This is the website of the Mechanobiology group led by Dr. Manuela T. Raimondi and based at Polytechnic University in Milano, Italy. 

Brief profile of the PI: Dr. Manuela T. Raimondi

Prof. Manuela Teresa Raimondi is a globally acclaimed leader in biomedical engineering, whose academic career spans over two decades at the Politecnico di Milano. As Full Professor, she has shaped the field through pioneering research in mechanobiology, regenerative medicine, and advanced in vitro systems. Her work has redefined how human biology is modeled, replacing animal testing with precision-engineered platforms that replicate tissue behavior in real time. She has held visiting positions at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and has served on scientific advisory boards and ERC evaluation panels, contributing to the strategic direction of European research. Her teaching legacy includes the design of graduate and doctoral programs that have trained a generation of biomedical innovators.

Her scientific breakthroughs have led to over ten granted patents, including the Nichoid—a nanoengineered 3D culture substrate that reprograms stem cells through physical constraints, eliminating the need for oncogenic transcription factors. This innovation is now commercialized through MOAB Srl, the biotech company she founded and leads. MOAB’s organ-on-chip and Nichoid platforms are used globally in oncology, cell therapy, and space biology, exemplifying the successful translation of academic research into market-ready technologies.

Beyond academia and enterprise, Prof. Raimondi is a force for societal impact. As founding president of ERC in Italy, she champions scientific excellence and policy engagement. A member of the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technologies (ITATEC) and ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide, she continues to shape the future of biomedical innovation in Europe and beyond.

Photo by Gerald Bruneau, courtesy of Fondazione Bracco and Centro Diagnostico Italiano.