Department of Excellence

The Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB) of the University of Padua has been selected as a Department of Excellence for the 2023-2027 thanks to the project “Mitochondria, Muscle and Health: From Molecule to Man” (MyoHEALTH), dedicated to the study of muscle diseases.
These conditions, often lacking targeted treatments, have a major impact on quality of life and on the sustainability of healthcare systems. They include both genetic myopathies (such as muscular dystrophies) and acquired conditions related to diabetes, obesity, cancer, infections, physical inactivity, and aging (sarcopenia and frailty).
The MYO-HEALTH project was created to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications, by developing experimental approaches closer to human pathology and new technologies capable of generating therapies and real benefits for patients.

  Scientific and educational objectives

  • Characterize the structure of protein complexes and the dynamics of protein interactions using cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy and computational approaches;
  • Integrate the spatial dimension into multi-omic analyses to study tissues at the single-cell level within their physiological and pathological context;
  • Develop new humanized experimental models such as organoids and engineered tissues, serving as a bridge between preclinical and clinical research;
  • Strengthen translational research in humans through innovative, minimally invasive tools to study metabolism and neuromuscular function in people;
  • Train the next generation of researchers in a translational perspective that brings molecular research from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside, through bachelor’s and master’s degrees, doctoral schools, and interdisciplinary programs.

  New technological platforms

Thanks to the MYO-HEALTH project, the DSB has acquired scientific infrastructures of major international relevance:

  • CryoEM – A next-generation cryo-electron microscope to visualize protein complexes at near-atomic resolution;
  • Spatial Multi-omics– Technologies for spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, able to describe cellular and subcellular processes within healthy and diseased organs;
  • Organoids – A platform to generate and analyze human organoids and tissues, an innovative model to study disease mechanisms and test therapies in vitro;
  • Clinical research instrumentation – Advanced equipment to study human physiology, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and a “whole-room” metabolic chamber, one of the few existing worldwide, to measure human metabolism under basal conditions.

  Expected outcomes and results

The MYO-HEALTH project has already led to the recruitment of new faculty members, researchers, and technicians, to the strengthening of IT infrastructures, and to the creation of interdisciplinary synergies across molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, physiology, and pathology.

Expected outcomes include:

  • greater clinical relevance of experimental models, closer to patient reality;
  • identification of new molecular targets for therapies;
  • strengthening of the DSB’s role as an international reference hub for the study of muscle, metabolism, and related diseases;
  • a new interdisciplinary educational offer linking biology, medicine, and sport sciences, to prepare future researchers capable of translating science into improved human health.

With MYO-HEALTH, the DSB consolidates its role as a leader in biomedical research, combining scientific excellence, state-of-the-art technologies, and a firm commitment to bringing research from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside.

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