He dedictated all his life to science, medicine and the well-being of mankind.
CEO and founder of Creabilis therapeutics, Prof. Fumero had a post graduate specialization in General Pathology and a doctorate degree in Biology, both at the University of Turin. Over the years he held various positions, as a toxicologist, at the Directorate Chemical and Pharma Industry of the European Commission in Brussels. He contributed to the preparation of the European Guidelines in toxicology, mutagenecity, GLP and GMP. Consultant for the European Union (DGXI Environment) for the finalization of Annex VIIIth for toxicology testing and particularly for mutagenicity, he had also been invited member at the OECD updating panel on Mutagenicity tests. Furthermore, Professor Fumero led the CNR Program on cAMP-binding proteins in mammary cancer at the CNR, Italian National Council of Research, was Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Applied Pharmacology Science and Member of the Editorial Board of the journal “Toxicology”. Promoter and founder of the Bioindustry Park of Canavese, Ivrea, he was also contract professor of Industrial Research and Development at the Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Turin. Professor Silvano Fumero was a member of several scientific societies and author of more than 70 scientific publications. He was President of Serono Symposia International Foundation since 2004.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
There are a number of definitions of translation medicine but the following, from the Medical Research Council, probably sums them all up: “The process of the bidirectional transfer of knowledge between basic work (in the laboratory and elsewhere) with that of the person, in health or disease” [Ref: MRC Translational Workshop Report].
This definition broadens the horizon and encompasses not just the basic science to define the effects of therapeutics on human beings and the investigation of the biology of the disease in order to develop improved therapies, but also other aspects such as regulatory and ethics. In simple terms, translational medicine links all of the disciplines in therapeutics discovery from basic research to clinical delivery “bench to beside (and back again)”. The latter hence takes many other aspects into the picture such as education, business and economic issues which are often left out of the equation.
The usefulness of such a branch of science is fairly obvious. There is a growing need to bridge the communication void between the various actors involved in the development of drugs as well as the gap between the actual manufacturing of the drug and the end user. Translation medicine aims at building a number of bridges between the various elements in order to accelarate product development taking safety, quality and efficacy into consideration as well as the end needs of the patient including costs.
In recent years there has been a growing interest from industry and universities on this subject. In the UK Wyeth and Scottish Enterprise have invested more than €70 million in the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration across a consortium of research universities and the UK Medical Research Council has launched six major translational medicine centres. The British and US governments have also advocated a rapid translation of research findings into health and economic benefits.
Embedding this innovative approach to into all organisations across therapeutics development needs the support of researchers and practitioners who have a greater understanding of all the aspects of translational medicine.
In this framework the University of Edinburgh has developed the first postgraduate e-leaning programme of its kind highlighting the interdependence of medical, scientific, regulatory and societal components of Translational Medicine, with experts in each of these areas contributing to the programme content. The principles are applied in real-life examples of cutting-edge research, using multiple information sources and teaching media.
At the end of the certificate, students will be able to envisage the pathway of research from cloning to clinic, and the deployment of many state-of-the-art tools. The programme will appeal to a broad range of clinicians, scientists, paramedical researchers and regulators in academia, biopharmaceutical, policy and healthcare sectors. For many it will provide an alternative to, or high quality preparation for, a MD or PhD.
The University plans to extend this programme to Diploma and MSc level in 2008. It is envisaged that students enrolled on the Certificate will be able to proceed directly on to these higher qualifications.
Serono Symposia International Foundation was honoured to have the opportunity to grant a limited number of full scholarships for the Certificate with an unconditional educational grant. The Scholarships were chosen by the University of Edinburgh.
Further reading
More information on the University of Edinburgh e-learning program
Selected articles
M. Baker, In biomarkers we trust? Nature Biotechnology (2005)
H. Hörig et al, Obstacles and opportunities in translational research, Nature Medicine (2005)
See also the Journal of Translational Medicine
I am Alicia Belgorosky, MD, PhD. I achieved a Research Career Award as a Principal Investigator from the National Research Council of Argentina. Since 1994-2007 I have been the Director of the Research Department of the Hospital de Pediatria Garrahan, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recently, I became Chairwoman of the Endocrine Service at the same Institution. I have published 80 original articles in high impact journals and I have contributed in several reviews articles in different books.
2) Endocrinology is a branch of medicine that studies many different organs and functions. In this subject area, what are, in your opinion, the recent achievements that can be translated into real improvements for patients affected by endocrine disorders?
Many recent achievements have been translated into real improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders of children and adolescents. Molecular diagnoses of gene mutations have helped to identify congenital anomalies of the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, endocrine pancreas, adrenal and gonads. New advances in our knowledge of bone diseases are having a strong impact in our understanding and management of these disorders.
The development of automatic analytical hormone assays allowing fast responses of multiple serum hormone determinations now available to the clinician, as well as powerful imaging techniques of great diagnostic value are important achievements in the management of patients.
