Preclinical research
Researchers working at the ENU have originally developed most of the available animal models of CIPN using different drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, bortezomib, epothilones, etc).
Also effective in vitro screening models are available. Adult and embryonic cellular systems are used to investigate CIPN pathogenesis and to test neuroprotective drugs.
Clinical research
ENU head, Prof. Cavaletti, is the leader of an international clinical study group focused on CIPN formerly known as CI-PeriNomS group and now extended into the ICVAS study group.
ENU members comprise physicians who are involved in clinical trials focused on CIPN. The main studies which are active right now are:
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ICAVS (NCT04633655): the International CIPN Assessment and Validation Study (ICAVS) aimed at assessing clinimetric issues in CIPN detection and its epidemiological characteristics
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CIPN COST (NCT04986891): an health economics study on CIPN
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NEUPER study (NCT05088681): a study on the role of physical therapy in CIPN mitigation
CIPN clinical research studies are carried out at Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori