Virgilio Program

30/09/2026

💬 “I come home increasingly convinced of the value of the physician-scientist and of the union between clinical practice and research, certain that where collaboration, passion and talent meet, great discoveries happen”.
🔬 From Humanitas University to New York: continuing a passion for urology and prostate cancer research 🇮🇹🇺🇸
What does it mean to experience research in an international environment, working alongside leading scientists and research centres?
For Maria Zozzaro, 8th Cohort of the Virgilio Program at Humanitas University, it meant spending August and September in Professor Massimo Loda’s lab at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, thanks to the support of the Virgilio Program and Fondazione Vollaro. 🗽🧬
During her lab experience, Maria explored innovative approaches to prostate cancer research, focusing on two projects: the biological effects of metformin on tumour metabolism and the immune mechanisms behind the cribriform variant, one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Read more:

In August and September, thanks to the Virgilio Program and the Fondazione Vollaro, I joined the lab directed by Professor Massimo Loda at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York

30/09/2026

🔬 Learning research by doing with the Virgilio Program
How do you turn a research question into a study? For Yann Gabriele Hamonet, Marco Balconi and Lorenzo Napoletano from Università degli Studi di Milano, a project guided by Professor Chiara Gabbi offered the opportunity to experience the research process first-hand.
Investigating the association between CFTR mutations and cancer prevalence worldwide, they developed skills in data collection, statistical analysis and critical thinking, while learning how to collaborate effectively as a team.
Their reflections highlight the value of hands-on research in the training of future physicians.
👉 Read their stories on the Virgilio Program website.

Gabriele Hamonet, Marco Balconi and Lorenzo Napoletano share their experience of investigating the association between CFTR mutations and cancer prevalence worldwide

21/09/2026

📅 Save the date: 27 October 2026 | Virgilio Program Annual Meeting

The Virgilio Program Annual Meeting 2026 will bring together students, faculty, tutors and members of the scientific community for an afternoon dedicated to the future of physician-scientists.

A key moment of the programme will be the Round Table “The Role of Physician-Scientists in Italian Research-Intensive Hospitals”, bringing together Scientific Directors from leading IRCCS to discuss career perspectives and the conditions needed to strengthen the integration between clinical practice and biomedical research.

The event will also celebrate an important milestone: the Graduation Ceremony of the 6th Virgilio Program Cohort, with testimonials from students, tutors and faculty, followed by the awarding of diplomas and a get-together with the Virgilio community.

📍 University of Milan – Sala Lauree, Via Conservatorio 7, Milan
🕑 27 October 2026 | 14:00–18:00

👉 Discover the programme and register:
https://virgilioprogram.unimib.it/2026/09/17/virgilio-program-annual-meeting-2026/

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Università degli Studi di Milano
Humanitas University
Fondazione Cariplo

the Virgilio Program Annual Meeting 2026, which willtake place on 27 October 2026, from 14:00 to 18:00, at the University of Milan, SalaLauree, Via Conservatorio 7, Milan

13/07/2026

A new Student Spotlight from the Virgilio Program features Velia Pa**lo, a student from the 7th cohort at Humanitas University, who completed her second lab rotation at the Heart Failure and Cardiac Regeneration (ICREC) Lab at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain 🇪🇸
During this experience, Velia explored translational research in cardiology, following projects on cardiac organoids, vascular graft tissue engineering, and heart failure mechanisms in preclinical models ❤️🔬 Her reflection highlights the value of seeing how closely hospital and laboratory work can interact in advancing research and care.
A meaningful international research experience made possible also thanks to the support of Fondazione Vollaro and the guidance of Prof. Antoni Bayes-Genisís, Dr. Carolina Gálvez-Montón 🌍

I had the opportunity to carry out my 2nd lab rotation at the Heart Failure and Cardiac Regeneration...

