Biomedical research: IOR looks to the future with new infrastructure and a focus on ageing
Institutional Communication Service
In a recent interview published in Corriere del Ticino, Franco Cavalli and Andrea Alimonti — respectively, President and Director of the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), an affiliate of USI — detailed the institute's next steps. These include the development of the new research building in Bellinzona, increased collaboration between the region's three major institutes, and a scientific strategy aimed at strengthening the city's role as an international hub for biomedical research into ageing.
Work on the new IOR research facility is on track, as President Franco Cavalli explained: "The roadmap has been followed; we are now awaiting the final green light. If approval is granted as expected, we aim to finalise the project by the autumn." The total investment is expected to reach approximately 70 million francs, covering new infrastructure, including a large auditorium that will also serve the city. The new building will be a cornerstone in boosting the IOR's scientific competitiveness. In a global landscape defined by fierce competition for top-tier talent, technological infrastructure is decisive: "There is a global struggle between institutes to recruit the best research talent," explained Director Andrea Alimonti. Among the advanced platforms to be introduced is a 7-Tesla MRI for the ultra-high-resolution imaging of biological models, alongside the institute's new bioinformatics unit, which utilises artificial intelligence for the analysis of experimental data and large-scale scientific databases.
Alongside the building project, efforts are underway in Bellinzona to strengthen ties between existing research bodies, particularly between IOR and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), also a USI affiliate. Franco Cavalli noted that concrete steps towards better coordination have been taken in recent years, including the harmonisation of administrative services and the prospect of a shared structure under a single foundation. "In short, service structures are being aligned," the President observed, "while a working group is currently drafting a proposal for the partial integration of the institutes. In the future, we would like to extend this union to the Institute of Translational Research (IRT). However, given the differences in governance (co-managed by USI and EOC), this is naturally more complex. We are currently awaiting confirmation of funding from a major foundation; if all goes as hoped, we will meet with the Canton and USI to launch a significant joint project across the three Bellinzona institutes."
This initiative is part of a wider strategy for the future of research in Bellinzona. As Andrea Alimonti explained, while the city has become increasingly successful at attracting global talent, a shared scientific vision is now needed to sustain this momentum. "To continue growing, we need a common vision alongside infrastructure," the IOR Director emphasised. "The three local institutes — IOR, IRB, and the Institute of Translational Research (IRT) — have therefore identified ageing as a unifying field for their collective expertise. The ambition is to position Bellinzona as the national benchmark for the study of age-related conditions."
Despite the challenges posed by reduced public funding for research in Switzerland, the IOR continues to attract high-profile international scholars. In the interview, Cavalli announced the appointment of researcher Laura Pasqualucci, formerly a professor at Columbia University in New York and a leading expert on malignant lymphomas. "For us, this represents a major step forward: profiles of this calibre attract more funding and researchers eager to collaborate," the IOR President concluded.
The full interview, conducted by Giacomo Butti and published in Corriere del Ticino, is available here (Italian only).
