It is historically active in the fields of molecular genetics, plant physiology, cell biology and plant biotechnology. Data analysis and bionformatics activities related to the analysis of animal and plant genomes have recently been added.
The Headquarters is equipped with all the necessary equipment for the development and execution of cell biology, biochemistry and molecular genetics studies, including various specialized laboratories. Of particular note is the availability of plant growth facilities to grow plants under controlled conditions, for plant tissue culture and microalgae cultivation (in collaboration with IBF).
The IBBA headquarters in Milan also hosts the FOODCODE platform for food genetic authentication.
The Lodi site, located within the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences at the University of Milan, conducts research in animal science, focusing on livestock production systems. Its activities include the conservation and valorization of animal biodiversity and genetic resources—also through the Animal Germplasm Cryobank—as well as the study of reproductive processes and male fertility.
The site applies advanced genomics, epigenomics, and metagenomics approaches to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying phenotypic traits and adaptation, including DNA methylation, small RNA, transcriptomic, and microbiome analyses. Within a One Health framework, research activities also address the prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
It is mainly engaged in the study of the nutraceutical characteristics of agri-food products through in vitro and in vivo tests on animal models. Other lines of activity concern the analysis of the intestinal microbiome in relation to diet, the physiology of stress in plants and the study of the dynamics of mycorrhizal-arbuscular populations.
The Pisa Research Unit has several specialized laboratories available: for cell cultures, molecular biology, biochemistry, for microbiological and mutagenicity and genotoxicity analyses.
This IBBA Research Unit studies model and crop plants to characterize the genetic determinants, and the endogenous and environmental stimuli, that regulate the processes of development, cell differentiation and stress response for genetic improvement in agriculture and for environmental sustainability.
This Research Unit is fully equipped with laboratories for the development and execution of research in molecular biology, plant physiology and “omics” sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics), and include a laboratory of microscopy, one of micropropagation for in vitro culture under aseptic conditions, and three growth chambers for plant growth under controlled conditions.
