NanoGagliato

Last updated April 26, 2019

NanoGagliato is an invitational gathering of scientists, physicians, business leaders, artists, and researchers to discuss the most current challenges and opportunities in the fields of nanomedicine and the nanosciences, from a multisciplinary perspective. This series of events takes place each year, at the end of July, in the town of Gagliato, Calabria, Italy.

Nanomedicine the medical application of nanotechnology

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology such as biological machines. Current problems for nanomedicine involve understanding the issues related to toxicity and environmental impact of nanoscale materials.

Nanotechnology ("nanotech") is manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for fabrication of macroscale products, also now referred to as molecular nanotechnology. A more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. This definition reflects the fact that quantum mechanical effects are important at this quantum-realm scale, and so the definition shifted from a particular technological goal to a research category inclusive of all types of research and technologies that deal with the special properties of matter which occur below the given size threshold. It is therefore common to see the plural form "nanotechnologies" as well as "nanoscale technologies" to refer to the broad range of research and applications whose common trait is size. Because of the variety of potential applications, governments have invested billions of dollars in nanotechnology research. Through 2012, the USA has invested $3.7 billion using its National Nanotechnology Initiative, the European Union has invested $1.2 billion, and Japan has invested $750 million.

Gagliato is a village and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. In recognition of the unique role that the town has come to play as an international magnet for global leaders in nanotechnology, and as host of the NanoGagliato events, Gagliato has received the official appellation of “Paese delle NanoScienze”, town of Nanosciences, attributed by the City Council.

Format

During two days of intense scientific exchanges, the participants to NanoGagliato address the challenges of translating research to the clinic by deploying technological advances born in the field of nanotechnology. On the last two days of the event, the group goes on excursions of renowned localities in Calabria and neighboring regions.

Clinic Health care facility, primarily focused on the care of outpatients

A clinic is a healthcare facility that is primarily focused on the care of outpatients. Clinics can be privately operated or publicly managed and funded. They typically cover the primary healthcare needs of populations in local communities, in contrast to larger hospitals which offer specialised treatments and admit inpatients for overnight stays.

Public session

The culminating event of NanoGagliato is a town-hall style meeting, traditionally attended by hundreds of people of all ages from Gagliato and neighboring towns. The event is organized in concert with local citizens' associations and public institutions, and is held in Gagalito's town square. Highlights of the attending scientists' research are presented. Time is reserved for an open Q&A session, where members of the public are encouraged to ask about the impact of the presented research, the promise for new treatments for disease, and any ethical concerns.

A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, piazza, plaza, and town green.

Disease abnormal condition negatively affecting organisms

A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of part or all of an organism, and that is not due to any external injury. Diseases are often construed as medical conditions that are associated with specific symptoms and signs. A disease may be caused by external factors such as pathogens or by internal dysfunctions. For example, internal dysfunctions of the immune system can produce a variety of different diseases, including various forms of immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, allergies and autoimmune disorders.

Medical ethics system of moral principles of the practice of medicine

Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values to the practice of clinical medicine and in scientific research. Medical ethics is based on a set of values that professionals can refer to in the case of any confusion or conflict. These values include the respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. Such tenets may allow doctors, care providers, and families to create a treatment plan and work towards the same common goal. It is important to note that these four values are not ranked in order of importance or relevance and that they all encompass values pertaining to medical ethics. However, a conflict may arise leading to the need for hierarchy in an ethical system, such that some moral elements overrule others with the purpose of applying the best moral judgement to a difficult medical situation.

Sessions

Founding session

The first NanoGagliato was convened in 2008 by Mauro Ferrari , Ph.D, with the help of his wife, Paola, and hosted at his summer residence in Gagliato. Attendees were asked to provide their own transportation. Several countries were represented, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the United States, and France. Hospitality was kindly provided by local private residents.

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south.

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country located mostly on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is the westernmost sovereign state of mainland Europe, being bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain. Its territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, both autonomous regions with their own regional governments.

Establishment of L'Accademia di Gagliato delle Nanoscienze

At the end of the first NanoGagliato, the participants agreed to establish a non profit association, named L'Accademia di Gagliato delle Nanoscienze, and its children's chapter, La Piccola Accademia. These associations are now the organizers of the events of NanoGagliato, and are supported by donations of individuals and corporations.

A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is dedicated to furthering a particular social cause or advocating for a shared point of view. In economic terms, it is an organization that uses its surplus of the revenues to further achieve its ultimate objective, rather than distributing its income to the organization's shareholders, leaders, or members. Nonprofits are tax exempt or charitable, meaning they do not pay income tax on the money that they receive for their organization. They can operate in religious, scientific, research, or educational settings.

Successive sessions

During the 2010 session, four scholarships were awarded to four young Italian researchers in the field of biomedical engineering, in honor of Prof. Salvatore Venuta, the late Magnifico Rettore of the Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro. As part of the award, the finalists were invited to join the NanoGagliato events alongside the scientists.

Children's activities

La Piccola Accademia di Gagliato is the children's chapter of the L' Accademia di Gagliato. The first series of educational activities for schoolchildren was launched in the summer of 2010. Inspired by the NanoDays developed by the NISE (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network), La Piccola Accademia organized a lively and very successful program including games, presentations, trading cards, and a Q&A session with the scientists. Approximately fifty children from Gagliato and nearby towns attended the first session.

Recognition of Gagliato

In recognition of the unique role that the town of Gagliato has come to play as an international magnet for global leaders in nanotechnology, and as host of the NanoGagliato events, Gagliato has received the official appellation of “Paese delle NanoScienze”, town of Nanosciences, attributed by the City Council.

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References

External links

NanoGagliato - Official website
Correre della Sera - Il paese dove si immagina il futuro - September 2010 (Italian)
Biofutur - NanoGagliato : la technoscience autrement - October 2010 (French)
Piccola Accademia di Gagliato - Official website

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