 2006, and funding of approximately 3,000,000 Euros was granted annually for the next 5 years (2006-2011).

For more information: TIGEM

 

The San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), stems from a collaboration initiated in 1995 between Telethon and the Fondazione San Raffaele del Monte Tabor. The laboratories are located within the DiBiT, San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

HSR-TIGET focuses on basic research and on experimental protocols for gene therapy of inherited diseases, in particular, lysosomal diseases and congenital immunodeficiencies.

In the past few years a series of successful milestones were reached both in basic and gene therapy research projects.

One of HSR-TIGET’s most notable results is represented by the Clinical Trial for the immunodeficiency  ADA-SCID. Ten paediatric patients affected by hereditary immunodeficiency were cured with a gene therapy protocol that has enabled them to produce the missing enzyme and to reconstitute their immune system.

HSR-TIGET’s scientific staff counts 74 people, led by Maria Grazia Roncarolo together with Luigi Naldini.

HSR-TIGET’s funding is renewed every five years through a non competitive call and a rigorous revision process. Each HSR-TIGET scientist presents her/his projects and is evaluated according to peer review criteria. A select group of Scientific Committee members also performs a site visit of the Institute. The final decision is taken during the plenary meeting, where the projects are discussed singularly and only the best ones are selected for funding.

Since 1995 Telethon has invested approximately 27,000,000 Euros in HSR-TIGET.
The last site visit took place in November 2005, and funding of approximately 3,000,000 Euros was granted annually for the next five years (2005-2010).

As an additional proof of its scientific worth, HSR-TIGET can boast several grants funded by other major financing agencies such as the European Community, the NIH and other Italian research Institutions.

For more information: TIGET

 

The Dulbecco Telethon Institute (DTI), funded in 2001, has several locations throughout, and it concentrates on the basic aspects of research on genetic diseases.

 

TECNOTHON is the technology research lab of Telethon. Its mission is to plan and to manufacture functioning prototypes of auxiliary equipment for the physically disabled, either by inventing new ones or by ameliorating the existing ones.

Tecnothon’s projects follow a special pathway: they are patented and accompanied by a production study, and then they are given for free to production plants. Tecnothon selects the production plants on the basis of their willingness to manufacture and sell the auxiliary equipment for an ethical price.

The laboratory is located in Sarcedo (near Vicenza)

Telethon has invested about 4 million euro in Tecnothon

For more information: TECNOTHON