FONDAZIONE PER LA RICERCA OSPEDALE MAGGIORE DE BERGAMO

Their core work

The Research Foundation of Ospedale Maggiore di Bergamo is a clinical research foundation linked to a major hospital in Bergamo, Italy. They contribute to multi-center clinical trials in cardiology, nephrology, and rare genetic diseases, providing patient recruitment sites and clinical expertise. Their work spans from testing advanced therapies like AAV gene therapy for rare liver diseases to evaluating cardiac interventions such as ECMO for cardiogenic shock. They operate exclusively as a third-party clinical site within larger European research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early projects (2015) focused on chronic conditions — diabetic kidney disease (NEPHSTROM) and cardiac hypertrophy (BETA3_LVH) — using cell therapy and pharmacological approaches. By 2018, they moved toward more acute and advanced interventions: AAV gene therapy for rare genetic liver disease (CureCN) and emergency cardiac care with ECMO (EURO SHOCK). This shift suggests growing involvement in advanced therapeutic modalities and acute care clinical research.

Moving from conventional pharmacological and cell therapy trials toward advanced therapeutics including in vivo gene therapy, indicating readiness for next-generation clinical trial participation.

How they like to work

This foundation participates exclusively as a third party — a clinical trial site contributing patients and clinical data rather than leading scientific direction. With 57 unique partners across 15 countries, they plug into large European consortia without driving them. This makes them a reliable, low-friction clinical partner: they bring hospital infrastructure and patient access without competing for project leadership.

Connected to 57 distinct partners across 15 countries through four projects, reflecting participation in large multi-center trial consortia. Their network is broad but indirect — built through consortium membership rather than direct bilateral relationships.

What sets them apart

As a hospital-based research foundation, they offer something academic labs cannot: direct access to patient populations for clinical trials in a real hospital setting. Their involvement in both rare disease gene therapy and acute cardiac care trials shows versatility across therapeutic areas. For consortium builders needing an Italian clinical site with experience in advanced therapy trials, they are a proven and compliant third-party contributor.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CureCN
  One of the first European clinical trials of AAV gene therapy for Crigler-Najjar syndrome, a rare genetic liver disease with no approved treatment.
• EURO SHOCK
  Addressed a critical gap in evidence for ECMO use in cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction through a large randomised trial.
• NEPHSTROM
  Pioneered allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for diabetic kidney disease in a Phase 1b/2a trial across multiple European centers.