Virgilio Program

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 🌍

My lab experience at ICREC lab at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, Spain - Velia Pa**lo - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track I had the opportunity to carry out my 2nd lab rotation at the Heart Failure and Cardiac Regeneration...

👏 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

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:

My lab experience at Experimental Neurology Unit, University of Milano-Bicocca - Alberto De Siena - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track During this rotation, I gained ...

🧪 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

My lab experience at Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection Laboratory Mario Negri Institute - Sofia Carmelini - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track During this rotation, I gained ...

🩺 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:

My lab experience at Stroke & vascular dysfunction lab at Mario Negri Institute - Emilio Centurelli - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...

🧬 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:

My lab experience at lab of Hematology in Policlinico of Milan - Anna Brozzoni - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...

🌍 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:

From Microscopy to Targeted Therapy: Federico Villa’s Experience at ESCMID Global 2026 - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction...

📣 È aperto il bando interno di selezione per accedere al percorso di rotazioni di laboratorio all’estero del Programma Virgilio per l’anno accademico 2026/2027.

L’iniziativa è rivolta agli studenti della 7ª, 8ª e 9ª coorte e sostiene la mobilità internazionale per attività formative in laboratori di ricerca di eccellenza.

Le rotazioni avranno una durata di un mese e dovranno svolgersi tra il 1° agosto 2026 e il 31 luglio 2027.

⏰ Scadenza per la presentazione delle candidature: 15 giugno 2026

ℹ️ Tutti i dettagli su requisiti, modalità di candidatura, criteri di selezione, contributi economici e documentazione richiesta dalle singole università sono disponibili qui:

Bando di Selezione per l’accesso al percorso rotazioni di laboratorio all’estero del “Programma Virgilio” - Anno Accademico 2026-27 - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track Possono partecipare al percorso di rotazioni di laboratorio all’estero gli studenti arruolati, nell’anno accademico 2026-2027, nella 7°, 8° e 9° coorte del Programma Virgilio.

What does it mean to guide future physician-scientists in the lab?

In this new Virgilio Program testimonial, Ramona Meanti shares her experience as a lab tutor at the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, reflecting on the value of mentorship, curiosity, and hands-on research training in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.

Her story highlights the two-way exchange that makes the Virgilio Program so meaningful: while students learn how research works, tutors are reminded of the passion and wonder that drive science forward

Read more:

My Experience as a Lab Tutor in the Virgilio Program - Ramona Meanti - VIRGILIO PROGRAM – Excellence in Research Track My experience as a lab tutor in the Virgilio Program began in 2020, when I was a PhD student in the Pharmacology Laboratory