Pharmacogenetics is a potent new tool for the development of drugs. Hormones synthesized by genetic engineering, such as recombinant insulin and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), have being in use for more than 20 years. The therapeutic use of GnRH analogs is a practical application of a biological knowledge, cell desensitization induced by hormonal stimuli, which has been very useful in the treatment of precocious sexual development. These new tools have changed our therapeutic possibilities in many fields of endocrinology.
On the other hand, the implementation of mandatory newborn screening programs for congenital disease is changing our diagnostic and treatment strategies for the management of these problems. In the case of congenital hypothyroidism, early treatment makes possible to prevent severe brain damage. These programs, introduced 30 years ago in developed countries, are now being massively extended to developing societies. Recently, screening of congenital adrenal hyperplasia has been added to the list, alerting pediatricians in order to avoid dehydration shock and sudden death, particularly in male infants. In this disorder, the possibility of prenatal molecular diagnosis and treatment of the female fetus can avoid masculinization of external genitalia with its unwanted consequences.
Management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy requires special considerations because pregnancy induces major changes in thyroid function, and maternal thyroid disease can have adverse effects on the pregnancy and the fetus. Avoiding maternal (and fetal) hypothyroidism is of major importance because of potential damage to fetal neural development, an increased incidence of miscarriage, and preterm delivery. Maternal hyperthyroidism and its treatment may be accompanied by coincident problems in fetal thyroid function.
Endocrine disorders are common in survivors of childhood cancer, particularly brain tumors. Survival rates are improving following cancer therapy for childhood tumors, and therefore a growing cohort of survivors at risk of late effects of cancer therapy is being generated. The recognition and prompt management of these are essential to prevent further morbidity and impairment of quality of life. Cranial radiation can damage hypothalamic–pituitary function, most frequently affecting GH status; however, higher radiation doses may cause more widespread hypothalamic–pituitary damage. Both cranial irradiation alone and with spinal irradiation can result in radiation damage to the thyroid resulting in hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules, a high proportion of which are malignant. Gonadal damage secondary to spinal irradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy may have long-term consequences including infertility.
3) Genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. How are these new tools changing endocrine research?
Endocrine research has been strongly influenced by the emerging general field of systems biology which has been spurred on by the completion of various genome projects, the large increase in data from genomics and proteomics and the accompanying advances in high-throughput experiments and bioinformatics. Metabolomics, by providing a detailed description of human endocrine pathways of small-molecule metabolites, metabolic intermediates, hormones and their signaling molecules, and secondary metabolites has helped in the clarification of normal and abnormal mechanisms of action of secretory products of endocrine glands. Many recent advances in hormone interactions at the local (paracine and autocrine effects) and distal (endocrine effects) levels have helped in the understanding of many complex biological processes.
The field of genomics has had an unprecedented impact on the harvest of new information pertaining to the mechanism of hormone action of known hormones, as well as those new ones, recently discovered. Genomics along with proteomics have helped to unravel the molecular mechanisms of receptor signaling of cell membrane and nuclear receptors. In the field of childhood growth and development, for instance, the discovery gene defects of new proteins involved in the signaling of growth hormone and cytokines have contributed to the understanding of severe growth retardation associated to chronic infections. These discoveries open new ways for prevention and treatment.
4) What are the most important advances in research focused on growth hormone?
In the case of rhGH, while treatment of GH deficiency with the scarce old preparation derived from human pituitaries was insufficient and dangerous, because of contamination with prions inducing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the recombinant protein has made possible to treat safely children with short stature of multiple aetiologies. In patients with GH deficiency, normal final height is achieved when early diagnosis and appropriate treatment with rhGH is provided. This treatment is also successful in Turner´s syndrome, children born small for gestational age, chronic renal failure, Prader-Willi syndrome and even in selected cases of idiopathic short stature. Side effects are infrequent.
Pituitary hormone deficiency and pituitary adenomas are common problems. Studies in genetically engineered and mutant mice have advanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying these disease processes. During development signaling molecules expressed in the infundibulum and ventral mesenchyme control spatial patterns of transcription factor expression, leading to specialized cell types that produce pituitary hormones. In most cases, genes discovered in the mouse have led quickly to the discovery of lesions in human patients and have revealed the genetic hierarchy of control of pituitary cell specification and growth.
In survivors of childhood cancer prompt diagnosis and management of GH deficiency may improve final height outcome; continued GH therapy beyond final height aids in the achievement of adult body composition (lean body mass and bone mass) and GH therapy in adulthood improves quality of life.
5) What are the recent achievements in the evaluation of sexual differentiation mechanisms?
Some of these achievements are well summarized in a consensus document on the management of intersex disorders issued by The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology. Experts representing genetics, endocrinology, pediatric surgery and gynecology, psychology, sociology and patient advocacy groups gathered to formulate answers to a series of questions representing the spectrum of challenges posed by the investigation and management of an infant with ambiguous genitalia. Six Working Groups covered the topics Genetics and Nomenclature, Brain Programming, Investigation and Medical Management, Surgical Management, Psychosexual and Psychosocial Issues, and Outcome Data. A key product of the Consensus was the revision of the nomenclature and terminology used by health professionals. A modern lexicon was devised to reflect progress in the molecular aspects of sex development and to employ precision in applying definitions and diagnostic labels.
