Scientific Research | IGEA Medical

IGEA Research Activities

Scientific research is the cornerstone of IGEA’s corporate culture.
Every choice we make during the process of developing a therapy is guided by the results of our research.
Whether the idea for a new product originates from a patient’s need or from the curiosity of one of our researchers, we make that idea a reality, scientifically demonstrating its effectiveness.

It is not possible to talk about the value of IGEA without highlighting its achievements in scientific research in over 40 years.

Learn about IGEA’s commitment to current scientific research:

Orthopaedics

Oncology

Gene
Therapy

Other
Research

Orthopaedics

Oncology

Gene
Therapy

Other
Research

Orthopaedics

Oncology

Gene
Therapy

Other
Research

Orthopaedic & traumatological research

Pre-Clinical Studies

Development of a novel biophysical signal aimed at muscle tissue regeneration in rats.
Lead Researcher: Prof. Angela Notarnicola, University of Bari.

Investigation of the pro-tenogenic role of pulsed electromagnetic fields in a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) model.
Lead Researcher: Prof. Antongiulio Marmotti, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin.

Development of a mechanical stimulation device based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles and pulsed electromagnetic fields to optimise cartilage regeneration.
Lead Researcher: Dr Massimo Vassalli, Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow.

Clinical Trials

Multi-centre prospective observational study in patients with painful total knee arthroplasty (TKA)and I-ONE^® Therapy.
Code: I-ONE^®ProDol.
Centre Coordinator: Prof. Leo Massari, S. Anna University Hospital in Ferrara.

Unicompartmental knee prostheses in association with I-ONE^® Therapy.
Sponsored, single-centre, randomised, parallel group trial. UKA protocol and I-ONE^® Therapy.
Lead Researcher: Dr Nicola Ursino, Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan.

Patients with supraspinatus injury and I-ONE^® Therapy. Randomised trial with control group.
Ref. no. 0175356/2017 I-ONE^® Therapy.
Lead Researcher: Prof. Vincenzo De Cupis, Orthopaedic and Traumatological Surgical Institute, Latina.

Evaluation of the effect of biophysical stimulation with pulsed electromagnetic fields on bone marrow lesion in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Single-blind, randomised controlled multi-centre trial. Code: PEMF-LCA.
Lead Researcher: Prof. Stefano Zaffagnini, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna.

Effect of biophysical stimulation on subjective symptomatology under prolonged non-weight bearing conditions, prevention and treatment of algodystrophy processes of the lower limbs.
Lead Researcher: Dr Walter Daghino, Turin Orthopaedic Trauma Centre.

Multi-centre, randomised trial with a control group on the effect of capacitively coupled electric fields on vertebral compression fractures and bone marrow lesion. Code: CCEFVBME.
Centre Coordinator: Dr Andrea Piazzolla, University Hospital - Polyclinic of Bari.

Oncological research

Pre-Clinical Studies

Pre-clinical study on animal model ‘Displaceable expandable electrode for tissue electroporation’ (Authorisation no. 15/2019-PR).
Lead Researchers: Dr Francesco Izzo, Dr Raffaele Palaia, G. Pascale Foundation National Institute of Tumours IRCCS, Naples.

Coaxial Bipolar Electrode and Pre-operative Planning Software for the Treatment of Vertebral Metastases with Electrochemotherapy.
Lead Researcher: Dr Milena Fini, Director of the Complex Structure ‘Surgical Sciences and Technologies’, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna.

DEEP-CANCERS: Development of deployable-expandable electrodes for the electroporation of cancer cells.
Participants: IGEA SpA; IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale - Napoli; SPES MEDICA Srl.

Clinical Trials

Immune system activation by electrochemotherapy: hypothesis validating within a prospective study (N.P. 3775).
Lead Researcher: Prof. Paolo Bossi, Medical Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia.
Prospective randomised trial with control group ‘Electrochemotherapy as first-line treatment of squamous cell carcinoma recurrences of the oral cavity and oropharynx: a randomised controlled trial’.EudraCT 2018-003589-15.
Lead researcher: Dr Franco Ionna, G. Pascale Foundation National Institute of Tumours IRCCS, Naples.

Prospective randomised trial with control group ‘Organ sparing for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy followed by electrochemotherapy’. EudraCT number: 2018-004166-33.
Lead Researcher: Dr Paolo Delrio, G. Pascale Foundation National Institute of Tumours IRCCS, Naples.

