CheMISt – Computational Molecular Design e Screening

Abstract: the 21^st of June, 2017, the Sicilian Region funded the development of the 4 CheMISt, providing technological equipments and human resources. The goal was to set up an integrated laboratory and a team of researchers with interdisciplinary skills, able to support Ri.MED research and to become a reference point for scientific research services with high added value at regional, national and international level for public research institutions and private companies. The enhancement of Ri.MED scientific equipment represents a crucial step for accessing research areas that require the support of state-of-the-art instruments and – therefore – for the development of Ri.MED’s scientific activities and skills. In addition to common equipment such as refrigerated centrifuges, CO2 incubators, freezers, inverted microscope for HTS, Transilluminator and various workstations, CheMISt funding has allowed the purchase of other important research equipment, such as a BioLayer Interferometer Octet Red96 and an automated confocal microscope. As part of the project, 20 human resources were hired to fill the scientific roles necessary to give life to the CheMISt laboratories, thus offering the opportunity to deserving Sicilian professionals to access a qualified role in their land of origin. The hired resources cover different profiles in the scientific areas of Structural Biology and Biophysics, Computational and Medicinal Chemistry, Hight Throughput Screening and Bioengineering: 2 Group Leaders, 5 Post Doc Researchers, 2 Principal Investigators, 2 Senior Scientists, 2 Scientists, 3 Junior Scientist and 3 Laboratory Technicians. In addition, 3 PhD scholarships (Molecular and Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering of Technological Innovation) and 2 Research Scholarships in Technologies and Sciences for human health were awarded.

CHEMIST INTEGRATED LABORATORIES: Structural and Biophysical Biology Laboratory; Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory; Hight Throughput Screening Laboratory; Bio-Engineering Laboratory.

Thanks to Chemist, Ri.MED has consolidated its platforms assets and skills in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine applied to drug research and development. Investments in technological equipment and human resources have,  indeed, enhanced the development of know-how and the consequent ability to develop research services with high added value.