Every year, Politecnico di Milano selects five research projects with a high social impact and, with the financial contribution of people who choose to allocate their 5x1000 Irpef donations to the University, supports them during the implementation of concrete and incisive 'pilot experiences':
In 2022, for instance, we dealt with 'Local Development and Ecological Transition'. The five selected research groups have until the end of 2024 to concretise their ideas, which are usually short-term realisable projects, though aiming to be replicable and have a long-term effect.
Five projects: one to be developed in Milan, three in Africa and one in Brazil. Their common goal is to green our planet starting with very specific contexts: turning waste into fuel without cutting down trees; tackling climate change in cities; a project for a super-efficient farm that makes the best use of the land’s assets; techniques to breathe new life into a valley in Algeria by combining ancient knowledge and state-of-the-art technology; and cutting-edge orthopaedic solutions to improve health in Lombardy while saving money and respecting the environment.
They are:
The PRESTO project aims to develop preventive treatments and minimally invasive environmentally friendly approaches to curb bone fragilisation, a phenomenon which is linked, for example, to ageing and pathological conditions such as osteoporosis. Looking ahead, the ambition is to reduce the ecological and social impact (in particular the impact on the healthcare system) of fragility fractures through innovative approaches in the prevention and targeted treatment of these fractures.
In the field of prevention, in recent months PRESTO has established a close connection between high-resolution synchrotron imaging and standard clinical practices, adopting a state-of-the-art methodology based on Artificial Intelligence.
With regard to treatment, PRESTO has succeeded in developing new tailor-made biodegradable materials designed according to the specific morpho-densitometric characteristics of each patient's bones. Real-time damage tests are planned shortly for the validation of the manufactured product.
In addition, PRESTO is currently quantifying the eco-social impact of frailty, directly involving clinicians, patients and caregivers in order to provide innovative tools for a future in which frail people can become active members of society again.
PRESTO's stimulating research is made possible by the active collaboration of the three departments DMEC, DIG and DEIB, together with the clinical and social bodies supporting the project.
