Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Unimore Professor Luca Pani to Lead ISSNAF, the Premier Foundation for Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America

"I take on this role with a profound sense of responsibility and deep gratitude towards the Italian Embassy in Washington and the leadership of ISSNAF, who over the years have built the strong foundations upon which we shall now work," stated Professor Luca Pani. "My commitment will be to strengthen, in a measured and structured manner, the bridge between Italy and North America, with a particular focus on the convergence of biomedical sciences and artificial intelligence—the very pillars at the heart of the recent Italy-US Joint Commission. For Italian universities and for Unimore, this translates into tangible opportunities, academic mobility, access to international networks and funding, and a more direct dialogue with North American scientific institutions."

Established in 2007 under the auspices of the Italian Embassy in Washington and currently under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, ISSNAF brings together over 3,500 Italian scientists, researchers, academics, and professionals operating across the United States and Canada. It boasts a network of local chapters and a well-established capacity to develop institutional-level programmes. Among its 36 founding members are four Nobel Laureates: Renato Dulbecco, Louis Ignarro, Riccardo Giacconi, and Mario Capecchi.

For the first time, the presidency of ISSNAF has been entrusted to a tenured full professor at an Italian university who concurrently holds an equivalent academic chair in the United States. This profile directly embodies the Foundation's mission—to connect the Italian intellectual diaspora—and places Unimore in a privileged position of observation and action within transatlantic scientific relations.

Professor Pani’s presidency arrives at a moment of significant revitalisation for bilateral cooperation. On 13 April last, the 15th Italy-US Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology Cooperation took place in Washington, co-chaired by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the US Department of State. The Commission identified four strategic areas for global competitiveness: artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, advanced materials, and biotechnology. In the roundtable dedicated to biotechnology, ISSNAF was designated as a key partner for international training programmes.

It is precisely in this arena that Professor Pani’s contribution can generate concrete collaborations. His scientific hallmark—the convergence of biomedical sciences with artificial intelligence and machine learning—perfectly aligns with two of the four JCM pillars and matches the strategic research avenues in which the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is already heavily invested.

Biographical Profile

Luca Pani, MD, who holds dual Italian and American citizenship, is Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, as well as Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Medical Director of Continuing Education Programmes at the University of Miami. He previously served as Director General of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA, 2011–2016) and held key roles within the European Medicines Agency (EMA), including seats on the Management Board, the CHMP, and the SAWP. He is the Immediate Past President of the International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM) and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Human Technopole Foundation. Author of over 245 peer-reviewed publications and 26 volumes, he is widely recognised for his pioneer work on integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into research and regulatory sciences.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng