Elettra Highlights 2024–2025 173 Facts & Figures Figure 3. Overview of the experimental procedures and analyses performed. Picture adapted from Spazzapan et al., 2025. 3. Endothelial cell supplementation promotes xenograft revascularization during short-term ovarian tissue transplantation, Spazzapan M., Pegoraro S., Vuerich R., Zito G., Balduit A., Longo E., Pascolo L., Toffoli M., Meshini G., Mangogna A., Ros G., Buonomo F., Romano F., Lombardelli l., Papa G., Piccinni M.-P. , Zacchigna S. , Agostinis C., Bulla R., Ricci G., Bioactive Materials, 2025, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.03.021 Fast Track Access stayed open throughout 2024 and 2025, allowing access to a set of relevant instruments for research and testing. During the year, 51 proposals were received for this access mode. A wide number of techniques at the Austrian, Czech, Italian and Slovenian PFs have been devoted to the purpose. NEW CERIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTED Following the decision of the CERIC GA in June 2024, the Consortium appointed Professor Andrew Harrison as its new Executive Director, effective from December 2024. Professor Harrison brings a wealth of expertise in managing and advancing worldclass RIs, particularly user-focused facilities. Throughout his distinguished career, he has been a driving force in enhancing the research landscape across Europe, fostering scientific excellence, and building impactful partnerships with diverse stakeholders. CERIC is confident that Prof. Harrison’s leadership will steer the consortium towards strengthening further its position as a distributed infrastructure of cutting-edge research and innovation. CERIC'S SUPPORT TO THE STRENGTHENING OF ITS CAPABILITIES CERIC has been continuously supporting the integration of its national multidisciplinary PFs into a unique EU-level distributed RI. In 2024, the Consortium strengthened its infrastructure by supporting joint projects, funding PhDs and postdocs, and investing in facility upgrades. Backed by the new funding model and national contributions, CERIC enhanced its analytical capabilities – especially for hydrogen and battery research - supporting activities aligned with renewable energy goals and advanced materials research, while reinforcing its strategic and scientific mission.1 CULTIVATING INNOVATION AND INDUSTRY COOPERATION In 2024, CERIC engaged with industry in major events, such as the EIC Summit, VivaTech, and Re-Battery. It promoted its services at Chemical Recycling Europe and European Hydrogen Week and co-hosted a hydrogen-focused workshop at the Big Science Business Forum. Feasibility tests were carried out with a company involving three of the CERIC Partner Facilities (PFs), paving the way for a commercial agreement. Negotiations are also underway with another company in the energy sector, for a future collaboration involving two PFs. Also, CERIC introduced a new company to Elettra and facilitated the signing of a commercial agreement related to the pharmaceutical sector. Industry-linked access reached 2%, whereas 10% of articles released in 2024 were industry-related, accounting for publications with company-affiliated authors. For prepubertal oncological patients, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation represents the first-choice approach. Yet, revascularization remains a challenge. Scientists used synchrotron radiation-based microtomography to test the pro-angiogenic potential of four different 3D biomaterial scaffolds (engineered dermal matrices that mimic the natural extracellular environment and encourage tissue regeneration, assessing their ability to interact with ovarian endothelial cells. This approach exemplifies the potential of tailored, bioengineered regenerative therapies. 1 The CERIC report 2024 - https://www.ceric-eric.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CERIC_Report2024-DEF.pdf - highlights the specific contribution and achievements for each Member Country.
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