The Institute of Biophysics (IBF) of the CNR Italy (https://www.ibf.cnr.it/), Trento Unit, comprises 5 Principal Investigators, 1 Lab Manager, 1 Administrative Manager, and a dynamic team of post-docs and students from Italian universities. Supported by National and International grants, our research is published in leading peer-reviewed journals. Our technological collaborations with biotech companies have resulted in various patents.

Our activities are framed in two main research lines:

Biological Structures

• Structure and dynamics of lipid systems (M. Dalla Serra)

• Supramolecular complexes (G. Viero)

• Ion channels (C. Musio)

Cell Biophysics

• Membrane transport and homeostasis via electrophysiology and fluorescence (D. Arosio)

• Cellular and molecular pathophysiology of genetic diseases (C. Musio, M. Dalla Serra, G. Viero)

• Molecular pharmacology, and genetics of bacteria, antibiotic resistance, drug targeting and discovery (D. Arosio, M. Whalen)

RESEARCH

The IBF Unit at Trento advances knowledge of the structure/function relationship in biological molecules and cellular mechanisms through an integrated multidisciplinary approach that combines physics, biochemistry, cell, molecular and computational biology. Research focuses on biological structures and cell biophysics with strong biomedical relevance. Activities include the study of membrane structure and lipid dynamics in disease or in host-pathogen and-antibiotic interactions, supramolecular complexes involved in gene expression relevant for neuromuscular diseases, membrane transport mechanisms maintaining cellular homeostasis, cellular and molecular pathophysiology of genetic diseases, bacterial reply to physical and chemical stresses and pharmacology for drug discovery. Advanced methods include electrophysiology, patch-clamp ephys, fluorescence imaging, molecular biology, next generation sequencing, cryo-electron microscopy, biochemical assays and computational modeling.

Staff

Main Contact  Dr. Gabriella Viero  gabriella.viero@cnr.it 

Dr. Carlo Musio carlo.musio@cnr.it

Dr. Daniele Arosio daniele.arosio@cnr.it

Dr. Michael Whalen michael.whalen@cnr.it 

Dr. Mauro Dalla Serra mauro.dallaserra@cnr.it

Dr. Fabio Lauria fabio-lauria@cnr.it

Dr. Marta Marchioretto marta.marchioretto@cnr.it