Welcome to Italy in the Spotlight: A Message from EATRIS Italy

EATRIS Italy, through its national node A_IATRIS, has built over time a strong and collaborative network of more than 20 leading research institutions across the country, including IRCCS, universities and both public and private research organisations. This network has contributed to a robust ecosystem of expertise and research infrastructures in translational medicine. It is therefore timely for Italy to take its place in the EATRIS Spotlight Programme as the fifth country leading this initiative from June to November 2026.

With a focus on “Inclusion and Equity in Medicine and Biomedical Research”, the Italian Spotlight aims to promote a more inclusive, equitable and representative approach to biomedical and translational research (one that fully recognises and values biological, social, and cultural diversity and ensures that no groups are overlooked in research and healthcare).Throughout the initiative, opportunities, challenges and ethical implications related to inclusion and equity in research and clinical practice will be explored, with the goal of advancing more effective and accessible scientific and clinical practices for all.

The project is led by the coordinators of the Italian node of EATRIS, Dr. Franca Moretti, Dr. Francesca Capone and Dr. Chiara De Nuccio, who hold scientific, coordination and governance roles at national and European levels and contribute to the overall coordination and implementation of the initiative. During its time in the EATRIS Spotlight, the Italian node aims to foster new collaborations across the A_IATRIS network (EATRIS Italian Node), and the wider EATRIS community, promoting dialogue among researchers, clinicians, policymakers, patient associations and other stakeholders.

Through scientific events in English, including workshops and symposia co-organised by multiple institutions and involving, where possible, partners from other nodes and European infrastructures, A_IATRIS will address key issues such as equitable access to technologies, representation in research and inclusion of vulnerable populations. The programme will emphasise key aspects such as gender equality, balanced territorial representation across Italy, and the inclusion of patient and community perspectives. It will further address equitable access to biomedical technologies, promote diversity in both clinical and preclinical research, and explore topics related to ethics, regulation, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and translational medicine.

The programme will culminate in the final event “A_IATRIS Day: Projects, Collaborations and Services” in December 2026 at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome, aimed at presenting the outcomes of the Italian Spotlight, highlighting future collaborations and challenges. Our hope is that the conclusion of the Italian Spotlight will mark the starting point for a new vision of translational medicine, in which collaboration, inclusion, and equity guide the path toward a fairer future that truly values the diversity of every individual.

Warm regards,
Franca, Chiara e Francesca

News from EATRIS Italy