Main Projects

MAMELI

Mapping the Methylation of repetitive elements to track the Exposome effects on health: the city of Legnano as a Living lab

Funding Body: European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant

The main objective of MAMELI is to study the epigenetic mechanisms (those modifications in the expression of our genes that do not involve an alteration ofoccur without altering the composition sequence of our DNA) that mediate the effect of the exposome on health. The exposome represents the set totality of all factors – internal and external – that influence human health throughout life. The link between exposome and health is supported by evidence: the development of a state of illness is largely determined by behavioral, environmental, and occupational risk factors, many of which are, at least potentially, modifiable.

Principal Investigators: Valentina Bollati, Elia Biganzoli

FLORA

Fusing LiDAR Observations with Remote-sensing Analysis

Funding Body: European Research Council (ERC) Proof-of-Concept Grant

The main objective of FLORA is to develop an integrated system for assessing urban quality by combining advanced technologies with human perceptions, in order to understand how the built environment influences well-being and public health. The project integrates LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys, remote sensing analyses, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data derived from surveys capturing the aesthetic and functional perception of urban spaces. The underlying idea is that urban livability is shaped not only by structural or environmental parameters, but also by their interaction with the way people observe, experience and interpret the spaces around them.

FLORA aims to build a multidimensional dashboard capable of synthesizing physical, environmental and perceptual information into a single operational tool, useful for enhancing urban spaces, informing more evidence-based planning policies and ultimately promoting healthier, more welcoming and community-centered cities. It is a project that brings together technological innovation and public health, reflecting a central idea for LETE: the quality of the urban environment is a key — and modifiable — determinant of population well-being.

Principal Investigators: Valentina Bollati, Elia Biganzoli

PhActHealth

Physical Activity and Healthy Aging: Fighting Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation to Reduce Oncologic Risk

Funding entity: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)

The main objective of PhActHealth is to understand how physical activity can modulate the biological processes connecting low-grade chronic inflammation, aging and cancer risk. The project focuses particularly on women with breast cancer, analyzing the effects of a preoperative exercise program on systemic inflammatory responses and on the mechanisms that support the dissemination and activation of potentially dormant tumor cells.
The underlying hypothesis is that physical activity, acting as a “positive exposure,” may help reduce biological vulnerability, improve surgical recovery and mitigate the risk of future metastasis.

PhActHealth integrates clinical assessments, inflammatory markers, epigenetic data and molecular profiles to delineate how exercise influences individual trajectories of aging and resilience. The project reflects a central principle for LETE: biological responses are not predetermined but can be modified through targeted interventions that strengthen the body’s protective systems and contribute to lowering oncologic risk across the lifespan.

Principal Investigator: Elia Biganzoli

Project Manager: Roberta Biciuffi