Press releases

Imagine a universal translator that, instead of turning English into Italian, can decode the language of the proteins that make up viruses. Such a “translator” already exists: Artificial Intelligence. And it is reshaping the fight against viral diseases, from pandemic preparedness to the development of treatments. This was the key message from international experts who, today in Trieste, outlined the latest frontiers of computational virology during the workshop “AI in Virology: Leveraging AI to Advance Our Understanding of Viruses”, hosted by the Virology Unit of Area Science Park. For decades, the only way to study a virus was to grow it in the laboratory and observe its behaviour — a slow and costly process. Genetics then opened the door to reading its “instruction book”: the genome. Now AI goes further, learning the “grammar” and “syntax” of proteins — the molecular machines that allow a virus to invade cells and replicate. “New language models for proteins are like artificial brains trained on millions of biological sequences,” explains Giuditta De Lorenzo, virologist at Area Science Park. “From a single sequence of amino acids, they can identify which mutations are possible and which would instead ‘break’ the protein. This makes it possible to predict how a newly discovered virus might evolve — a crucial skill if we want to stay ahead of future pandemics. For example, our upcoming research at Area will focus on the impact of viral infection on the cell: how viruses disrupt its contents. And in collaboration with our Data Engineering Laboratory, we will also work on developing vaccines that are more effective, more stable, and designed to take into account the dynamic behaviour of viral particles   Ultra-rapid vaccines thanks to “Reverse Vaccinology 3.0” One of the most tangible impacts of AI will be on the development of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. The so-called “Reverse Vaccinology 3.0” uses AI to instantly analyse the structure of viral proteins and identify their “Achilles’ heel” — the precise point at which antibodies can strike. “The huge advantage of Reverse Vaccinology 3.0,” explains Emanuele Andreano of the Biotecnopolo Foundation in Siena, “is the ability to discover antigens for vaccine candidates at unprecedented speed. Thanks to AI, and to advances in human immunology, it is now possible to quickly identify antibodies capable of killing a pathogen and then, from the antibody sequence, determine the target — the antigen on the surface of the virus or bacterium. This leap allows us to skip years of in vivo testing, understanding from the outset what works and what doesn’t. At the Biotecnopolo Foundation in Siena, our most important mission is to develop vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against viruses or bacteria with pandemic potential, such as the case of the monkeypox virus.” However, as noted at the workshop, this immense computing power comes with very high costs. Behind these breakthroughs are supercomputers that consume enormous amounts of energy. The public must be aware that AI, while extremely powerful, is also very expensive and demands significant investment in infrastructure.   A promising future, but one to be governed with caution The ability to read, interpret, and even “imagine” new proteins is not just an opportunity but also a profound responsibility, experts warned. “We must create shared international rules and robust control frameworks to ensure that this extraordinary scientific revolution is used solely for the benefit of humanity,” stresses Alessandro Marcello, virologist at ICGEB. “We have to consider the dual-use potential of AI, which can be very beneficial for medicine and public health, but could also pose risks if it fell into the wrong hands, given how relatively easy it could become to obtain protocols for producing highly pathogenic viruses. We must act synergistically on multiple levels: among AI developers, within the scientific community, and at the legislative level, to establish laws and regulations that, while not stifling research and innovation, protect society from these potential dangers”.

ScaleUp Lab, the capacity-building programme for technology startups promoted by Area Science Park, which aims to support new technology enterprises in developing solid, sustainable business models ready to engage with international investors. From 9 to 12 September 2025, the Summer School —organised as part of the IP4FVG-EDIH project—marks the first step of the programme: four days of intensive training that combine lectures, assessment activities and hands-on workshops. Key topics will range from open innovation to collaborative R&D models, from financial risk assessment to growth strategies, and from analysing to reinventing business models in highly dynamic markets. A significant moment will be the participation of Alexander Osterwalder, internationally recognised as one of the most influential experts in strategic innovation and co-author with Yves Pigneur of the Business Model Canvas. His presence will offer participants practical tools and proven methodologies to address the challenges of high-tech entrepreneurship and increase their chances of success in the global market. ScaleUp Lab is aimed at startups operating in high- and deep-tech sectors. Participants will have the opportunity not only to refine their skills, but also to embark on a path that will continue from September to December 2025. The programme will conclude in Trieste with Pitch Day, in mid-December, when startups will present their projects to investors and industry experts. The IP4FVG-EDIH project is funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4, Component 2 (M4C2) – Investment 2.3: “Strengthening and broadening the thematic and territorial scope of technology transfer centres for industry segments”, financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project aims to encourage the adoption of digital and green technologies by businesses and public administrations.

Ali Hassanali, a Senior Research Scientist at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), has been awarded a Proof of Concept Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) to explore sustainable, skin-safe UV protection using molecules designed with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The project, CUSHOP (Capturing UV Sunlight Using Hydrogen-Bond Networks: Organic Sun Screens for Skin Protection), will combine generative AI and lab experiments to develop new organic molecules that absorb UVA and UVB rays – the two types of UV light responsible for skin damage. These molecules could be integrated into new sunscreen products, thus addressing rising skin-cancer rates and the growing concerns about the harmful impact of current sunscreens ingredients on marine ecosystems. The project will build on the ground-breaking knowledge and expertise recently developed by Hassanali and his group at ICTP as part of the ongoing ERC-funded, five-year project HyBOP (Hydrogen-Bond Networks as Optical Probes). In the years since its launch in 2022, the project has explored how organic molecules – particularly hydrogen-bonded systems – interact with light. The researchers’ deeper understanding of the molecular characteristics involved in UVA and UVB light absorption will be key in the search for new sun-shielding molecules. The funding will support two post-doctoral positions at ICTP and reinforce the Centre’s inhouse computer resources. The in-silico design of macromolecules using generative models will be carried out in close collaboration with AI experts from the Laboratory of Data Engineering of Area Science Park, coordinated by Alberto Cazzaniga. The group will also work in collaboration with Silvia Marchesan and her team at the University of Trieste to synthesise the AI-designed molecules and test their performance when integrated into sunscreen products. The expertise of a consultant from the skin-cosmetics industry will help explore the possible commercialisation of the result. Other institutions in the science and innovation system of the Trieste region, including SISSA, will be involved at different stages of the project. Hassanali’s CUSHOP is one of the 150 projects selected in 2025 by the ERC as part of their Proof of Concept Grants scheme, which supports ERC grantees in the early phases of the commercialisation or societal application of their pioneering research.