Università Cattolica, Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, and CrestOptics collaborate to advance biomedical research

CrestOptics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS have recently joined forces to collaborate on a co-funded research project studying a form of paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia. This collaboration will focus on basic research, clinical activities, and technological production aspects, aiming to make significant advancements in all these areas.

CrestOptics has chosen to fund the industrial doctoral project: Unravelling the Pathogenic Mechanisms of DNER Antibodies and Improving the Diagnosis of Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Syndromes through Superresolution Microscopy. This project aims to increase diagnostic accuracy for cerebellar ataxia mediated by anti-DNER autoantibodies and to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease. It will explore the effects of autoantibodies on the DNER protein and DNER-dependent synaptic regulation using a combination of standard immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques, recombinant monoclonal antibody generation, and super-resolution microscopy.

In addition to providing insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of autoantibodies, this study is expected to have a positive impact on the clinical management of patients with this form of cerebellar ataxia. The knowledge gained about the disease mechanisms could guide clinicians in selecting the most effective immunotherapies and balancing the risks of prolonged immunosuppression. Furthermore, considering that anti-DNER is associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, improving tests for detecting these antibodies could lead to earlier tumor diagnosis.

The Industrial Doctoral Program research project will be conducted at the Department of Neurosciences of Università Cattolica, supervised by Dr. Raffaele Iorio, Researcher in Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, an expert in autoimmune neurological diseases mediated by autoantibodies. The coordinator of the doctoral program in Neurosciences at Università Cattolica is Professor Paolo Calabresi, Professor of Neurology. Patient samples will be obtained from the Neurology Unit of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS.

By supporting this doctoral project, CrestOptics reaffirms its commitment to sustainability by adhering to Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) standards, backing local initiatives, and engaging in nearby research endeavors. The company is dedicated to promoting activities that serve society and the local community, emphasizing its strong stance on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

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