New results are out for the Corona Immunitas Ticino project, the epidemiological study launched in 2020 to assess the spread of coronavirus and the development of immunity in the Ticino population. The study, conducted by the Institute of Public Health of Università della Svizzera italiana and the Department of Business Administration, Health and Social Affairs of SUPSI, in collaboration with the EOC and numerous partners in the area, is part of the broader Corona Immunitas research programme, sponsored by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+).

The development of self-driving vehicles is a strategic area moving forward, thanks partly to major investments. Road trials have also taken place in Switzerland, and the United States has already begun to provide self-driving cab services. It is therefore increasingly crucial that the "brains" of "auto-robots" know how to react appropriately in complex, if not extreme, situations. 

From 12 to 14 September, USI hosted a major scientific conference on G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). These proteins are the target of about 35 per cent of drugs on the market. Internationally leading scientists, including the Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Prof. Brian Kobilka, participated in the event.

Dr Marta Fadda and PhD students Ilaria Falvo and Micol Ferrario were awarded the 2022 USI Equal Opportunities Award, now in its fifth edition, for scientific contributions on equality and diversity issues.

The title of the encounter organised by L'ideatorio, USI's service for promoting scientific culture, and the USI Institute of Public Health was "Smartphones and Teenagers." "Though we could have called it - Smartphones and Parents - because it is parents who hand out smartphones and lead by example," explained Giovanni Pellegri, head of L'ideatorio. Parents and especially mothers, given the clear majority of women in attendance at the West Campus Auditorium.

It is called SUSI ( https://susi.usi.ch ) and collects the academic output of USI researchers online, guaranteeing free access in accordance with its Open Access policies of scientific publishers. The renewal of the platform, an evolution of the previous RERO DOC portal coordinated by the USI Libraries, promotes visibility and searchability of the results of research conducted by the university.

On 1 September 2022, a new research group led by Dr Arianna Baggiolini began its activities at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) in Bellinzona.

More than 250 participants are attending the 26th Summer School in Social Science Methods, organised by USI in close collaboration with the Swiss centre of expertise in social sciences FORS. It is the highest number of participants - a third more than 2021 - hailing mainly from Swiss (149 enrolled, 36 from USI), Italian (24) and German (23) universities, with also a student from the United Arab Emirates; some 50 participants, on the other hand, have completed their studies.