Research
Institute of Life Sciences
The way in which we implement the third mission
How can we make a difference in this world?
The scientific mission of the Institute of Life Sciences covers two macro-areas:
- Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnology
- Biomedical Sciences
Our aim is to provide a multifaceted and challenging scientific environment to a broad spectrum of students: undergraduates, postgraduates and PhD. Courses and research activities span from classical and molecular human and plant biology to preclinical and clinical sciences, plant biotechnology, food quality and nutraceutics, agroecology and agrobiodiversity, and novel sustainable agricultural systems. Strong emphasis is placed on technological innovation.
Lecturers have strong scientific expertise often acquired in a multidisciplinary international environment.
Research carried out in the macro-area Agricultural Sciences and plant Biotechnology addresses two main domains: plant sciences and agronomy, with a focus on various aspects of plant biology, food and energy crops, agrobiodiversity, and agroecosystem management.
Research carried out in the macro-area of Biomedical Sciences addresses the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system, the development of new diagnostic techniques, and the application of nanotechnology to medicine.
The results of the study conducted by Professor Maurizio Servili, from the University of Perugia Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, and Professor Luca Sebastiani, director of the Sant’Anna School Institute of Life Sciences, demonstrating an increase in the extra virgin olive oil phenolic concentration (between 25 and 49 percent using olives from three central and southern Italy’s cultivars at different temperatures) determined by the high vacuum technology in the mechanical extraction of olive oil, was published in the high-impact, international journal “Food Chemistry”
With the core objective of presenting new approaches in higher education to photonics, circular economy and data science in healthcare, the virtual and in person Seasonal Schools offered at Sant’Anna School are aimed at giving Italian and international university and PhD students achieving the equivalent Italian scale average score of 27/30, a more intensive learning experience. Scholarships funded by the Foundation “Il Talento all’Opera” covering 50% of the tuition fee amount will be awarded to 4 students achieving highest grades in their course
The spread of the new Coronavirus and the need for a vaccine against Covid-19 has triggered an accelerated development of genetic engineering. In addition, the global spread of COVID-19 has been accompanied by what the World Health Organization has described as a “massive infodemic” – i.e. fake news and misinformation. In Pisa, scientists and students (from the University of Pisa, Sant’Anna School and Scuola Normale Superiore), attempt to counter misinformation
