Fabiola Iommazzo is just 23 but she has a clear vision of her future career: become an oncology researcher. That’s why she has chosen to undertake a Master’s in Biomedical Omics at the University of Milan, an exciting degree that applies omic technologies to biomedical research. Omics are revolutionising research by providing a holistic analysis of biological systems through the extraction of vast amounts of data from single cells. Fabiola is among the talented individuals supported by Dompé Foundation, and we are thrilled to kick off with her the project “Meet our Talents”, that is a series of inspiring interviews where our scholarship winners talk about their university journey, career goals, and much more. Read on to get to know Fabiola better!

I’m Fabiola, I’m 23 years old and I was born and raised in Varese, where I’ve completed the Bachelor of Science in Biology at Università degli Studi dell’Insubria. I’m now attending the Master’s degree in Biomedical Omics at La Statale in Milan. I perfectly remember when I fell in love with the world of science: it happened at a conference on nanomedicine during the last year of high school. After that event, in fact, I decided to apply to Biology. I’ve loved my Bachelor’s degree as it has taught me to appreciate the universe of infinitely small things and love every aspect of nature.

My Master’s degree focuses on the application of omic technologies to biomedical research. Omics enable you to extract a lot of data from a cell. We must bear in mind that biological systems are extremely complex, especially if affected by a disease: they therefore need to be studied with a holistic approach. You can compare omics to a puzzle: every piece gives you a specific information, but it makes sense only as a whole.

First of all, because it’s very innovative. Until very recently, I had no idea what omics were as we didn’t cover this topic during my Bachelor’s degree. When I discovered that these techniques were revolutionising the world of research, I was immediately intrigued. Secondly, because it gives me the chance to learn more about hot topics such as precision medicine, early diagnosis and data analysis. Last but not least, because we have a lot of labs and we are just a small group of students: I believe that the less we are, the more we learn and are able to build productive relationships with our professors.

The teaching method: it’s very interactive. We discuss about things, we share our thoughts, we speak about what’s happening in the science world today. Furthermore, professors teach passionately and are always eager to help you out.

I passed through many stages: at one point, for example, I even wanted to be an art restorer. Now, I’m absolutely sure about my future: my dream is to become an oncology researcher. If you think about it, treating a cell affected by cancer is a bit like restoring an art work. You must figure out how the art work looked like before deteriorating, and then you can start fixing it. The same thing happens with cells affected by cancer. I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to research as research means to me curiosity, observation and awe: there’s nothing ordinary when you think about nature.