The evaluation disorders of sexual differentiation mechanisms is conveniently divided into, a) defects in gonadal formation (gonadal dysgenesis), either in 46,XX, 46,XY or abnormal sex chromosome individuals, b) defects in androgen/AMH synthesis or sensitivity in 46,XY individuals and, c) excessive androgens in 46,XX individuals. So far, very important advances have been achieved in the description of gene defects responsible for items b) and c). In contrast, poor advances have been made in the clarification of the genetic mechanisms of gonadal dysgenesis. In important achievement has been the role of the steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). Byallelic severe mutations are associated with combined gonadal and adrenal deficiency, but the abnormal phenotype of heterozygote inactivating mutations is limited to the gonads and might mimic partial androgen insensitivity syndrome in 46,XY individuals. The complexity of SF-1 gene defects arises from the fact that SF-1 is necessary both for gonadal differentiation and for promotor regulation of several steroidogenic enzyme and the AMH genes. In any case, additional work is needed for a better understanding of the process of gonadal differentiation.
Thank you very much.
During events organized by SSIF and at Congresses where SSIF is present with its booth, participants, via a form, have the opportunity to suggest topics to be addressed in SSIF events or through one of the services offered by its website.
Among the requests collected, the website Editorial Board selected the below topic
Does endogenous GH have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome and what are the relationships between rhGH administration and those disorders?
Click here for the Literature Review!
Quality Management in Assisted Reproduction; September 6-8, 2007; Salvador de Baia, Brazil
Progress of Fertility Preservation in Malignant Disease; September 9, 2007; Hobart, Australia
Click here for the Symposium Review (FSA Newsletter)!
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NEW ONLINE COURSE IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & ENDOCRINOLOGY
Embryo Cryopreservation is now available on the Serono Symposia International Foundation webiste |
Click here for Final Program and Abstracts!
IVF Preceptorship; October 29-31, 2007; Madrid, Spain
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Genetics of MS and other Leukoencephalopathies; September 14-15, 2007; Istanbul Turkey
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MS Academia - Multiple Sclerosis Advanced Course; October 10, 2007; Czech Republic
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9th International MS Nurse Workshop; October 10, 2007; Prague, Czech Republic
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Click here for Final Program and Abstracts!
This Event, organized by the tri-national Bioalpine Cluster, offered the opportunity to share the latest updates on mechanisms of inflammation, autoimmunity and drugs targeted for these disorders among researchers working in academic centers and in biotech companies. Some of the speakers had comprehensive lectures on fine mechanisms of damages related to inflammatory and autoimmune processes, others presented innovative and promising drugs now under investigation.
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Gene, Environment, Lifestyle Interaction and Human Reproduction; February 7-9, 2008; Malmo, Sweden
The Symposium is geared toward covering the most recent advances in both, the basic aspects and the clinical application, of cryopreservation and IVM in reproductive medicine.
This Symposium will be held before the ASPIRE 2008 Congress and will provide a comprehensive review on Policystic Ovary Syndrome. Epidemiology, etiology and diagnosis will be exhaustively presented in order to introduce topics related to magement of PCOS and ART implementation in PCOS patients.
Assisted reproductive technologies include ovarian stimulation in the majority of the cases. In the recent years, experience accumulated in the treatment of infertile couples led to the individualization of ovarian stimulation protocols. Every patient needs to be treated according to strategies developed with the help of basic science research devoted to a better understanding of ovarian physiology. This symposium therefore includes basic science and clinical experience.
This conference aims to produce a highly scientific programme covering the innovative aspects in the MS management. This new approach will highlight the chance to differentiate MS phenotypes, leading to a new era of tailor-made patient treatment.
This symposia aims to produce a highly scientific program covering the principal aspects in epidemiology, genetics and pathophysiology and management of MS: early diagnosis and treatment, criteria of treatment failure, criteria for changing DMDs, long term treatment and new therapies for MS.
This is an educational programme created to encourage the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field of MS. It will stress the benefits of new diagnostic tools for defining the natural history of MS and disease activity monitoring. Current diagnostic criteria for MS will also be reviewed in the light of new medical evidence. A review of recent clinical trials and treatment optimisation guidelines will also be presented.
This is an educational program created to encourage the dissemination of scientific knowledge among nurses from all over the world in the field of MS.
The aim of this symposium is to present the current state-of the-art in diagnosis as well as therapy of endocrine and cardio-metabolic disorders in a highly scientific environment. The attendees can be continuously updated on synergies among endocrine, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders over the next couple of years.
This Symposium will be held before the EADV 2008 Congress and will provide a comprehensive introduction in all the most important aspects of psoriasis management. The evolution of pharmacological therapies, from the older compounds to biologics, and the importance of patients’ needs will be treated more extensively.
