Meet the Partners - Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK)
The Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), a renowned non-profit research institution, continues to set the standard for scientific excellence in Italy and beyond. Recognized for its top-tier contributions in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, and Sociology, FBK boasts a vibrant community of over 450 researchers and operates 11 globally acclaimed research centres. Their commitment to cross-disciplinary approaches and application-oriented research has positioned FBK at the forefront of scientific innovation.
One of FBK’s standout units, the Data Science for Health (DSH) research team within the Digital Health and Wellbeing Center, is breaking new ground in the fight against cancer. DSH specializes in developing predictive models that analyze complex spatio-temporal patterns by integrating various molecular biology levels, spatial population models, and environmental landscape analyses. Their work involves crafting comprehensive pipelines for analyzing omics data, biomedical imaging, and electronic health records (EHRs) using advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms. A particular emphasis is placed on ensuring the reproducibility and interpretability of their models.
In the 3DSecret project FBK is leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle a critical question in breast cancer research: Why do some circulating tumour cells metastasize while others do not? By employing deep learning techniques, DSH aims to integrate diverse biological data to identify the characteristics that distinguish cells that lead to metastasis. The findings from this groundbreaking research could equip clinicians with powerful tools and innovative biotechnology specifically developed for this initiative, revolutionizing how breast cancer is understood and treated.
As FBK continues to push the boundaries of scientific research, its work not only enhances Italy’s standing in the global research community but also promises significant advancements in medical science, offering new hope in the fight against cancer.