Human Technopole’s National Facilities: New Call Opens with +36% in Proposals so far

Human Technopole’s National Facilities have launched their third round of access, starting 1 October 2025, inviting researchers to submit proposals for access to cutting-edge technologies in genomics, genome engineering, structural biology, light imaging, and data analysis. The opening comes in a context of strong momentum: since mid-2024, the National Facilities have received 293 proposals in total, with a 36% rise between the pilot and the first call, granting access to 184 projects with a success rate above 60%.

The new call builds on a trajectory of growth that is positioning Human Technopole’s National Facilities as a strategic reference infrastructure for the Italian research system, with growing participation and increasing capacity to accommodate demand.

Human Technopole’s National Facilities Scientific Impact

Following its launch in June 2024, Human Technopole’s National Facilities continue attracting excellent research projects from Italy’s life sciences community.

Success rates by call

• Pilot call (24-PILOT): 124 proposals, 102 approved (82% success rate)
• First call (25-ROUND-1): 169 proposals, 82 approved (49% success rate)

Regional distribution and researchers’ profile (25-ROUND-1):

The 25-ROUND-1 call attracted submissions from across Italy, with a healthy level of engagement and comparable success rates across regions, highlighting both strong participation and broad access.

• North: 130 applications (77% of total), 48% success rate
• Centre: 23 applications (14% of total), 48% success rate
• South: 16 applications (9% of total), 56% success rate

While the majority of applications were submitted by researchers affiliated with institutions in Northern Italy, the most significant growth was observed in submissions from the Centre and South. These regions nearly doubled their number of project proposals, highlighting aclear increase in engagement.

Moreover, the programme continues to attract both established and emerging researchers, with 32% of proposals led by Junior PIs and 34% of approved projects awarded to them, confirming support for the next generation of scientific leaders.

Gender balance and participation of women researchers (25-ROUND-1)

The data from 25-ROUND-1 confirm an overall gender balance in participation and success rates. Notably, women play an even more prominent role among Junior PIs, with higher submission and approval rates:

• Submitted (all PIs): 51% female | 49% male
• Granted (all PIs): 50% female | 50% male
• Submitted (Junior PIs only): 57% female | 43% male
• Granted (Junior PIs only): 61% female | 39% male

Breakdown of proposals by facility (25-ROUND-1):

The overall increase in participation was matched by a sustained interest in all technology platforms, demonstrating the broad relevance of the services offered.

• Genomics: 99 submitted, 33 granted
• Genome Engineering & Disease Modelling: 8 submitted, 3 granted
• Data Handling & Analysis: 13 submitted, 12 granted
• Structural Biology: 39 submitted, 25 granted
• Light Imaging: 10 submitted, 9 granted

Distribution by scientific area (25-ROUND-1):

Looking at the distribution of the proposals by scientific area highlights the diversity of research supported by the National Facilities.

• Cancer: 53
• Other (human biology, cell biology): 32
• Human diseases: 17
• Neurodegenerative disorders: 17
• Neuromuscular diseases: 12
• Infectious diseases and pathogen regulation: 10
• Cardiovascular diseases: 6
• Genetic disease: 6
• Inflammation and inflammatory diseases: 5
• Plant studies: 4
• Developmental disorders: 3
• Evolutionary animal studies: 3
• Population and medical genomics: 1

The full list of projects approved for access through the 25-ROUND-1 calls is available at the following link.

Human Technopole’s Commitment to Scientific Innovation

Since their launch, the National Facilities of Human Technopole have provided open and subsidised access to cutting-edge technologies in genomics, genome engineering, structural biology, light imaging, and data analysis. This supports both established and emerging scientists to turn their ideas into significant discoveries and demonstrates the effectiveness of a competitive and transparent access model that generates scientific value. All applications are evaluated by the independent Standing Independent Evaluation Committee, ensuring fair and merit-based access.

Through these opportunities, Human Technopole remains committed to fostering scientific excellence, training, and technological development, while reinforcing the competitiveness of the national research ecosystem and contributing to the long-term capacity of the Italian life sciences system.

Explore how we are supporting the growth of Italian life sciences and submit your application here.