Prospective randomised trial with control group ‘Phase IIb trial to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic electrochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer’. EudraCT: 2018-003925-27.
Lead Researcher: Dr Francesco Izzo, G. Pascale Foundation National Institute of Tumours IRCCS, Naples.

Phase I/II trial - feasibility and safety of a new surgical technology: electrochemotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Lead Researcher: Dr Francesco Izzo, G. Pascale Foundation National Institute of Tumours IRCCS, Naples.

International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT). European registry made up of 39 centres, created with the aim of offering better treatment to patients by publishing high-quality research and creating a network of continuing education.

Multi-centre prospective registry of electrochemotherapy in patients with cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases from breast cancer. Coordinated by: Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS (IOV - Veneto Institute of Oncology), Padua.
Participating Centres: 14, GISEL group (Italian Senology Group for Electrochemotherapy).

Electrochemotherapy registry in bone metastases. Coordinated by: Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute IRCCS, Bologna.
Participating Centres: 11, REINBONE group (European Registry of Electrochemotherapy in Bone).

Platinum plus bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy in vulvar cancer: the Electra Platinum Randomised Study.
S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna.

Electrochemotherapy of advanced, inoperable or recurrent cervical cancer and of vaginal cancer or vaginal metastases from endometrial, cervical or ovarian cancer: a descriptive observational study.
Lead Researcher: Dr Mustafa Zelal Muallem, Charité, Berlin, Germany.

Gene therapy research

Pre-Clinical Studies

OPENCORONA "Rapid vaccine development through Open novel Corona Virus Vaccine Platform".
The project funded by the European Commission involves the development of a DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 delivered by electroporation.
Lead researcher: Prof. Matti Sällberg, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.

STEG 3 project: development of a new safe and low-cost gene therapy for glycogen storage disease type 3 (GSDIII) based on electro-gene-transfer (EGT) systems.
Lead researcher: Dr.ssa Rossella Franconi, Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Technologies and Methodologies for Health Protection Division, ENEA, Rome.

GET-NEO: Gene-Electro-Transfer of Neoepitopes.
Partecipants: Takis Srl; IGEA SpA.

Clinical Trials

Randomized single-blind study: EPIC (ElectroPoration In a Clinical setting) trial is a single-center, single-blind, randomized study to assess the tolerability and safety of intramuscular administration of a sterile saline solution followed by electroporation at two different low-voltage electrical conditions delivered by the Cliniporator® device in Healthy Volunteers.
Lead researcher: Prof. Marina Elena Cazzaniga, Phase 1 – Research Centre & University of Milano-Bicocca

Phase I/II clinical trial: “A Phase I/II study to assess the safety and immunogenicity of COVID-eVax, a candidate plasmid DNA vaccine for COVID-19, in healthy adult volunteers.” EudraCT Number: 2020-003734-20.
Centers: National Institute of Tumours IRCCS – G. Pascale Foundation, Naples, National Institute on Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, Rome and San Gerardo Hospital, Monza.

Creation of a multiregional infrastructure (Italian Regenerative Medicine Infrastructure or IRMI) for the development of advanced therapies aimed at organ and tissue regeneration. Project Code: CTN01_00177_888744.
Scientific Lead Researcher: Prof. Laura Calzà, CIRI-SDV and Fabit University of Bologna, IRET ONLUS Foundation - Bologna Technology Park.

Prospective randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multi-centre trial to evaluate the efficacy of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (elf-mf) in patients with acute-phase cerebral ischemia. Code: I-NIC ClinicalTrial.gov. ID: NCT02767778.
Centre Coordinator: Prof. Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Biomedical Campus of Rome.

Evaluation of the efficacy and feasibility of the combination of sclerotherapy with bleomycin and electroporation (electrosclerotherapy) in the treatment of vascular malformations.
Lead Researcher: Dr Tobian Muir, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.

Prospective Study on Effectiveness, Technical Feasibility and Safety of Reversible Electroporation in Sclerotherapy of Patients with Peripheral Symptomatic Vascular Malformations.
Lead Researcher: Prof. Walter A. Wohlgemuth, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany.

IGEA Research Activities

Orthopaedic & traumatological research

Oncological research

Gene therapy research

Research in other sectors