Mission

We want to empower the understanding of infectious diseases through Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC upgrade (PRP@CERIC) project, a visionary initiative, designed to be at the forefront of infectious disease research. PRP@CERIC is funded by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), part of Next Generation EU, as part of Mission 4 “Education and Research”, Component 2 “From Research to Business”, Investment Line 3.1 “Fund for the creation of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructures”.
A collaborative team of experts representing eight distinguished research institutions are dedicated to addressing the pressing challenges of emerging human, animal, and plant pathogens.

Vision

Academic and industrial users can have access to a unique interdisciplinary network of knowledge, methodologies and instruments capable of exploring the boundaries of pathogen research in the fields of diagnostics, pathogenesis, drug discovery, safety & environment. We bridge the gap between genetics, morphology, chemistry, and biophysics, thereby revolutionizing early drug discovery for infectious diseases and establishing enhanced preparedness and response strategies against future outbreaks.

Values

Our core values include scientific excellence, openness, and sustainability. We are committed to enabling pathogen research to cutting-edge level, providing a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art analytical instruments and competencies for researchers, both in academia and industry, to explore infectious diseases at the deepest level. As a digital ecosystem following FAIR principles, we promote open science to ensure high-quality data, fostering collaboration and accelerating discoveries.
We adhere to the DNSH principles to assist the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and support technology transfer, bridging the gap between the scientific and industrial sectors for long-term success.

DIFARMA

As part of the PRP@CERIC project, the activities of the DIFARMA are centered in Work Package 7: Multi-omics-MS based upgrade for host-pathogen interaction studies and biomarker discovery. This work package focuses on upgrading the pre-existing research infrastructure (Bio Open Lab, PIR01_00032 BIO OPEN LAB BOL “CUP” J37E19000050007) through the acquisition of new equipment, specifically mass spectrometry platforms. A cornerstone of the project is the enhancement of the mass spectrometry laboratory for omics sciences by acquiring next-generation mass spectrometric instruments (Thermo Orbitrap Exploris, Bruker TimsTofFlex), complete with chromatographic systems, software, and robotic preparation platforms (Preomics Preon, Agilent Bravo, HTX M5).

The goal of this infrastructure is to provide comprehensive molecular characterization using proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics to identify potential mechanisms of pathogen infection, complementing genomics and transcriptomics studies. At the same time, it serves as a critical asset for studying high-impact diseases, including oncological, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders.

The project facilitated the recruitment of five RTD-A researchers currently employed at DIFARMA. Furthermore, the infrastructural enhancement has positioned the laboratory within the European network CERIC-ERIC as a center of excellence for omics sciences through mass spectrometry (https://www.ceric-eric.eu/lab-instrument/mass-spectrometry/).

Additionally, DIFARMA is involved in Work Package 3, specifically Task 3.3 Drug-target interaction modeling: lead compound identification, which aims to strengthen the capacity to synthesize libraries of small molecules and peptidomimetics with potential antiviral activity.