Looking to gain time

FONDAZIONE UMBERTO DI MARIO

Diabetes is not invincible

Diabetes is not invincible, this is the certainty that mooves the Umberto di Mario Foundation’s research activities from 17 years. Chronic diseases such as diabetes but also cancer and bowel inflammatory diseases, represent the main interest of the Foundation which fosters the research in the biomedical field putting into practice the Professor Umberto di Mario (one of the founders) who was convinced that motivation of talents is essential for success and creativity.
The Foundation, established in 2000, is, together with ITT and Pisa CNR, one of the research groups that set up its laboratories in TLS. Here, Francesco Dotta, Endocrinology Teacher at Siena University, coordinates the Foundation activities focused on the diabetes field in close cooperation with the University.
The aim of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life and in the years many important discoveries were made, such as the one about the relationship between virus and diabetes type 1 onset, in cooperation with the sienese scientist Rino Rappuoli.
Many projests, explained by Francesco Dotta in his interview, are ongoing. Among these projects there is the one focused on the intestinal microbiome: many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are strongly influenced by the microbe composition we have in our intestine.
In order to finance its own researchers’ studies, the Umberto di Mario Foundation receives funds at international (European Community and United States Juvenile Diabetes Foundation) an national level (Tuscany Region, Health Department).
The Umberto di Mario Foundation laboratory is located in TLS since 2008.

For more information: www.fondazionedimario.org