LUCIA De FRANCESCHI. I obtained my Medical Degree cum laude at the University of Verona, Italy in 1991. In the following two years I had an appointment as Research fellow at the Department of Physiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, which directors were prof DC Tosteson and prof C Brugnara. I got the specialization cum laude in Internal Medicine in 1997 at the University of Verona. I maintained annual appointment as vising researcher in the laboratories of prof. Y Beuzard, Paris, France (Hematology Lab., Hopital H Mondor and Lab of Gene Therapy, Hopital S Louis). I had an appointment as Instructor in Pathology, at the Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA (1998-1999). Then, I maintained annual appointment with Laboratory of Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (USA). I actually have the permanent position as Professor in Internal Medicine at the Department of Medicine, University of Verona.