The Alma Mater Studiorum, the oldest university in the Western world, paves the way for innovation through an increasingly rich programme catalogue, cutting-edge research and a constant and increasingly broad international perspective. Since its origins in 1088, Alma Mater has been student-centred hosting prominent figures from science and the arts. Based in five campuses (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini), with a branch in Buenos Aires, it offers a teaching catalogue diversified and tailored to the needs of present-day society: over 200 degree programmes among its 32 Departments and 11 Schools are offered to over 81,000 students. 5,000 graduates are enrolled in PhDs and 3rd cycle programmes. As a comprehensive research university, Alma Mater invests in the multidisciplinary cross-cultural approach and in the inseparable connection between research and teaching. One of the most active universities leading and participating in European research and academic cooperation projects, Bologna has formed knowledge alliances with industry and public/private organizations. It is a hub of international networks. Beyond its close European links, it enjoys multiple connections with America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Research and Innovation are a priority of the University mission. With regard to Innovation, UNIBO filed 86 new patent applications in 2017, of which 25 are new registrations, thereby giving rise to an active patent portfolio of over 370 patents related to more than 140 inventions. It also has an active portfolio of more than 20 patented plant varieties, 80% of which are increased in value through active licenses with geographic coverage in countries in different parts of the world. UNIBO set up or accredited 27 spin-off companies up to 2017 and can also count Almacube, as business incubator that managed 15 incubated companies in 2017. With regard to the capability of attracting funding for research and innovation, UNIBO is very active both at National and European level in all the research areas. Activities related to competitive funding programs are supported by the Research and Third Mission Division, with more than 10 years experience and about 50 people assisting the research groups in the whole project lifecycle. A Research Development Office deals with the UNIBO strategic positioning at local, national and international level, through integrated networking and lobby activities in each specific research area. While the Programs & Projects Office supports the UNIBO researchers from the proposal submission to the implementation phase of the projects with technical, legal, financial and administrative expertise. These Offices strictly cooperate between each other and in strictly connection with the Knowledge Transfer Office, for the Innovation Management expertise and the IP protection and exploitation, and the take up and commercialization of project results. Thanks to its scientific excellence and a central Project Management support working closely, UNIBO has gained a considerable experience in International and European research projects, successfully participated in FP7: with 274 projects funded in 2007-2013 (58 of them as coordinator) and 87,8 M€ of funding, UNIBO is the second Italian university for the attractiveness of European funding for research, 37st in the European ranking of institutions of higher education. In Global Rankings UNIBO occupies the top 10 national rank in major league tables such as QS World University Rankings, THE World University Rankings, and ARWU World University Rankings. In 2017 it ranked 29 in the GreenMetric World University Rankings measuring the university’s vision and policy for sustainability. In Horizon 2020, UNIBO is so far involved in 210 funded projects (54 as coordinator), with more than 84 M€ of funding. In the framework of the Societal Challenge 1 – Health, Demographic Change & Wellbeing and the Innovative Medicine Initiative and related funding frameworks, UNIBO is participating in 14 projects (10 SC1 project, of which 2 third parties, and 4 IMI-2 JTI Partner projects, of which 2 under GAP) with a total EU contribution of over 5,2 M€.
- Outpatient clinic, inpatient ward and endoscopy suits at S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital where the investigators are on staff. Laboratory facilities including a clinical laboratory of gastrointestinal functional testing equipped with state of the art technology (breath testing, motility/sensitivity assessment, in vivo permeability, bile acid malabsorption Sehcat) and the basic science laboratory involved in translational research (pathophysiological aspects of epithelial permeability, mucosal immunology, enteric nervous system)
- The researcher group represented by Giovanni Barbara a) is recognised as one of the busiest referral centers for functional bowel disorders in Italy; b) is certified by the Italian National Institute of Health as the referral centre for rare dysmotility syndromes; c) has several international long standing collaborations worldwide.