“My secondment took place from February 15th to March 16th at the Lipids, Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular diseases laboratory at IRCCS MultiMedica Milano, Italia, working under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Alberico Catapano. This enrichment experience has significantly
contributed to my professional growth and expertise. My time at the IRCCS MultiMedica provided a unique opportunity to develop some skills for the lipoproteins research. I have actively participated in projects carried out in the laboratory, aiming to understand how to use the data and how they can be used for the benefit of the patient as well as of the science. I was trained in the work with databases, and how to introduce data of various patients, in order to develop a prevention system for patients at high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Working closely with Sara Matteucci, I gained expertise in isolating lipoprotein fractions using fast-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) from human plasma. These FPLC fractions were subsequently investigated by various techniques, such as a western blot analysis in order to identifying a specific form of PCSK9 that interacts with lipoproteins, and to identify modified forms of PCSK9. During the laboratory experiments, I was fortunate to have the support of Francesco Maria Esposito, whose technique and expertise proved indispensable. In addition to the practical. knowledge that I acquired, fruitful scientific discussions with Francesco made these interactions even more productive.
Activities carried out: collection and processing of blood samples (these samples were then processed to obtain plasma, serum, and buffy coat samples, creating a valuable biobank for in-depth analyses); patient selection process understanding: visits were made to two hospitals (Bassini Hospital and IRCCS MultiMedica Hospital in Sesto San Giovanni) to understand the criteria for selecting patients for the studies, involving scoring methods derived from analyses and completing the questionnaire with doctors (Professor Paolo Magni allowed us to have a direct exposure to patients IRCCS MultiMedica and helped me to better understand a clinical trial).
I consider this experience truly transformative, and I am grateful for the knowledge I gained at IRCCS MultiMedica. This secondment has significantly enhanced my expertise in lipid metabolism and lipoprotein analysis, a cutting-edge biomedical research domain. The meticulous planning and execution of clinical trials involving direct interaction with patients and sample processing has expanded my insight into the critical role of clinical research.”
Dr Radu Ioanita, Postdoctoral researcher from the ICBP
“During my one-month secondment at IRCCS Multimedica in Milan, I had the opportunity to work and learn under the esteemed supervision of Prof. Alberico Catapano. I learned to perform the separation of lipoprotein fractions using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) from human serum. Throughout the wet-lab experiments, I was expertly assisted by Francesco Maria Esposito, whose technical skill and expertise were invaluable. Professor Catapano involved me in clinical trials, providing a comprehensive understanding of translational research IRCCS Multimedica.
Professor Paolo Magni enabled us to attend a clinical visit at the IRCCS MultiMedica Hospital in Sesto San Giovanni, offering a firsthand experience with patients and a broader perspective on the clinical trial process and the overarching goal of medical research—to improve people’s well-being. Additionally, I contributed to processing blood samples from enrolled patients, involving centrifugation of whole blood, aliquoting serum and plasma, and isolating PBMCs using a Ficoll gradient centrifugation.
Overall, I believe that this experience was transformative and I’m very thankful for everything I’ve learned at IRCCS MultiMedica. This secondment deepened my proficiency in proteomic analysis, a complex field that stands at the forefront of biomedical research. Moreover, seeing how clinical trials are planned and run, including working with patients and processing samples, really broadened my understanding of how important clinical research is showing me how discoveries in the lab can make a difference in patient care, highlighting the vital connection between research and real-world medical improvements.“
Dr Razvan Macarie, Posdoctoral researcher from ICBP
