A woman’s donation in memory of her loved one, who was a physician, will give a young researcher the opportunity to conduct a three-year study on tumour aggressiveness.
The Rector of the University of Trento, Paolo Collini, and the President of Fondazione Pezcoller, Davide Bassi, signed the agreement today to establish a new research position and give continuity to research.
The donation received by Fondazione Pezcoller honours the memory of Dr. Marcello Marchi, gastroenterologist, who passed away in 2011 at 88 and worked in the hospitals of Borgo Valsugana and Trento, in the Trento penitentiary, at Michelin industries, and as a sport physician in schools, whose name is tied to the Villa Bianca clinic in Trento.
«Doctor Marchi - said Luigia Andreazzi - dedicated his whole life to Villa Bianca. The clinic was in financial trouble in the beginning, and for some years he paid the personnel with his own funds. There was an excellent director who worked with him for years after that, until the complete restructuring of the clinic. Doctor Marchi had exceptional organizational and managerial skills in addition to his medical expertise, but his most valuable qualities were his ability to be with people and his humble spirit».
Luigia Andreazzi, partner of late Dr. Marchi, donated to Fondazione Pezcoller 100,000 euro to establish an oncology research position for a young researcher. The board of directors of the Fondazione Pezcoller decided to collaborate with the Centre for Integrative Biology - Cibio of the University of Trento to launch a selection procedure for young researchers under the “Fondazione Pezcoller/Marcello Marchi” fellowship: a three-year grant to study the genetic basis of solid tumour aggressiveness using a molecular approach.
A young researcher with a background in cancer biology will have the opportunity to start a career of independent research.
The fellowship was awarded to Vito Giuseppe D’Agostino, 35 years old, with a degree from the University of Catania and a PhD from the University of Pavia. Cibio will provide the necessary infrastructure to carry out the research work and an extra funding to cover the full costs of the position.