The research activity focuses on the morphology and physiology of animal models; specifically on the morphofunctional mechanisms involved in maintaining body homeostasis. The activity also concerns the study of the functional efficiency of the diet and breading systems for the assessment of the welfare status of animals in livestock production as well as in model species, for the digestive and metabolic utilization of nutrients, for the physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics of foodstuffs, and the use of applied biotechnologies with particular attention to the use of bioactive molecules extracted from by-products and/or co-products that have a positive influence on production yield, animal welfare, the quality of animal products and the consumer.