1. Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, which includes seven professors in the scientific disciplinary sector MEDS02/A (C. Domenicotti, B. Marengo, M. Nitti, S. Penco, R. Ricciarelli, S. Tirendi, and S. Vernazza) and two professors in the scientific disciplinary sector MEDS02/B (A.L. Furfaro and N. Traverso).
The Laboratory studies the pathogenetic mechanisms of various age-related diseases, including diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Particular attention is paid to cellular pathology induced by oxidative stress and, specifically, to the role of alterations in redox balance in modulating the activity of signaling molecules (kinases, transcription factors, stress proteins). With regard to neoplastic diseases, the Laboratory is involved in the study of tumor chemoresistance mechanisms and the development of innovative three-dimensional (3D) models for the analysis of neoplastic progression and responses to treatment. In the field of neurodegenerative diseases, the Laboratory has been conducting research for many years on the pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, with a particular focus on the functional role of β-amyloid in the biochemical and electrochemical processes involved in synaptic plasticity. In addition, another line of research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in controlling the pro-inflammatory activation of microglia. A new line of research is focused on studying the pathogenetic mechanisms of glaucoma and associated degenerative processes. Moreover, there is a line of research aimed at identifying prognostic biomarkers in the field of cardiovascular and neoplastic pathology.
Some members of the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Laboratory (C. Domenicotti, B. Marengo, S. Penco, R. Ricciarelli, S. Tirendi, N. Traverso, and S. Vernazza) are affiliated with the 3R Center (Italian Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3R Principles in Teaching and Research, www.centro3R.it).

The laboratory located at Via L.B. Alberti, 2 occupies 470 m² and is used for the following activities: 
1) cell cultures (laboratory for handling group 1 and 2 biological agents)
2) handling of genetically modified microorganisms (class 1 MOGM laboratory)
3) handling of radioisotopes
4) molecular biology
5) biochemistry
6) HPLC
7) fluorescence microscopy

Equipment available: The laboratory is equipped with all the necessary equipment for the research activities carried out, including bench centrifuges, refrigerators at 4 °C, -20 °C, and -80 °C, laminar flow hoods, CO₂ incubators, thermocyclers, spectrophotometers, HPLC systems, transilluminator, phase contrast microscopes, and a fluorescence microscope.
 

2. Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology (LICS), located at the IRCSS Istituto G. Gaslini in Genoa, which includes two professors in the scientific disciplinary sector MEDS-02/A (C. Cantoni, G.M. Spaggiari) and one professor in the scientific disciplinary sector BIOS-13/A (R. Castriconi).
The Laboratory studies the innate immune response in humans under physiological and pathological conditions in order to clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms and the role of immune system cells in tumors, infections, and immunodeficiencies. The research activity is translational and aims to develop new diagnostic protocols and therapeutic approaches.
The Laboratory is run by the university and includes affiliated university staff, hospital staff, contractors, fellows, PhD students, and thesis students.

The laboratory covers an area of approximately 190 m² and includes rooms for:
1) cell cultures and flow cytometry (52 m²)
2) molecular biology and biochemistry (66 m²)
3) various instruments (28 m²)
4) cryopreservation -80/liquid nitrogen (10 m²)
5) studies (34 m²)

Equipment available: The LICS is equipped with all the necessary equipment for the activities carried out, such as laminar flow hoods, CO₂ incubators, bench centrifuges, optical and inverted microscopes, refrigerators (4, -20, and -80°C), and, among the large equipment, 1 ultracentrifuge and 1 image analyzer.
 

3. Translational research laboratory in the field of Tumor Immunology. It is located at the San Martino Polyclinic, where three professors from the scientific disciplinary sector MEDS-02/A – General Pathology (G. Ferlazzo, G. Pietra, and C. Vitale) work.

The Laboratory studies Natural Killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes, which are the main effectors of anti-tumor immunity. Research activities are mainly focused on the following topics: immunobiology of solid tumors; differentiation and functions of NK cells and Innate Lymphoid Cells; study of the tumor microenvironment in the context of innate and acquired immunity.

In addition, the Laboratory is engaged in identifying new immunotherapeutic approaches for neoplastic diseases, including the evaluation of possible therapeutic synergies capable of increasing therapeutic efficacy and the search for biomarkers predictive of response to immunotherapy treatments.

The laboratory, measuring approximately 250 m², is used for the following activities:
1) Cell cultures with BL2 containment level
2) Immunohistochemistry
3) Molecular biology
4) Flow cytometry
5) Confocal microscopy

Equipment available: The laboratory is equipped with all the necessary equipment for the activities carried out, such as laminar flow hoods, CO₂ incubators, bench centrifuges, optical and inverted microscopes, refrigerators (4, -20, and -80°C), and, among the large instruments, flow cytometers, multicytokine readers, and high-resolution microscopes.