On 15 October 2024, the University Campus Bio-Medico in Rome inaugurated the new UCBM Simulation Centre, an innovative space that promises to transform medical education. With its 400 square metres of advanced technology, the centre offers unique learning experiences through immersive, multi-sensory simulations. The opening event was attended by prominent figures such as Minister Adolfo Urso and CNR President Maria Chiara Carrozza, who highlighted how technology and research are revolutionising the training of healthcare professionals.
15 October 2024 marks an important date for the Rome Bio-Medical Campus and for the entire scientific community of Central and Southern Italy: the inauguration of the new Simulation Centre, a cutting-edge centre for simulation and experimentation, open not only to students and researchers, but also to companies. The opening ceremony was attended by leading figures, including the Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the President of the National Research Council, Maria Chiara Carrozza, who gave a lectio magistralis on topics of innovation and research-based teaching.
A new benchmark for innovation and education
The UCBM Simulation Centre, housed in the CU.Bo building, designed according to nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) standards, covers an area of over 400 square metres. Its facilities are designed to offer an immersive and experimental learning space, allowing students and professionals to work in environments that faithfully reproduce real-life situations, both in the hospital and at home.
The special feature of the centre lies in its ability to combine teaching, research and experimentation in a single modular platform. Simulations are not limited to clinical scenarios, but also extend to the engineering field, thus creating a living laboratory that aims to bring out new technologies with a focus on sustainability and global health.
The importance of immersive and multi-sensory reality
One of the most innovative spaces in the centre is undoubtedly the multi-sensory immersive room. Designed by the company Accurate, this 4D room allows participants to enjoy educational experiences involving all the senses: sight, hearing, smell and touch. Imagine being in a simulated emergency room, where the sound of sirens and the smell of disinfectant create an incredibly realistic and immersive experience. This type of environment is ideal for preparing students for high-pressure situations, such as medical emergencies or complex surgeries, while improving both technical and stress-management skills. ‘In the area of Quality and Safety, simulation is key to experimenting with new solutions that raise the quality of care and improve risk management,’ says Prof. Alloni, Associate Professor of General Surgery and Rector’s Delegate for the simulation centre.
Collaborations with companies and applied research
The UCBM Simulation Centre is not limited to academic training. One of the strengths of this facility is its openness to innovative companies and SMEs, which will be able to use the space for the development and testing of new technologies, with a particular focus on Health-Tech-Sustainability solutions. Companies will be able to test and co-create new medical devices, enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, and even projects related to emergency management and clinical risk prevention.
An example of the centre’s potential is the innovative simulation presented during the opening, where a robotic dog named ‘Freki’, equipped with artificial intelligence, was shown in action to detect bacteria and viruses in critical environments such as operating theatres. This technology, designed to address the shortage of healthcare personnel and reduce hospital infections, demonstrates how the UCBM Simulation Centre can be a testing platform for cutting-edge solutions.
In this regard, Pier Luigi Ingrassia, Scientific Director of the Simulation Centre (CeSi) in Lugano and President of SESAM, enthusiastically commented: ‘Facilities such as this simulation laboratory are essential to train professionals capable of tackling the challenges of clinical practice with competence and safety, contributing to quality healthcare and the reduction of errors’. Ingrassia also cited the Global Consensus Statement on Simulation-based Practice in Healthcare, a document drawn up by 50 scientific societies from 67 countries, which emphasises the crucial role of simulation in improving healthcare systems of the future.
Lectio magistralis by Maria Chiara Carrozza: innovation comes from research
The day was enriched by the speech of the President of the CNR, Maria Chiara Carrozza, who emphasised the importance of a research-based teaching approach for the development of the skills needed to face today’s challenges. According to Professor Carrozza, research is not only a means of acquiring new knowledge, but also a fundamental tool for developing critical, creative and interdisciplinary thinking.
In the context of the life sciences, the ability to ask questions and find answers through direct experimentation is crucial for tackling the complex problems of modern healthcare. The UCBM Simulation Centre, with its state-of-the-art facilities, is therefore a key tool for implementing this kind of innovative learning, which aims to train competent and knowledgeable professionals.
A future of opportunities for students and professionals
For the Bio-Medical Campus in Rome, this simulation centre represents an opportunity to better prepare its students, but also to attract talent and companies that see the field of simulation as a frontier to explore. As the Hon. Urso stated, ‘It is a cutting-edge platform for teaching, but also a reference point for companies and start-ups, which will be able to develop research activities on the most innovative technologies here’. For Andrea Rossi, CEO and Director General of the University, the multi-sensory immersive hall is the flagship of a project designed to transform the university into a ‘research and technology transfer centre’.
In conclusion, the inauguration of the UCBM Simulation Centre marks a new beginning not only for the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, but for the entire panorama of Italian medical and technological education. Thanks to facilities like these, the future of healthcare and research will increasingly be marked by collaboration between academia and business, with the common goal of improving the quality of care and patient safety.
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