The PISAMUNAB project aims to develop an innovative and accessible platform for the discovery and characterization of human monoclonal antibodies and single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) for biomedical applications.
The project was selected under the VITALITY Ecosystem initiative, supported by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and NextGenerationEU.
The consortium, led by Diatheva, includes Preclinics Italia, specialized in the design, development and production of Nanobodies® and Toscana Life Sciences, a foundation promoting biotech innovation through research and enterprise incubation.
Platform for Human Monoclonal Antibodies and Nanobody Discovery
Core Objectives:
- Generate a virtual library of antibody sequences from vaccinated or COVID-19 convalescent patients.
- Utilize a naïve phage-display library of nanobodies derived from non-immunized camelids.
- Make the platform and its procedures available to researchers, companies, and stakeholders across the University of Urbino and partner institutions.
Integrated Antibody Development and Characterization Workflow
The project’s success is driven by a seamless synergy between high-level academic and industrial expertise.
Our team is leading the development and characterization of selected antibodies, including recombinant antigen production, bioinformatics/AI-guided CDR selection, VHH-Fc conversion, and biochemical/functional profiling.
This integrated workflow is supported by Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences – MAD Lab, which provides high-potential neutralizing antibodies derived from patient cohorts, and Preclinics Italia, which provides the naïve nanobody library and conducts screening and in vitro maturation of selected nanobodies. The University of Urbino (UniUrb) ensures strategic academic coordination and the and dissemination of methodologies and protocols within the ecosystem.
Through this synergy, Diatheva continues to push the boundaries of biotechnology and bioinformatics to address complex global health challenges.
