BIONIKE RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE IEO-MONZINO ETS FOUNDATION

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, BioNike renews its support for the IEO-MONZINO ETS Foundation for the third consecutive year as part of the Partner for Research programme, confirming its concrete and ongoing commitment to supporting medical and scientific research and promoting female talent.
For over 30 years, the IEO-MONZINO ETS Foundation has supported the European Institute of Oncology and the Monzino Cardiology Centre, internationally recognised centres of excellence in the field of scientific and clinical research.

Thanks to this collaboration, throughout 2026 we will support the research project conducted by the Microbiome and Antitumour Immunity Laboratory of the European Institute of Oncology, coordinated by Dr Luigi Nezi, dedicated to studying the role of the intestinal microbiome in the mechanisms of response to immunotherapy in patients with melanoma.

​In particular, the support takes the form of funding a scholarship for Dr Arianna Zancuoghi, a young researcher engaged in the development of new therapeutic strategies.
"For BioNike, taking care of the skin means taking care of life in its deepest forms. With this project, we want to contribute to research on skin health and the empowerment of women in science, two areas that are close to our hearts. Supporting a melanoma research project and accompanying a young researcher on her journey is a choice that speaks to the future: we believe in the power of female talent and in the value of scientific progress for a better present and future."

Marianna Granata
​Marketing & Communication Director, BioNike
Immunotherapy has represented a breakthrough in the treatment of melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. However, a significant proportion of patients do not respond effectively to treatment or experience recurrence. Understanding the factors that influence the immune response is now one of the main challenges in cancer research.

In this context, the gut microbiome is proving to be a key element in modulating the immune system.

The project supported by BioNike, now at a crucial stage of preclinical development, aims to understand how gut microorganisms and their products can “educate” immune cells to recognise and eliminate cancer cells, paving the way for increasingly personalised and effective therapies.
Ricerca
A PhD student at the European School of Molecular Medicine and the University of Milan, Dr Arianna Zancuoghi works within Dr Nezi's team with the aim of characterising T lymphocytes that respond to bacterial protein fragments, in order to evaluate their potential therapeutic use not only in melanoma, but also in other types of cancer.
By funding Dr Arianna Zancuoghi's scholarship, we are continuing our commitment to supporting research on health and women in science with the “Women in Research” project.