13/07/2026

👏 Congratulations to the 6th VIRGILIO Cohort students from Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Università degli Studi di Milano, and Humanitas University on their graduation.
Throughout your VIRGILIO journey, you have had the unique opportunity to experience biomedical research alongside your medical studies. Through laboratory placements, mentoring, and research projects, you have gained valuable insight into the role of scientific research in advancing medicine and improving patient care.
As you begin your careers as doctors, we hope that the curiosity and research mindset fostered by the Virgilio Program will remain with you. Whether you pursue Residency, academic medicine, research fellowship or PhD, we encourage you to continue asking questions, seeking evidence, and contributing to innovation in healthcare.

We are proud of all that you have achieved and wish you every success in your professional journey. May your experience in VIRGILIO inspire you to integrate research into your future career and to help shape the medicine of tomorrow.

Congratulations and best wishes for the future!
Virgilio Team

23/06/2026

A new student spotlight from the Virgilio Program shares the laboratory experience of Alberto De Siena, a student from the 8th cohort at the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, who completed a rotation at the Experimental Neurology Unit 🔬

In his reflection, Alberto describes his work on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a major yet often overlooked clinical challenge, and explains how this experience strengthened his goal of becoming a clinician-scientist. He carried out his rotation under the supervision of Prof. valentina carozzi and Dr. Chiara D’Aprile.

From molecular mechanisms to the discipline of day-to-day lab work, this experience shows how research training can help future physicians develop scientific rigour, translational insight and a deeper understanding of patients’ needs 👩‍⚕️👨‍🔬

Read Alberto’s story here:

During this rotation, I gained ...

17/05/2026

🧪 Sofia Carmelini’s lab experience at the Mario Negri Institute

Sofia Carmelini, student of the 8th cohort of the Virgilio Program from the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, carried out her first lab rotation at the Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection Laboratory of the Mario Negri Institute.

🧠 During this experience, she explored research on traumatic brain injury, from neuroprotective strategies to the gut–microbiota–brain axis, discovering the collaborative and patient work behind every scientific advance.

An important step in her training path as a future physician-scientist.

👉 Read Sofia’s reflection on this experience here

During this rotation, I gained ...

17/05/2026

🩺 Emilio Centurelli's lab experience at the Mario Negri Institute.

Emilio Centurelli, student of the 8th cohort of the Virgilio Program from the Università degli Studi di Milano, carried out his lab experience at the Stroke & Vascular Dysfunction Lab of the Mario Negri Institute.

🔬 His rotation offered the opportunity to get closer to biomedical research in the field of vascular dysfunction and stroke, exploring how laboratory work can contribute to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms.

An important step in his training path as a future physician-scientist.

👉 Read Emilio’s reflection on this experience here:

During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...

17/05/2026

🧬 Anna Brozzoni's lab experience at the Hematology Lab of Policlinico di Milano.
Anna Brozzoni, student of the 7th cohort of the Virgilio Program from Università degli Studi di Milano, carried out her second lab rotation at the Hematology Lab of Policlinico di Milano, under the supervision of Prof. Niccolò Bolli and Dr. Francesca Lazzaroni.
💻 During this experience, she explored the connection between computational data analysis and biological research, working on hematological diseases such as multiple myeloma and myelofibrosis.
An important opportunity to grow both scientifically and personally within the Virgilio Program.
👉 Read Anna’s reflection on this experience here:

During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...

17/05/2026

🌍 Federico Villa at ESCMID Global 2026

Federico Villa, student of the 7th cohort of the Virgilio Program at the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, presented his research at ESCMID Global 2026 in Munich together with his thesis supervisor, Dr. Francesca Iannuzzi.

🧫 Their poster focused on the impact of fast microbiology in guiding antimicrobial therapy for critically ill patients, supporting more targeted treatments and antimicrobial stewardship.

🤝 An important international opportunity for scientific exchange, networking and research growth.

👉 Read Federico’s reflection on this experience here:

During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...