PoliRNA: two awards for innovation in RNA therapies
A double success for PoliRNA, the Politecnico spin-off founded by Professor Valeria Chiono, Dr Letizia Nicoletti, CEO of PoliRNA and post-doctoral researcher, and engineer Giovanni Paolo Stola, doctoral student at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering-DIMEAS. The spin-off has recently claimed first place in two prestigious competitions dedicated to innovation and technology transfer.
PoliRNA won the first award at the Tournament of Ideas, as part of the Ancalau Prize, held on 21 June in Bosia, in the Langhe hills of the Cuneo area. After evaluating 57 applications and selecting five finalists, the jury awarded PoliRNA the Grand Prix Fontanafredda.
The company aims to develop a new generation of RNA therapies for heart regeneration, based on innovative nanovectors that safely and efficiently deliver therapeutic molecules to target cells. A frontier technology that opens new possibilities in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and other conditions with high social impact.
The award also carries particular significance given the context in which it was born. "Ancalau" is a term from the dialect of the Alta Langa that describes someone who has the courage to dare, to innovate and to overcome their own hesitations. Since 2014, the Ancalau Prize has championed young entrepreneurial ideas and high-impact projects, becoming a national reference point for innovation and sustainable development.
PoliRNA's achievements did not stop there. This year, the spin-off also won first place at the GeneRNAtion Challenge, an initiative promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo in collaboration with the National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology. The competition selected eight startups and three research projects active across the ten Spokes of the National Centre. Among these, PoliRNA stood out by taking the top spot, securing funding as well as entry into the Foundation's network. A recognition that will help strengthen the spin-off's growth trajectory and its role within the public-private ecosystem dedicated to the development of RNA technologies in Italy.
The two awards confirm the scientific and entrepreneurial value of PoliRNA and reflect the growing interest in RNA technologies as innovative therapeutic tools.
"We are very proud of these awards, which confirm the scientific value of the technology developed by PoliRNA and the potential of RNA therapies in the field of regenerative medicine. – says Professor Valeria Chiono – "These results are the result of a team effort involving researchers and students at Politecnico di Torino, alongside collaborators from other universities, research centers and organizations in the biomedical sector. I would like to thank in particular Letizia Nicoletti and Giovanni Paolo Stola, co-founders of PoliRNA, and everyone who contributed to the development of the technology and the growth of the spin-off. These awards represent an important incentive to continue along the path of technology transfer, with the goal of turning research results into innovative solutions for patient care".
- Immagine
NomeElena Quagliato, Director of the Centro Nazionale per lo Sviluppo di Terapia Genica e Farmaci con Tecnologia a RNADidascaliaPhoto credits: Elena Quagliato – Centro Nazionale per lo Sviluppo di Terapia Genica e Farmaci con Tecnologia a RNA - Immagine
NomeLetizia Nicoletti, CEO and co-founder of PoliRNA, presents the technology developed by the spin-off during the panel dedicated to research transfer to industryDidascaliaPhoto credits: Elena Quagliato – Centro Nazionale per lo Sviluppo di Terapia Genica e Farmaci con Tecnologia a RNA
