GeneRNAtion Awards: Driving Innovation in RNA and Gene Therapy

2 March 2026, Milan – Held today at Spazio Eventi Intesa Sanpaolo in Milan, the GeneRNAtion Awards, promoted by the National Center in collaboration with the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, reveal the results of the four-month-long GeneRNAtion Challenge that celebrates Italy’s most promising startups and research projects in RNA technology and gene therapy.

Moderated by Prof Stefano Cosma (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) Coordinator of the Technical-Financial Committee of the National Center, the ceremony marked a significant milestone in the National Center’s mission to accelerate technology transfer and strengthen Italy’s competitiveness in the life sciences ecosystem. For the winning startups and research projects, the conclusion of the Challenge opened the door to a structured support pathway designed to accompany their scientific progress and entrepreneurial evolution.

By supporting startups capable of personalizing care pathways and advancing RNA technologies, the National Center and its collaborators reaffirmed their commitment to transforming public research investment into lasting value, while creating tangible benefits for patients, strengthening industry competitiveness, and contributing to the well-being of society as a whole.

With institutional greetings by Anna Roscio (Intesa Sanpaolo), the morning was followed by an address from Prof. Rosario Rizzuto, President of the National Center, who shared insight into the Center’s experience in innovation enhancement and technology transfer.

Startup Winners

1. PoliRNA (Turin)

Develops hybrid polymer-lipid nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic miRNAs for cardiac regeneration after a heart attack. Their platform improves stability, targeted delivery, and controlled RNA release, aiming to reduce scar tissue and treat heart failure, with expansion potential into neuromuscular and cancer therapies.

2. T-One Therapeutics (Milan)

Develops a patented immunotherapy that directly modulates T-cell activity in solid tumors. Designed for use alone or in combination, it aims to expand treatment options and reduce mortality across multiple cancer types.

3. Alia Therapeutics (Milan)

Italy’s first CRISPR-focused biotech, engineering proprietary Cas9/Cas12 nucleases (including ATN122) for genome editing. Initially targeting inherited retinal disorders with a modular, cost-efficient platform adaptable via guide RNA modification.

4. Resalis Therapeutics (Turin)

Develops antisense oligonucleotide (anti-miR) therapies targeting microRNA-22 using LNA (Locked Nucleic Acid) chemistry. Focused on selectively modulating metabolic and inflammatory pathways for innovative gene regulation therapies.

Project Winners

1. RATAR: RNA FOR TAU 4R University of Trento

Develops RNA therapeutics targeting 4R tauopathies (e.g., Alzheimer’s, FTD, PSP), aiming to reduce toxic tau protein accumulation that drives neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

2. MitoRNA Therapeutics University of Padua

Develops RNA-based precision therapies targeting mitochondrial regulators (OPA1, MCU) to treat rare and chronic diseases. Focused on transforming currently “undruggable” mitochondrial targets into first-in-class treatments.

3. Imaging Sensors for Next-Gen RNA Therapeutics University of Padua

Building a specialized service platform to evaluate RNA therapeutic delivery, tissue specificity, efficacy, and inflammatory response, enabling customized validation across different targets.

The GeneRNAtion Challenge was not simply a competition, it offered a broader transformation process that demonstrates how the National Center acts as a catalyst for sustainable growth, bridging research and enterprise and positioning Italy as a competitive and attractive hub for advanced biomedical innovation.