Written on 03 April 2024.
New Scientific Director for the Romagna Institute for the Study of Tumors IRST “Dino Amadori” IRCCS: Dr. was appointed to lead the coordination, planning and development of the Institute’s research activities. Nicola Normanno.
The three-year position was approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting and resolved by the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday 14 March and follows a public selection conducted by a qualified external commission.
The Dr. Normanno was born in Ottaviano (Naples) in 1964 and graduated with honors in Medicine and Surgery in 1988 from the Federico II University of Naples. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda (USA), later specializing in medical oncology and subsequently in hematology. In 2004 he won the Annals of Oncology Prize for Translational Research and in 2005 he became Adjunct Associate Professor at Temple University in Philadelphia (USA). Since 2005 he has been appointed Director of the Cellular Biology and Biotherapy Unit of the National Cancer Institute “G. Pascale” and since 2006 he has been President of the Research Department of the same institute. Among the first to promote and use techniques based on next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical studies, he has profound expertise in the field of clinical diagnostics and liquid biopsy. At the INT “Pascale” he led research in preclinical and clinical studies, with particular attention to the identification of biomarkers associated with sensitivity/resistance to target-based agents in clinical development. Current President of IQN Path – International Quality Network for Pathology, an international association committed to promoting precision oncology, he is also part of working groups for the organization of national and international external quality assessment (VEQ) schemes in molecular pathology . Member of numerous national and international cancer research associations (AACR, GOIM, AIOT, ESMO, AIOM, SIC, FONICAP) he was President-elect of the Italian Cancer Society (SIC). He is the author of over 200 publications in international journals and is a reviewer for numerous peer reviewed journals.
The choice of Dr. Normanno – what happens to the prof. Giovanni Martinelli, director since January 2018 – intended to reward his high scientific production and notable design skills aimed at strengthening translational research activities. The tasks of the new director include the promotion, coordination and management of the Institute’s research in line with regional and ministerial planning, the management of funding in synergy with the AUSL of Romagna and the Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Network (CCCRN ), as well as with the Presidency of the Scientific Technical Committee and the IRST Scientific Medical Committee.
“An important step for the Meldola IRST – states the Councilor for health policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Raffaele Donini – which, with the appointment of Doctor Normanno, ensures absolute quality to the Institute’s activity, continuing to consolidate the value of regional healthcare. My thanks go to Professor Martinelli for the work carried out so far, with the hope of a future in which research can continue to be central to his commitment. Welcome to Doctor Normanno and best wishes for good work, with the aim of being able to contribute to always responding in the best possible way to the health requests of our citizens.”
“To the new Scientific Director, Dr. Nicola Normanno, from me, from all the IRST Members and Councilors, congratulations on the assignment and best wishes for good work – intervenes Dr. Fabrizio MiserocchiPresident IRST IRCCS -. The Dr. Normanno arrives in an Institute which, despite a complicated healthcare context, has been able to achieve important scientific and research results in recent years. This credit goes to Prof. Giovanni Martinelli, to whom we owe respect and gratitude. But he is inherent in IRST and in his being an Irccs, always looking beyond, not stopping even for an instant at the single goal achieved. The first to teach us this was the dear professor. Amadori. An intent that is also Dr. Normanno, for this reason we are certain he will be able to accompany our Institute towards further scientific growth, innovation and international openness”.
“The appointment of the new Scientific Director – comments Dr. Lorenzo MaffioliGeneral Director IRST IRCCS – represents a further moment of development of the IRST. With prof. Giovanni Martinelli, to whom I express my personal thanks together with that of all the employees of the Institute, important scientific recognition has been achieved. To Dr. Normanno, who has a first-rate reputation in the international oncology scene, I welcome the entire IRST team: together we will be able to navigate towards new and interesting therapeutic strategies in the daily battle against tumors”.
“The appointment of Dr. Norman – underlines the doctor Maria Teresa Montella, IRST IRCCS Healthcare Director – opens up new scenarios and will open new lines of research and growth for the Institute. Today it is unthinkable to work in separate silos between researchers, doctors and professionals who operate in this field, team work becomes a key element in providing qualified answers, just as it is necessary to implement population programs in close connection with the Romagna AUSL. It is necessary to create the organizational conditions so that pathologists, oncologists, pharmacists, molecular biologists and hematologists analyze the data to identify population clusters that can benefit from innovative therapies. I can only be very happy with this new path we will take.”
“I’m honored – explains Dr. Nicola Normanno – to assume the Scientific Directorship of a prestigious IRCCS such as the IRST and I thank the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Board of Directors and the President, Dr. Fabrizio Miserocchi for the trust they have placed in me. Succeeding Dino Amadori and Giovanni Martinelli in this role will be a difficult undertaking. I will make all my knowledge and skills available to the IRST to encourage the development of a center of excellence for precision oncology, which can be a point of reference for research and assistance at a regional, national and international level”.
Concludes the prof. Giovanni Martinelli: “I would like to express my profound gratitude towards all the professionals who believed in this wonderful journey and who today I have the privilege of being able to call friends. Volunteers, researchers, doctors, technicians, nurses, I have always seen the utmost dedication from everyone towards IRST but, above all, towards our patients. A common commitment that has allowed us to achieve those mandate objectives that, when I was chosen as Director, we defined together with Dino Amadori: to characterize the Institute as a center for precision medicine through the massive extension of molecular profiling; increase the experimental therapeutic offer with new clinical studies; enhance theranostics by exploiting the Institute’s great expertise in the study and development of radiopharmaceuticals; increase the internationalization of the Institute and funding from European tenders; promote the training of young professionals and specialists; network with the territory, give strength to the CCCRN”.
From left: Maria Teresa Montella, Nicola Normanno, Oriana Nanni, Lorenzo Maffioli