Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Information

About The Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM): TIGEM is a local and international reference for research on human genetic diseases. It was created in 1994 by the Telethon Foundation, one of Italy's major non-profit organizations, to promote the advancement of research aimed at the diagnosis, cure and prevention of human genetic diseases. TIGEM's mission is to understand the mechanisms of genetic diseases and to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies. Since its establishment, the Institute has grown considerably. It now consists of a large fully refurbished site, and comprises 13 independent research groups with over 170 members including graduate students, postdoctorate fellows, technicians and administration. The scope of the science currently covered at TIGEM spans three disease research area: developmental disorders, inborn errors of metabolism and inherited eye diseases. Research approaches include cell biology, functional genomics, systems biology and gene therapy. TIGEM offers training programs in medical and human genetics, in cooperation with local and international universities such as the British Open University. Research activity at TIGEM is supported by core facilities dedicated to providing state-of-the-art technology as well as housekeeping assistance.