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The Center for Advanced Research in Photobiology (CARP): a joint initiative of the European Society for Photobiology, the Italian Society for Photobiology and the University of Sassari

1. Statement formalizing the foundation of CARP

Today, October 16, 1990, Professor Antonio Milella (Rettore Magniflco of the University of Sassari), Professor Herbert Hiinigsmann (President of the European Society for Photobiology) and Professor Francesco Dall’Acqua (President of the Italian Society for Photobiology) met in the office of the Rector of the University of Sassari in order to formalize the foundation of a Center for Advanced Research in Photobiology (acronym, CARP).

The centre is scientifically and technically supported by the University of Sassari, where it is hosted, as well as by the European and Italian Societies for Photobiology. The initiative is developed within a European framework of multidisciplinary cooperation, involving both basic and applied research in the field of photobiology, and also the training of investigators with expertise in photobiology.

The three partners will undertake all possible actions to ensure that the CARP can begin operation as soon as possible. With this aim in mind, the University of Sassari will support the initiative by hosting the CARP on its existing site and sponsoring the incorporation of CARP into CO.RI.SA. (Consorzio Ricerche Sardegna), which is located at Tramariglio-Alghero and has established a specific agreement with the University of Sassari.

Antonio Milella Herbert HBnigsmann

Francesco DaU’Acqua

2. The European Society for Photobiology (ESP) and the Center for Advanced Research in Photobiology (CARP)

One major goal of ESP, upon its foundation in 1987, was to increase the importance and improve the quality of photobiological research within and outside Europe, in particular, by stimulating the formation of national groups in several European countries and by facilitating the exchange of information among already existing and newly established laboratories. To accomplish these aims, ESP has installed a council of national representatives, established the Joum~ll of Photochemistry and Photobiologg, B: Biology as the official organ of the society, and undertaken the distribution of a regular Newsletter. Ad hoc committees have been formed to address specific problems.

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The successful outcome of these initiatives prompts us to plan further steps. Thus, the Executive Committee of ESP has enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to create a Center for Advanced Research in Photobiology (CARP) within the framework of a large technological park run by the University of Sassari (in the north-western region of Sardinia island). I wish to take this opportunity to express the deep gratitude of ESP to the Rector of the University of Sassari, Professor A. Milella, and to our local member, Professor C. Perria, who originally developed this idea and made its realization possible by offering ESP the site for the location of CARP. The University of Sassari is also actively collaborating with ESP in raising adequate financial support for CARP.

CARP has the statute of a consortium between ESP, the Italian Society for Photobiology and the University of Sassari. A scientific committee, involving representatives of the three partners in the consortium and coordinated by Professor G. Jori, is presently organizing the laboratories and the scientific programme of CARP. If everything proceeds according to schedule, the CARP operation will start by the end of Summer 1991. ESP expects that CARP activities can be developed along two main lines.

(i) The educational programme is centered on Ph.D. course in photobiology (an application for such a course has been made to the Italian Ministry of Research). The programme also includes periodic photobiology schools (one such school was organized in Sassari in October, 1990 and the abstracts of the lectures given at the school are published in this issue of J. Photochem.

Photobiol. B: Biol.).

(ii) Selected research topics will be chosen in the different disciplines of photobiology, on the basis of their beneficial potential for mankind and the possibility of promoting important scientific achievements and techno- logical developments. In this way, close links can hopefully be established between photobiologists and the community at large and between basic investigators and industrial scientists.

I am sure that all ESP members, and especially those scientists who are active in photobiology, will be interested in and give their collaboration to this initiative through which ESP hopes to meet the challenges of emerging technologies and advances in our knowledge of photobiological sciences, and to give a signiilcant contribution to the further growth of photobiology and its impact on society.

Herbert Hijnigsmann Presio!en.t, ESP

3. The role of the Italian Society for Photobiology in the foundation of CARP

The Italian Society for Photobiology was founded in 1956 as the Italian Group of Photobiology by its membership in the Comite Intemationale de

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Photobiologie (now Association Internationale de Photobiologie). At that time, the group had only a few members. In the last decade, however, the Italian Society for Photobiology, through the initiatives of some of its members, has stimulated exchange and cooperation among the members and has promoted the development of photobiology in Italy by organizing national congresses, specialized schools and cultural initiatives. Its aim is also to stimulate and activate international contacts and cooperation and, in this connection, when ESP was founded, the Italian Society for Photobiology actively participated in the organization of ESP and immediately supported the new society.

In line with these cultural goals, when Professors Carlo Perria and Giulio Jori proposed the organization of a Center for Advanced Research in Photo- biology, the Italian Society was immediately involved in the initiative and supported its organization.

