Chair: Dr. Gaetano Guglielmi, ICPerMed Secretariat, Italian Ministry of Health, Italy

Introduction by Dr. Gaetano Guglielmi

Maritha Kotze

A pathology-supported genetic testing platform for application of breast cancer pharmacogenetics at the point of care (POC) using an integrated service and research approach

Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service - NHLS- Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa

Prof Maritha Kotze is a Principal Medical Scientist jointly appointed by Stellenbosch University and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) of South Africa. She started her career as a human geneticist in 1981 after obtaining the degrees BSc, BSc honours and MSc cum laude at Stellenbosch University. Since obtaining her PhD in 1990, Prof Kotze trained numerous postgraduate students involved in test development for clinical application of genomics in a wide range of medical conditions. Her work involves the integration of research and service delivery using a pathology-supported genetic testing approach based on research published in more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She collaborate and network extensively and cooperate with clinicians and genetic counsellors in both the public and private sector. Her practical experience in research translation contributed to the development of a framework for tiered informed consent for genomic health research, as well as a policy on the implementation of genomic medicine in Africa. The development of a clinically-enriched genomics database at the interface of the research laboratory and clinical practice creates shared research opportunities, which she continues to oversee, guide and support through joint funding applications. Prof Kotze is currently the primary investigator of five major grants, including a Newton Fund grant for development of novel point-of-care test kits. Her H-index is 30.

Daniela Gallo

A combined ANXA2-NDRG1-STAT1 gene signature predicts response to chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer
Sacro Cuore Cattolica University, Italy

Daniela Gallo completed her first Master Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Technology in 1990, her second degree in Pharmacy in 1992, and her postgraduate specialization in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1998, at the University La Sapienza of Rome. She started her career in a leading Contract Research Organization in Italy (Research Toxicology Centre, Pomezia, Rome, 1991-1997), developing an extensive expertise in drug development strategies. In 1997, she moved to the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as a research consultant first and with a permanent position as “Dirigente Sanitario I livello”, from 2000. She is currently Head of Unit for Translational Medicine for Woman and Child Health, at the Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. During this 25-year period, as part of a multidisciplinary team, she has led the development of preclinical and translational research in the field of gynaecological cancer, significantly contributing to the achievement of relevant advancements in the area of cancer biology, biomarkers and therapy. She is a Senior Lecturer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, School of Medicine, Rome. She hold three patents and she has one patent pending international application. She has authored more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals. She is serving as a Referee for many international scientific journals.

Daryl Pritchard

The Personalised Medicine Coalition: Developing Strategies for the Integration of Personalised Medicine in Health Care Practice
Science Policy at PMC, USA

Daryl Pritchard, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President of Science Policy at the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), where he leads PMC’s efforts to increase awareness and understanding of personalized medicine; identify and address barriers to the adoption of personalized medicine into the health care system; and develop and promote appropriate clinical, health care infrastructure, regulatory, and payment policies that will help advance patient-centered, personalized health care. Before coming to PMC, Dr. Pritchard served as the Director of Policy Research at the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).  Prior to joining NPC, he served as the Director of Research Programs Advocacy and Personalized Medicine at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

Winfried Schlee

International Tinnitus Research – Novel approaches in Personalised Medicine Research, Teaching and Treatment - The ESIT Project
The ESIT Consortium

Winfried Schlee was born 1978 in Schweinfurt, Germany. He studied psychology, statistics and philosophy at the University of Konstanz, 2000 - 2006. Research stay at the Taub Therapy Clinic at the University of Birmingham, Alabama 2003 - 2004. Doctorate at the University of Konstanz on the topic of "Towards a Global Model of Tinnitus Perception: Multiple Evidence for a Long-Range Cortical Tinnitus Network" 2006-2009. Academic council at the University of Ulm 2010 - 2013. Since 2013 Scientific Research Coordinator of the Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI) and research associate at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Regensburg at the Bezirksklinikum. Since 2017, coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Marie-Sklodowska-Curie-Action ESIT - The European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (Grant Agreement No. 722046, 2017 - 2021), www.esit.tinnitusresearch.net. 2018 Habilitation on the topic of "Neuronal oscillatory activity in tinnitus and the ageing brain". Since 2020, Scientific Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation action UNITI - Unification of Treatments and Interventions for Tinnitus Patients (Grant Agreement No. 848261, 2020 - 2023), www.uniti.tinnitusresearch.net.