from the site www.arti.puglia.it
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| Echolight: the new frontier of diagnosis of osteoporosis A software to detect vertebral fractures and an ultrasound system for characterizing bone strength of the spine and allow the diagnosis of osteoporosis: this is the idea of \u200b\u200bEcholight, the winners of the Cup Start Puglia 2009, which touched the victory of the National Award for Innovation, reaching the top ten finalists. An idea that starts with Lecce, but which has already pocketed the ticket for the Silicon Valley. We interviewed for you Sergio Casciaro, Director of the Division of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Lecce and creator of Echolight. Interview Francesca Tondi | |
| What is it and how did Echolight? Echolight is the idea behind the business plan that has participated in the 2009 Start Cup Puglia, allowing you to win the first prize of 15,000 €. The company intends to develop non-invasive medical devices for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. The project started some years ago and was given to the proposal for funding under the EU Framework Programme for research, but unfortunately on this occasion was not funded, but we persevered in obtaining the necessary funds for the development of these devices, molto vicini al mercato più che alla ricerca. L’innovazione solida e vera nasce sempre dalla competenza e, in tal caso, dall’esperienza pluriennale nell’ambito della bioingegneria. Il resto deriva dall’intuizione del singolo, dal lampo di genio che fornisce la soluzione al problema. Tutto ciò che rimane sottostante alla nascita dell’idea, è un processo del tutto misterioso e rappresenta il vero punto di partenza. Qual è l’innovazione alla base di Echolight e quali sono le possibili applicazioni della vostra scoperta? Echolight makes the idea of \u200b\u200bthe fundamental innovations in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in terms of effectiveness and costs: diagnosis by ultrasound, we propose makes it possible to provide accurate information about the status of bone density in the column spinal and other site-specific clinical reference. There are already other ultrasound systems, which, however, analyze peripheral sites and therefore not as effective as that of Echolight. Currently, the examination of specific reference sites which usually start in the bone disease, such as the spine or the femoral neck, occurs only through X-rays, but because of the risk due to the use of ionizing radiation, the test can be done only every two years. Echolight The diagnostic kit that aims to develop, however, is inexpensive, non-invasive, harmless. Furthermore, while the X-ray survey (Dexa through the system) can be carried out only in hospitals or centers, the system could also be broadcast Echolight pharmacies, allowing patients to carry out frequent and without risks . What is the investment required to develop the idea of \u200b\u200bEcholight? Purtroppo le idee ad alto contenuto tecnologico spesso necessitano di grandi investimenti per essere realizzate: è questo il caso di Echolight, che necessita di circa tre milioni di euro. Per perseguire questa strada, dunque, abbiamo deciso di partecipare a competizioni per il finanziamento: prima tra tutte la Start Cup Puglia, che ci ha portato alla vittoria del primo premio e alla partecipazione al Premio Nazionale per l’Innovazione a Perugia, dove siamo rientrati nella classifica dei primi dieci finalisti risultati e primi in classifica per quanto riguarda le iniziative nel biomedicale (seguiti da Osteoinvent, la seconda classificata alla Start Cup Puglia); then the venture camp "Mind the Bridge" in Milan, in which we ranked nationally and have been selected to participate in the final of the MTB Business Plan Competition, the main event to be held in Silicon Valley spring of 2010. A shower of awards, then. Who are the group of people who allowed this? Echolight's strength is probably the group that comprises: a part of ricerca ed un’anima commerciale. Il progetto è in cantiere già dal 2003 e ha avuto una lunga gestazione, dovuta sia alle necessità di compiere ulteriori approfondimenti scientifici che alla mancanza di fonti di finanziamento. Poi, in giro per l’Italia per conferenze, l’idea di Echolight ha incontrato l’interesse di due fratelli imprenditori di Imola, Matteo e Stefano Pernisa, con esperienza nel settore medicale e della densitometria ossea. Il gruppo di ricerca, invece, è composto dal sottoscritto, da Francesco Conversano e da Ernesto Casciaro, tutti operanti nell’Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica del CNR di Lecce. What motivated you to participate in the Puglia Start Cup 2009? First of all a moral duty to be present in Puglia and visibility in the area. And the insight he has given us reason, since the victory of the competition, in addition to the € 15,000 prize that will be used to cover part of the costs of incorporation, has enabled us to meet Bari enlightened entrepreneurs, which could finance. Furthermore, it constituted an important opportunity to "certify" the idea and give it legs on which her first steps. Initiatives such as the Start Cup Puglia can help to encourage young people to do business in Puglia? Unfortunately, in Puglia, the enterprise culture is weak and the entrepreneurial skills of young people are still too immature or unexpressed. Consider, in fact, that event in Milan Mind The Bridge, was the only company selected Echolight south of Rome. I believe, therefore, that we need to cultivate the soil for a long time and that initiatives such as the Start Cup will contribute to that aim. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in Puglia? The benefits derive from the beauty of the earth and climate that favor the generation of ideas and ensure a good quality of life. But the disadvantages arising from the difficulty in doing research and the weakness of a business structure in which to assert it. is often necessary to migrate: I also did research abroad, returning to Italy, I learned about the precarious. Back in Puglia, then, with great difficulty, but also with much enthusiasm, I had to build everything from the basics: from the laboratory, training of staff, to come in search of funding. The figure of the researcher, today, has changed: it must be in step with the times, possess initiative and dynamism. The same dynamics that led to the CERN in Geneva, EPFL and then again at the center in the U.S. NIH. What are the next steps? Certainly, the Silicon Valley with Echolight. And then, the road is still to go. | |
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