The leading role that the Rector of the University of Sassari, Professor Antonio Milella, played in the concrete realization of this project should be stressed. The Rector in fact has included CARP within a large multidisciplinary park, CO.RI.SA (Consorzio Ricerche Sardegna), which is being created in Tramariglio-Alghero, Sardinia.

It should also remembered that without the initial idea and the stimulating action by Professors Carlo Perria and Giulio Jori the project could not have been realized.

Francesco Dall’Acqua President, ISP

4. General information about CARP

The University of Sassari is currently developing a scientific park at Tramariglio, a charming site in close proximity to Alghero Airport and the famous Capo Cacciawith Neptune’s grottos. The park includes several buildings for hosting research centres, as well as libraries, the usual facilities (mechanical shops, animal rooms, a greenhouse, information networks, etc.), conference rooms, a mensa, and a number of small flats for short-term guests of the centres. The original park project involved the formation of three centres, namely agrometeorology, marine biology and molecular genetics. At the beginning of 1990, Carlo Perria, who is Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Sassari and a member of ESP, proposed the addition of a centre for photobiological studies to the scientific park; such a proposal was very favorably accepted by Professor A. Milella, Rector of the University of Sassari. Professor Perria invited the European and Italian Societies for photobiology to become partners of the University of Sassari in the organization of the centre, which was named “Center for Advanced Research in Photo- biology” (CARP). Negotiations between the two photobiology societies and officers of the University of Sassari were undertaken in March 1990 and rapidly came to a positive conclusion. A document formalizing the foundation

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of CARP was signed in Sassari on October 16, 1990 by Professor Milella (Rector of the University of Sassari), Professor Hiinigsmann (President of ESP) and Professor Dall’Acqua (President of BP).

CARP wih be constituted as a consortium of the three above-mentioned partners andwill be incorporated into CO.RI.SA (Consorzio Ricerche Sardegna) together with the other centres in the scientific park. This allows CARP to apply for funds from the regional government of Sardinia, as well as from scientific agencies in Italy and the EEC. Moreover, sponsorship from private institutions is actively sought.

In the preparatory stage, the organization of the activities of CARP, such as the selection of the research lines, the choice of suitable instrumentation, the identification of potential private and public sponsors, etc. has been entrusted to a committee coordinated by G. Jori and involving P. Giacomoni, W. Nultsch, T. G. Truscott and J. van der Leun for ESP, A. Andreoni and F. Dall’Acqua for ISP and P. Deidda, F. Feo, A. Maida and C. Perria for the University of Sassari. It is expected that the activities of CARP will be developed in two main directions.

(i) Education. An application has been made to the Italian Ministry of Research for the creation of a Ph.D. course in photobiology starting with the academic year 1991-1992 (i.e. October, 1991). The course will have a duration of at least three years with no less than 50% of the overall period to be spent in the CARP laboratories at Tramariglio. A limited number of Ph.D. students will receive a salary from the Italian Ministry of Research; fellowships from other organizations can be specifically given to support other students who wish to obtain the doctorate in photobiology at CARP. Moreover, photobiology schools, of both introductory and advanced level, will be periodically organized, together with workshops on emerging topics in the different subspecialities of photobiology.

(ii) Research. The committee is preparing a master list of research subjects in the various fields of photobiology which are of high scientific interest and can attract the attention of sponsors. Priority is given to those topics which are likely to have a large impact for the social community and which can also promote important theoretical and technological developments for photobiology. As of now, three major fields of research have been identified (although this choice is by no means exhaustive). Photoecology: photo- sterilization of waters; photodegradation of pesticides; photopesticides and photoinsecticides; consequences of variations in the thickness of the ozone layer for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Photodermatology: photo- mutagenesis and photocancerogenesis; UV-induced erythema; actinic ageing; UV-induced photoprotection. Photothempy: photodynamic therapy of tumours and other diseases using porphyrins and second generation photosensitizers; phototherapy of skin diseases including psoriasis; extracorporeal photo- chemotherapy and photothermal sensitization.

Other options are being considered, although it is likely that the research activities will be initially focused on a very limited number of topics. However, as CARP is stabilized, its activities will hopefully expand. At present, it is

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foreseen that the laboratoires at Tramariglio will be ready for use by the end of Summer 1991.

Clearly, a great deal of work needs to be done, and we do need the help and advice of alI those who are deeply interested in the promotion of photobiology. Therefore, I urge you to contact me if you wish to have more detailed information about CARP, as well as to send me your ideas and suggestions about research topics, potential sponsors, or other possible activities of CARP. Please address your answers to: G. Jori, Department of Biology, Universit& di Padova, Via Trieste 75, I-35121 Padova, Italy (Fax: 39-49-8072213).

Giulio Jori Coordinator, CARP ScientQic Committee