Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland
Institute of Oncology Research (IOR)
Via Vela 6
6500 Bellinzona
Ph. +41 (0)91 820 03 22
Fax +41 (0)91 820 03 97
The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) is the unit for basic and translational research of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI). This structure was set up at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Bellinzona in April 2003 and it currently employs about 35 researchers. At the beginning this structure had the name of Laboratory of Experimental Oncology of IOSI and was, also from the administrative point of view, directly managed by EOC. From 01.09.2011 it has been renamed into Institute for Oncology Research (IOR), mostly to be eligible for the Confederation's grant. The IOR is now managed by the Foundation for Research and Treatment of Lymphoma, but from the practical point of view it is still part of the Division of Research of IOSI. The IOR offers the possibility for training in the area of biomedical and oncology research for graduates, postgraduates and undergraduates in Ticino and in collaboration with various Swiss and Italian universities. The expertise available in the laboratory include cellular and molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, functional genomics, pharmacogenomics and bioinformatics.
There are two research groups which work in a synergistic way, integrating methods of basic research (functional genomics and molecular biology) with translational research (experimental therapies and pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of new drugs). The main lines of research concern the study of genetic changes in lymphomas (tumours of the lymph glands) and biology and therapy of prostate cancer, the development of new therapies and the evaluation of new drugs with specific molecular targets. The IOR research projects are financed by the Tessin Foundation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), the Swiss League Against Cancer, the Tessin Foundation for Cancer Research, the Foundation San Salvatore, the Foundation Horten and other national and international agencies.
Director and head of group:
Carlo Catapano, MD, PhD, Director, Experimental therapies and molecular pharmacology
carlo.catapano@ior.iosi.ch
Francesco Bertoni, MD, Deputy Director, Functional genomics and lymphomas
francesco.bertoni@ior.iosi.ch
