Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies

Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is a public university institute - with special autonomy - working in the field of applied sciences: Economics and Management, Law, Political Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Medicine, and Industrial and Information Engineering. The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies aims at experimenting innovative paths in research and education. Professors and researchers live and interact with the students, day after day, enjoying a continuous cultural and intellectual exchange. Innovative ideas, which are then developed in collaboration with foreign universities, organisations, companies and research institutes, are generated here. Due to its international nature, education of excellence and scientific community, the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies established itself as a reference both in Italy and abroad. The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is part of the EUA (European University Association) as an "individual full member".

The BioRobotics Institute is one of the six research Institutes of SSSA: it operates in several fields of biorobotics and bionics, such as medical robotics, wearable technologies, collaborative robotics, bio-inspired robotics, neuroscience robotics, rehabilitation robotics and implantable technologies. Its mission is based on three pillars: Education: MSc in Bionics Engineering and PhD program in BioRobotics; Research: scientific publications, national and international research projects, joint labs; Innovation: start-up companies, patents and industrial contracts. The Institute promotes the internationalisation of didactics and scientific research through collaboration with the most prestigious international knowledge centres. The Institute aims to educate engineers that are scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and problem solvers.

Role within ImmUniverse

In work package 3, SSSA is responsible for the main tasks:

1. Developing an ad hoc LIPUS set-up for in vitro studies
2. Processing of anatomical data to serve as a basis for computer simulations
3. Design and implementation of computer simulations able to predict ultrasound beam propagation
4. Development of tissue-mimicking phantoms to compare simulated data with actual measurements
5. Implementation and adaptation of the LIPUS exposure parameters to specific anatomies and, if necessary, adaptation of the transducer shape/features, to minimize acoustic reflections or aberrations, thus to efficiently delivery the required LIPUS dose at the target, on animals human patients.

The execution of the clinical translation of the LIPUS technology is being supported though a collaboration of SSSA with BAC Technologies.