Antimatter as a probe in wet lifesciences
Our ERC-funded lab research activities operate at the intersection of bioengineering, applied physics, and preclinical diagnostics. Our mission is to develop advanced platforms and minimally invasive technologies to revolutionize early-stage disease detection and accelerate pre-clinical drug validation.
ALFRED
Funded by an ERC Starting Grant, the ALFRED (Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy for Revealing and Quantifying Inflammation and Endothelial Diseases) project addresses a critical gap in medical diagnostics. Inflammatory cascades are primary precursors to severe cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative pathologies. ALFRED introduces a highly interdisciplinary approach by adapting Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy for biomedical applications. This particle physics technique will allow for the label-free quantification of sub-nanometer molecular changes within inflamed biological tissues. By mapping these localized alterations without damaging the sample, ALFRED aims to provide a revolutionary diagnostic tool to intercept vascular dysfunction at its true onset.
EGGS&BEACON
Eggs&Beacon is a patented bioengineering platform proprietary of the Raimondi Research group that integrates a synthetic eggshell system to house developing avian embryos. This technology facilitates high-resolution, long-term intravital microscopy using optical microscopes. By exploiting the highly vascularized chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), Eggs&Beacon serves as an accessible and highly efficient in vivo environment for evaluating localized hemodynamics, microvascular dynamics, and the efficacy of novel pharmaceutical compounds and vaccines. This platform bridges the physiological gap between in vitro models and full mammalian assays, ensuring robust biological validation for complex cardiovascular and rare disease applications.
Bioengineering Tools
Development of fluidic devices (e.g., Bioreactors), lab-on-a-chip interfaces, sensorized culture substrates and bio-artificial tissue models (avian vascularized models).
New Imaging Techniques
Advancement of the imaging field by creating new label-free, non-invasive and multimodal imaging paradigms (e.g. fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopic techniques based on eletrons/positrons).
Implantable Medical Devices
Design and development of implantable devices to speed up drug discovery and developing tools for radionuclides employed in nuclear medicine.
