CROI-ICAR Awards

 

Special Award “Lia Vassena”

Dr. Lisa Vassena has dedicated her short but intense scientific career to the study of HIV-1 infection pathogenetic mechanisms with the aim to identify new therapeutic strategies.

Lia graduated with full marks at the University of Milan and continued her studies about the antiviral function of alpha-defensins at the DIBIT- San Raffaele of Milan. After she developed a research line about IL-7 therapeutic role in HIV-1/SIV infection at the Immunoregulation Laboratory of the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA. In the end she studied the evasion mechanisms of the immune response mediated by the HIV-1 regulatory proteins at the Bambino Gesù Hospital of Rome.

Lia was a brilliant investigator and her results have been published on important scientific reviews such as the PLoS Pathogens and the Journal of Virology, reviews that let her receive a funding by the Ministry of Health to improve her work of young investigator.

Lia employed her natural intelligence, her solar personality, her kind attitude towards neighbor but also a strong care, a great tenacity in fighting against difficulties, as well those due to the disease that caused her premature passing at the age of 37 years.

Dedicating to Lia the “Special Award of the Jury”, which is part of "Young Italian Investigator Award" ICAR-CROI Ceremony, is the expression of the esteem and love of all the colleagues that had the honor to meet her and the invite to young investigators to follow her bright model.

 

Selected Italian Investigators and Mentors

HIV-1 Laboratory Contagion during Recombination Procedures with Defective Constructs
C. Alteri University of Rome Tor Vergata - Mentor C.F. Perno

Intracellular Atazanavir Concentrations Remain Stable During Pregnancy in HIV Women
A. Bonito University of Brescia – Mentor F. Castelli

Predicting Drug Discontinuation in TDF-tolerant Patients: a Prospective PK/PG Study
A. Calcagno University of Torino – Mentor S. Bonora

Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) Cells in HIV/HCV co-infection
M. Cerrone University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital – Mentor A. d’Arminio Monforte

CNS Safety of Simplification to ATV/r+3TC in Virologically Suppressed HIV+ Patients
N. Ciccarelli University of Rome Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Mentor S. Di Giambenedetto

Distinct B-cell gene signatures define ability to respond to H1N1 vaccine in HIV+ children
N. Cotugno Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, University of Rome – Mentors S. Pahwa, P. Palma

Bone mineral density after switching to ATV/r+3TC: a sub-study of the AtLaS-M trial
A. D'Avino University of Rome Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Mentor A. De Luca

Inflammasome and Th17 Activation in HIV+ Immunological Non-Responders
M. Masetti University of Milan - Mentor D. Trabattoni

Pharmacokinetics of Dolutegravir and Rilpivirine in Combination With SMV and SOF
M. Merli Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan – Mentor C. Uberti Foppa

Rapid Improving of Glycemic Control in HCV Patients Treated with IFN-free Regimens
P. Pavone Sapienza University of Rome – Mentor G. d’Ettorre

Role of HCV co-infection on CSF biomarkers in HIV patients
C. Pinnetti National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani" – Mentor A. Antinori

Multiple HPV Genotypes as a Risk Factor for High Grade AIN in HIV-1 Infected Males.
C. Rovelli Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan – Mentor S. Nozza

The Impact of Cannabinoid Receptor2-63 Variants in Liver Biopsy of HIV/HCV Patients
C. Sagnelli Second University of Naples – Mentor N. Coppola

Impact of PNPLA3 variants on the liver histology of 168 HIV/HCV patients
C. Sagnelli Second University of Naples – Mentor N. Coppola

6-amino-acid insertion/deletion polymorphism in TIM1 confers protections against HIV1
I. Saulle University of Milan - Mentor M. Biasin

Probiotics Module Th1/Th17 and IFN Response in HIV Patients on Suppressive cART
I. Schietroma Sapienza University of Rome – Mentor V. Vullo

Analysis of HIV Proviruses in Clonally Expanded Cells in Vivo
F. Simonetti Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan – Mentors C. Balotta, F. Maldarelli

HBsAg mutations correlate with HCC, affect HBsAg release and favor cell proliferation
V. Svicher University of Rome Tor Vergata - Mentor C.F. Perno