The National Research Council (CNR) is Italy's major governmental organization for research and development, employing more than 8,000 people across Italy. Its annual budget is about one Billion Euros, half of which is assigned by the National Government and half is obtained through competition-based grant programs or projects reflecting research collaborations and partnerships with companies and public and private sector organizations.
CNR integrates its activities through an interdisciplinary structure made up of eleven National Departments, networks of Institutes and researchers brought together to focus on important major scientific problems. Unconstrained by bricks and mortar, the Department structure encourages partnership and collaboration across sectors, disciplines and geographic regions.
The Department of Life Sciences (CNR-DLS) groups researchers working in fifteen Institutes active in a range of studies on the fundamental mechanisms governing living organisms and organized into six major thematic networks:

• Function, regulation, and evolution of eukaryotic genomes


• Structure, function and design of proteins, nucleic acids and their supramolecular complexes.


• Molecular mechanisms and signalling in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and death


• Animal models in physiopathology and behaviour


• Biodiversity and mechanisms of adaptation to stress


• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

CNR-DLS scientists are called upon to advance the state of knowledge for the public good in areas such as health, safety and the environment, as well as for the rapid transfer of technologies to the private sector for wealth creation. From collaborative R&D to licensing, the creation of new enterprises, and industrial research assistance and support, CNR-DLS supports wealth creation through research and innovation. Opportunities for collaborative research between CNR and industry partners exist wherever there are common technical objectives or where the unique expertise of CNR-DLS scientists provides an effective match for industrial requirements. Joint projects result in the transfer of skills and know-how, and the potential for new or improved products and processes.

Company Strengths
LICENSES/TRADE MARKS/QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS/PATENTS:

• "Purification,cloning and biochemical characterization of XendoU, the endoribonucleolytic activity involved in splicing-independent biosynthesis of small nucleolar RNAs in Xenopus laevis" Patent filed in Italy, USA and Europe: owners CNR and University of Rome.


• "Fusion proteins comprising modified allergens of the ns-LTPs family, use thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same" Patent filed in Italy, Canada, USA, Europe and Israel: owner CNR.


• "Anti-hypertensive bioactive peptides derived from bovine beta-casein" PCT filed on 31/07/2006 (first filing in Italy): owner CNR.


• "Peptide sequence isolated from the Immuno globulin-like domain II of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 able to bind α5β1 integrin and endowed with pro-angiogenic activity” PCT filed on 31/07/2007 (first filing in Italy): owners CNR, University of Rome "La Sapienza" and IDI.


• "Process of immobilizing biomolecules in porous support by using an electronic beam" Patent filed in Italy, Europe, USA and Canada: owner CNR.

INNOVATIVE PROCESSES/SERVICES/PRODUCTS: The aim of the SCF Lab is to identify specific factors (molecules/genes/signaling pathways) controlling the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of ES cells through the application of cell-based high-throughput screening (HTS) methodologies. To achieve this objective, a fully robotized system for the manipulation of ES cells and, in particular, to direct differentiation of a huge number of cell samples for the production of the cell type of interest (neurons, cardiomyocytes) in a suitable format for HTS, has been planned ad hoc.
NETWORKING: CNR-DLS collaborates with national and international public and private partners.
R & D CAPACITY: CNR-DLS is a Public Research Organization.
EXPERTISE: Expertise in the fundamental mechanisms governing living organisms, specifically in the six major thematic networks listed above.