01 October 2026
Human Technopole opens a new Call for Access to its National Facilities on 1 October 2026, after receiving 775 applications from the Italian scientific community since the programme began. To date, 373 projects have been approved for access to advanced technologies, specialised expertise and scientific support.
The latest completed round confirms the sustained demand for this shared research infrastructure. It attracted 190 proposals, 75 of which were approved following scientific evaluation, corresponding to a success rate of 39.5%.
Growing demand across all five Facilities
Since the pilot call in 2024, the five National Facilities have supported projects spanning genomics, structural biology, light imaging, genome engineering and disease modelling, and data handling and analysis.
Genomics continues to receive the largest share of approved projects, followed by Structural Biology:
- Genomics: 167 approved projects, 44.7% of the total
- Structural Biology: 106 projects, 28.4%
- Light Imaging: 39 projects, 10.4%
- Genome Engineering and Disease Modelling: 36 projects, 9.7%
- Data Handling and Analysis: 25 projects, 6.7%
Access goes beyond the use of instruments and technologies. National Facility teams work with researchers to define experimental strategies, perform experiments, analyse data and develop new methods. This collaborative model allows projects to draw on complementary expertise and, when needed, combine support from different Facilities.
Connecting Italy’s research community
Universities submitted 535 applications, accounting for 69% of the total. A further 189 applications came from IRCCS research hospitals and 51 from public research organisations.
Applications have been received from across Italy, although participation remains geographically uneven:
- Northern Italy: 619 applications, 80.0% of the total
- Central Italy: 98 applications, 12.6%
- Southern Italy: 58 applications, 7.5%
By making advanced infrastructure available through an open and merit-based process, the National Facilities strengthen connections between academic, clinical and public research organisations and help expertise and technologies circulate across the national life sciences ecosystem.
Supporting diverse researchers and scientific questions
The applicant pool includes:
- 414 women, accounting for 53% of applicants
- 361 men, accounting for 46.5%
One third of all proposals were led by junior principal investigators: 260 applications, corresponding to 33.5% of the total. This shows how shared infrastructure can also support researchers at an earlier stage of their independent careers, giving them access to technologies and expertise that may not be available at their home institutions.
The proposals address a broad range of biological and biomedical questions. Cancer research represents the largest area, with 268 applications, followed by cell biology with 77 and neurodegenerative disorders with 72. Developmental disorders, genetic diseases, infectious diseases, neuromuscular conditions, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, population and medical genomics, and plant and evolutionary studies are also represented.
The new Call for Access gives researchers another opportunity to turn ambitious scientific questions into feasible projects. By combining advanced technologies with close scientific collaboration, Human Technopole’s National Facilities contribute to shaping the future of human health together.
Explore the National Facilities and submit your application here.
