The Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) of the University of Padova seeks project ideas to join and support as partner!

With particular reference to the call HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-11, the research activities involve a multidisciplinary team.

The research activities focus on the biological and biochemical characterization of natural bioactive molecules, particularly those derived from sustainable sources such as food by‑products.

Core expertise includes the functional assessment of complex biomolecules, the study of their biochemical properties, and the development of experimental models to evaluate biologically relevant activities in complex systems.

Additional strengths include the evaluation of growth performance in aquaculture species using morphological and molecular techniques, as well as the assessment of animal welfare through stress-related indicators.

A further research line involves the valorization of sea urchin shell waste for potential biomedical and nutraceutical applications, demonstrating strong capabilities in extracting, analyzing and repurposing marine-derived bioactive compounds.

 The ongoing project on the valorization of commercial sea urchin waste already aligns with several objectives of the call, particularly the use of marine organisms and by‑products to develop sustainable bio-based solutions.

Knowledge areas and targets of interest include:

·        Exploiting the unique biological properties of marine organisms to develop bio‑based, eco‑friendly products.

·        Functional screening and characterization of bioactive marine-derived molecules and natural additives.

 The team can provide advanced biological and biochemical screening to support selection, optimization and industrial valorization processes. This includes the functional assessment of natural biomolecules intended to replace synthetic or potentially hazardous substances.