Presentation of the Centre
Since its establishment in 1928, the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (INT) of Milan has always aimed to provide the highest standard of patient care while pursuing preclinical and clinical research and promoting its swift translation into better prevention, diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation.
Main Research Activities
Current research includes investigation of molecular and cellular determinants and mechanisms of tumor onset, growth and progression, as well as analysis of inherited factors underlying genetic susceptibility to cancer. More therapeutically oriented studies are aimed at developing and selecting new target-specific agents that my help to identify growth signals and checkpoint functions driving cell proliferation, validation of predictors of tumor progression and treatment response, Antitumor immunity and the regulatory mechanisms interfering with the immune recognition of tumor cells are also studied.
Crucial in designing and conducting prospective clinical studies is the strong and continuous collaboration between the Experimental Oncology and Clinical Departments. Epidemiology research aims to improve knowledge of lifestyle and genetic risk factors to prevent cancer burden. The above studies focus also on dietary intervention targeting the general population.
Systematic international studies linking cancer registries data of cancer incidence, prevalence, and survival, helps to explains survival differences between and within countries, to devise actions that may reduce such inequalities;
Core Facilities
Core facilities and equipment for research at Fondazione INT include:
- Platform for Integrated Biology (PIB)
- Immunohistochemistry
- Cell Imaging Facility
- Flow Cytometry and Cell sorting
- Microbiology Service
- Laboratory Animal Facility
- in Vivo Imaging
- Biological X-ray Irradiator
- Micro-PET
- Tissue and Cell Repository
- DEPArray Platform
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Cytogenetics
- Proteomics/Metabolomics Facilities
- Medical Statistics
- Biometry and Bioinformatics
- Epidemiological Research Platforms
- Breast Cancer Clinical Registry
- Data Warehouse
- Clinical Trials Center
- Grant Office
- Biomedical Library
- Technology Transfer Office
- Ethics Committee
Education
PhD studentships, postdoctoral research fellowships, graduate student training, medical, nursing, psychology and social service training as well as continuing medical education are in the Fondazione INT portfolio of educational opportunities, such as education and training at a postgraduate level by offering a range of highly specialised Master courses, running the PhD programme of the Open University.
The Fondazione INT, together with the Organisation of European Cancer Institute, launched the “OECI Academy” a new European educational programme to train the research managers of the future.