The research activities of the UNICAM group involved in the project and coordinated by Professor Roberta Censi, a lecturer at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, focus on the development of new biomaterials for the decontamination of heavy metals and nanosystems for restoring metal homeostasis and releasing drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.
The LIFE MERCURY-FREE project addresses the issue of environmental contamination by mercury from traditionally underestimated sources, related to the use and improper disposal of obsolete but still commonly used items containing mercury, such as batteries, light bulbs, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, etc. Mercury, now present at alarming concentrations in the atmosphere, water, and soil, has been identified as an etiological agent for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, which currently show exponential growth and represent the leading causes of disability and death.
The project’s goal is to raise awareness in civil society, the scientific community, and institutions about the problem of mercury environmental contamination and its impacts on human health through communication and dissemination activities. This aims to create awareness, change behavioral habits, and implement good waste management practices. The expected medium to long-term impact is to reduce mercury contamination, promoting the health and well-being of citizens. Project activities include the creation of digital information platforms, international marathons, and Summer Schools.
In addition to UNICAM, research institutes and companies from Europe and beyond participate in the project, including Lodz University (Poland), which coordinates the project, the Akademia Gorniczo-Hutnicza Im. Stanislawa Staszica W in Krakow (Poland), the University of Evora (Portugal), Lviv Polytechnic National University, and Ivano-Frankivsk Academy of Ivan Zolotoustoy University (Ukraine), Innovation Hive (Greece), and Virtual Angle (Netherlands). The UNICAM researchers involved in this project are Professor Roberta Censi, Dr. Cristina Casadidio (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products), Professor Rita Giovannetti, Dr. Marco Zannotti, and Dr. Stefano Ferraro (School of Sciences and Technologies).
