Consortium Institutions
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (UCBM), Roma
Among the top 15% in the world for research according to the THE WUR. Coordinated by Leandro Pecchia (Scientific Director), Rector Delegate for Internationalization and SDG, former World Health Organization (WHO) innovation manager for COVID and Member of the Italian MoH CTS. Prof Pecchia has long experience of working in Africa, is the Secretary General of the IFMBE, Past-President of EAMBES, and former SG of IUPSM, NGO in official relations with WHO and European Parliament.
UCBM will join the proposal with 3 Departments: Medicine & Surgery, Engineering and One Health. Bringing to the project pragmatic experience in this area, and significant track record of successful collaborations with UN agencies (FAO, PAHO, WHO), and significant expertise in managing large collaborative grants (e.g., GATEKEEPER, ODIN), which will be crucial for this project.
Currently, UCBM has several projects with African Partners financed by the Horizon Europe, UN WHO, PAHO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Moreover, UCBM hosts the secretariat of the IFBME, which supported the creation of 13 African National Scientific Societies.
It works with most of the SSA countries in the field of medicine, bioengineering, nutrition and agriculture, with a track record of managing large-scale pilots involving huge numbers of partners, is beneficiary of few collaborative Horizon Europe with Africa, is rewriting WHO guidelines for medical device donation, and has significant record of project in Africa supported by charities (e.g., Gates foundation).
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA), Napoli
With 800 years of existence, is the oldest secular university in Italy and is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide (QS ranking). Lead by Bianca Gasparrini will have 5 units: Veterinary, Agricultural Sciences (Giuseppe De Rosa), Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Michele Santangelo), Industrial Engineering (Antonio Gloria) and Social Sciences (Francesco Miano).
Several international agreements between Federico II and UAC (Benin) spanning across veterinary medicine and agricultural science, human medicine (with emphasis on surgical, radiological, histopathological aspects) (since 2012) and agreement between the engineering departments (Federico and UAC) since 2023. Moreover, several successful Erasmus + ICM (2019-2022) programs have been successfully managed.
Università di Pisa (UNIPI), Pisa
Counts 20 departments, is in the top 200-400 of the best universities position in the worldwide and among the 7 best universities in Italy. The Group of Open Source Medical Devices coordinated by C. De Maria has a long-lasting collaboration in Africa:
- UBORA
- ABEM, funded by EACEA
- ABEC, which promotes BME education and research across 10 African Countries. De Maria organized several short-term training activities such as ABEC/UBORA Design School.
It coordinates or is a partner in numerous EU projects, especially Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, and innovation actions in strategic regions (China, Central Asia, Latin America, Africa). UNIPI is involved in the European Alliance CIRCLE U, a research-intensive and interdisciplinary alliance working to provide outstanding education, research and innovation to contribute to more sustainable, democratic and healthier societies.
Into CIRCLE U were realized the Knowledge Hubs for working across disciplines on the 3 overarching themes of Climate, Democracy and Global Health.
Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (UNIBO)
The top Italian University according to the THE Ranking, has an extensive history of collaborative research with clinical, industrial, and academic scientists in the fields of Computational Cardiology, in silico Pharmacology, and Haemodialysis Therapy. Coordinated by Stefano Severi, who has participated in 13 grants with investigators from other institutions and 18 research contracts with 9 biomedical companies.
The team has experience in bioengineering in Africa, starting programs on ‘Context-sensitive design of medical devices’ within the Master’s program and co-organizing in 2022 the GNB Summer School Bioengineering for Sustainable Development with UNIPI and UCBM. Now coordinating a project with the St. Luke Hospital, Wolisso, Ethiopia.
Collaboration with Africa is a distinguishing feature of international engagement via:
- Bilateral agreements (10 in Africa)
- Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (20 in Africa)
- Active membership in UNIMED, IHEA Foundation
- European Intra-Africa programme partner (3 projects on intra-Africa mobility schemes)
- Erasmus+ projects in SSA (4 projects)
Politecnico di Bari (POLIBA), Bari
Committed to academic excellence and societal service, POLIBA blends traditional values and a forward-looking vision. POLIBA is involved in the Erasmus+ mobility programme KA 103/107 actions.
POLIBA will join this project with The Bioengineering Group and Industrial Informatics and Bioengineering labs coordinated by Prof. Bevilacqua, coordinator of the MSc in Medical Systems Engineering.
Leveraging the expertise of both the Bioengineering group and the University itself, POLIBA will organize Summer Schools, Workshops, and Advanced Technical Courses on the topics addressed by the partnership.
