RNA - Genetherapys

BioPharma Encapsulated – Unveiling Spoke 7

Spoke 7- Biocomputing and the Innovation of Personalized Care

Coordinated by the University of Bari, Spoke 7 is a horizontally positioned spoke focused on Biocomputing, a strategic field given that biology has become a science based on big data. For example, modern computational biology companies offer whole genome sequencing tests for as little as €300. Not only does Spoke 7 act as a service provider for vertical Spoke activities but it also plays a crucial role in building an advanced computational ecosystem that is accessible to the entire national research network. Spoke 7 infrastructures are equipped with cloud and GPU resources designed to support approaches based on artificial intelligence.

Structures and Objectives – With seven partner institutions, the main objective of Spoke 7 is to create innovative computational environments thanks to the construction of a data center in the southern Italian region of Bari, which serves as a reference point for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Challenges – The project is not without its challenges. The consequences left behind by the pandemic and current geopolitical conflicts have brought continuous complications in the procurement of materials. Furthermore, creating synergies between the different NRRP projects, such as ELIXIR, the European life sciences infrastructure that enables researchers to access and analyze large sources of data.

Data and Security Ecosystems – Spoke 7 aims to build an ecosystem of advanced data and analytics tools that guide the development of innovative, safe, effective, and sustainable therapeutic strategies.

Personalized care – The future of sustainable healthcare relies on implementing personalized care for all patients, therefore Spoke 7 aims to develop and apply precision medicine based on large amounts of individual genetic data. This approach uses patient-specific genetic mutations to design personalized immunotherapies, especially those related to cancer.  By developing a digital twin model, researchers aim to unravel the overwhelming complexities of human biology by leveraging large datasets of a patient’s health records and generating a digital twin capable of tracing the outcome of various biological processes and recommending personalized treatment options. This method may uncover pathogenesis within the molecular mechanisms of interest and provide the 3D reconstruction of macromolecular interactions for personalized and effective therapeutic strategies.

Another complex challenge concerns the development of novel gene therapies based on the correction of mutations directly at the RNA level.  These RNA editing tools efficiently and precisely alter mutated or damaged RNA without modifying individual genetic profiles. Developing advanced bioinformatics tools through Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows Spoke 7 to predict and prioritize effective molecular targets.  Spoke 7 will contribute to the development of innovative algorithms for the analysis of sequences produced with third-generation technologies. These algorithms will facilitate the identification of chemical modifications affecting RNAs and the study of their biological roles, guaranteeing new sources of biomarkers.

Digital Twin Model
Server room interior in datacenter. 3D Render

Infrastructures and Research – Spoke 7 collaborates with important technological infrastructures in Italy such as CINECA in Bologna and the ReCaS data center in Bari. The collection of this data is crucial not only for cancer research but also for other advanced biomedical applications.

Privacy and Data Security – Finally, sharing collected data will align with the principles of Open Science and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), which raise important privacy and cybersecurity issues. The creation of this large human genome library must be integrated into the European and international genetic data ecosystem, requiring innovative solutions to ensure the security and confidentiality of genetic information shared on peer-to-peer platforms.

Foundation staff writer Ellen Jane Corcoran

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