SPEAKER'S PROFILES
Giuseppe Ippolito
Giuseppe Ippolito is the Scientific Director (since 1998) of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) “Lazzaro Spallanzani” in Rome and Director (since 2009) of the WHO Collaborating Center for clinical care, diagnosis, response and training on Highly Infectious Diseases at INMI. He graduated in Medicine (summa cum laude) at the University La Sapienza in Rome in 1978, and in 1981 he obtained his specialty degree in infectious diseases (summa cum laude). In 1984, he obtained a second specialty degree in Dermatology at the University “La Sapienza”, Rome. He has also received a Masters Degree in Organization and Management of Health Institutions from the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, in 1997. Within the L. Spallanzani Institute Giuseppe Ippolito served in various positions (Registrar and Senior Registrar) in the Infectious Diseases unit during the 1980s. In 1985, he joined the “Latium Region” Regional Authority as head of the AIDS epidemiology unit. In 1990 he was appointed Head of the AIDS Unit at INMI, and in 1993 he became Director of the AIDS Reference Center and the Unit for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology of the same institution; in 2000 he was appointed Director of the Department of epidemiology and pre-clinical research. Giuseppe Ippolito served as member of several National bodies established by the Italian Ministry of Health: National Commission on AIDS (1998-present); Scientific Committee for the Research Project on Antiviral Treatments for AIDS (1992-1996); Scientific Committee for the Research Project on social and ethical aspects of AIDS (1994- 2002); Committee on Ebola and other Hemorrhagic fevers (1995-1996); Scientific Committee for CJV disease (1996); Co-coordinator of the Technical Committee for the management of risks related to the intentional use of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons (2001-2004); Committee on SARS (2003-2005); National Task force for influenza A/H1N1 (2009-2010). He was also a member of the Scientific Committee for the evaluation of Projects of Industrial Research for the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (2005-2009), and he is currently a member of the Scientific Committee of the department of Medicine of the Italian Research Council. He served on a number of international committees with the World Health Organization, the USA Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Health Canada, OECD, United Nations, NATO, G7+ Mexico -Global health Security Action Group, ILO, European Commission. He has served as advisor and evaluator for several research and policy bodies, including the European Commission and the European Center for Diseases Control. In the last 10 years, he coordinated 8 EU-funded projects, and is currently coordinating 4, all in the field of Emerging and Reemerging infections, biosecurity, preparedness and response; he has also been a partner or leader of 6 additional EU projects. He is involved, as scientific coordinator, in international activities funded by the Italian Cooperation Office of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tanzania to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and emerging pathogens. Over the years, Giuseppe Ippolito's research interests have been focused on: the Surveillance and control of nosocomial and occupational infections; epidemiology and prevention of HIV, HBV, HCV, Tuberculosis; Emerging ad re-emerging infections; biodefense, biosecurity and biosafety; alert, preparedness and response. He has published as main author approximately 250 major papers (indexed by Index Medicus for a total Impact Factor of about 1300); 250 other peer-reviewed papers; 26 books, 30 book chapters, 44 reports and other publications for a general audience. In 1998, he received the Charles C. Shepard Science Award from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the study “A case-control of HIV seroconversion after percutaneous exposure”.
