ABOUT
What is BI-REX For Life Science?
The BI-REX Life Sciences Sector aims to facilitate the implementation of Research and Development projects functional to the transfer of innovation to the health service system and translational medicine, through Big Data Technologies and Artificial Intelligence applied to clinical research.
The Supply Chain, born on the initiative of BI-REX with the support of Dr. Laura Leonardis, is made up of consortium members and partners with high expertise in the Life Sciences field, such as the Alma Mater Studiorum University, UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), INFN (National Institute of Nuclear Physics), and the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, is characterized as a network composed of public and private entities, with an inter-regional value and as the main place of continuous comparison among networks of universities and research centers, industrial players, SMEs and a specialized network of clinical centers on a national and international basis.
Digital technologies and fields of application in the health sector
| TECHNOLOGIES | APPLICATIONS |
|---|---|
| Digitisation, IoT, sensors | Digital health, preventive medicine, participatory medicine, service innovation, telemedicine, remote management of fragile, chronic, or elderly patients, teletherapy |
| Artificial Intelligence, Machine and Deep Learning | Precision, predictive and remote diagnostics, personalized therapies, process innovation, new treatment models, clinical decision support, data-driven predictive medicine |
| Virtual and augmented reality | Simulation of clinical procedures, management of infrastructures and devices |
| Robotics and automation | Bio-cooperative mechatronic systems, hygiene, sanitisation, surgery, riabilitazione, rehabilitation, home medical care |
| Big Data, Analytics, Supercomputing | Integrated computational approaches, analysis of environmental factors and lifestyles and their impact on health, drug development, advanced and personalized therapies |
WHO
Ours Partners
UNIBO, Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University
IOR IRCCS Orthopedic Institute Rizzoli
UPMC University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
CINECA, Inter university consortium
INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics
TPM Biomedical Technopole M. Veronesi
IRST Romagnole Institute for the Study of Tumors
RI.MED, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (CBRB)
Network Innovation Life Science Hub ed Hub for clinical Research (ILSH Network)
All the names listed below are part of the ILSH network:
UPMC – Università degli Studi di Palermo (Departments BIND, DICHIRONS e Service Center ATEN) – Consortium Interuniv. Bio-Oncology – UNICT – Catania Polyclinic – Center for Experimental Oncology and Hematology – SIDRA Medical Research Center –Doha – NIH National Institute of Health (USA) – Cannizzaro Hospital – UOC Gynecology and Obstetrics – Alliance Against Cancer – Network of IRCCS of the Ministry of Health IRIB -CNR – Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School – INFN (National Institute of Nuclear Physics – Laboratori del Sud) – Ri.Med – Catholic University of Sacro Cuore – IOM (Mediterranean Oncology Institute) – Unicamillus University– Humanitas University– IRCCS Sant’Orsola – Università degli Studi di Torino
WHAT
Goals and activities
Objectives
The Life Science supply chain stands as the first Italian Hub for “Big & Open Data for Innovative Therapies” to support the enhancement and organization of the research system. This through a specific ecosystem of skills, infrastructures, tools, and the development of industrial and technology transfer support networks.
The “BI-REX For Life” ecosystem, starting from the management and analysis of Big Data, aims to test a single and shared system for basic, preclinical, and clinical research. A system capable of acting as a platform for the experimentation of innovative therapies for pathologies with high health, social and epidemiological impact. “BI-REX for Life” Ecosystem also facilitate synergies between scientific and health institutions in Northern and Central Italy, with similar structures and specialized centers in the South.
BI-REX is at the heart of the ecosystem centered on Big Data of the Emilia Romagna region; a European Data Valley region, which thanks to its Digital Agenda aims to be a laboratory and forerunner for the country on policies for the digital transition, among the pillars of “National Recovery and Resilience Plan” (PNRR).
Fields of intervention
Services
Innovative products and services implemented through our companies skills and technologies, the network of laboratories in the supply chain, and the use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
- Joint implementation of projects related to use cases, in the Healthcare, Biomedical, Pharmaceutical sectors, in Open Innovation mode
- Identification of new trends for research activities and new configurable services based on the adoption of Big data and AI technologies;
- Development of a constantly updated platform of Orientation, Training, Consulting, R&D, Innovation projects, based on the synergy of Universities/ Research Centers/ Clinical Centers and Companies;
WHERE
Bi-REX for Life Science Supply Chain and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan
Bi-Rex for Life Science Sector has established an action plan named “Next Generation UE- Life Science 4.0. Made in Italy” which is an interregional innovation supply chain plan for proximity, accessible, safe, and technological healthcare. The action plan is centered on 3 projects and 46 pilot actions consistent with the PNRR and with the National Research Plan 2021/2027.
The 3 pilot projects
Pilot 1: Big Data for Biomedical Research and the personalization of treatments in the oncology field – Coordinated by IOR – Emilia Romagna Region together with Alliance Against Cancer, Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, Lazio Region, University of Palermo, and University of Catania.
Aim: To establish the first inter-regional biotechnology chain for research, predictive and precision medicine through Big & Open Data technologies in the oncology field.
Pilot 2: Virtual hospitals and the network of Telemedicine services for proximity medicine – coordinated by UPMC
Target Regions: Tuscany-Emilia Romagna – Lazio-Sicily
Aim: overcoming the fragmentation and territorial inhomogeneity of telemedicine services and the experimentation of an innovative digital home medical care model centered on the territories and the proximity social-health assistance networks.
Pilot 3: Hospitals 4.0 between sustainability and innovation – coordinated by UNIBO
Aim: the application of 4.0 technologies to make them functional to improve the health of citizens through the analysis of Big Data generated daily by the thousands of devices like medical devices, sensors, customized drugs, diagnostics, robots in the operating room.
OTHER
…and other 46 activities in 7 fields of intervention:
- Digital Health: digital and sensor technologies for preventive and personalized medicine
- Artificial Intelligence for precision diagnostics and innovation of healthcare processes
- Virtual and augmented reality systems for simulating clinical procedures and managing medical devices
- Robotics for health and safety 4.0
- Advanced medical physics to support research and personalized precision medicine
- Evaluation of the impact of technologies on services for increasing quality and sustainability
- Computational approaches integrated into the R&D process of drugs, therapies, tissues, and engineered organs
