Special Interview with Prof. Rossana Berardi: a prominent figure in Italian medical oncology
On October 23, Journal of cancer metastasis and Treatment had the great pleasure of interviewing Professor Berardi, a prominent figure in Italian medical oncology.
From her early aspiration to pursue medicine and research to her current role as Director of Medical Oncology, she has led a team of nearly 80 researchers, advancing translational studies in lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, gynecologic tumors, and other fields.
As the founder and president of Women for Oncology Italy, she is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for female oncologists through training programs, leadership courses, and professional networking initiatives, advocating for a truly merit-based professional environment.
In the interview, she shared her team's latest progress on immunotherapy predictive markers,such as lipidomic signatures,as well as research on nutrition and sarcopenia in cancer patients and new clinical trials in gynecologic oncology. She also discussed the potential of artificial intelligence in radiology, pathology, and precision medicine, highlighting its promise in shaping the future of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
This interview not only showcased her solid scientific foundation but also underscored her commitment to advancing oncology and gender equality in medicine. The journal will continue to follow the research of her team, working together to promote the global development in oncology.
Watch the following video for expert insight form Prof. Rossana Berardi:
Interview Questions:
1. You were born in the beautiful coastal city of Senigallia on Italy's eastern shore and earned your medical degree from the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Ancona. You once mentioned that you decided to become a doctor as early as elementary school, driven by the wish to "protect life --- the most precious asset we have." Could you share what kind of experience or thought at that time inspired your choice of medicine, and particularly oncology?
2. As the Founder and President of Women 4 Oncology Italy (W4O Italy), you have worked to improve the participation and leadership of women professionals in Italian oncology. In your opinion, how is the current situation of women in oncology research? What "hidden" obstacles do they still face? (For example, promotion opportunities, obtaining research topics, building international networks)
3. In the research projects you have led or participated in, especially those related to the study of prognostic/predictive factors in lung cancer, which factors do you think are currently underestimated in clinical applications? Has your team recently obtained any new data or insights that you can share?
4. Your research spans lung cancer, translational medicine, gene-driven tumors, and precision therapy. According to recent reports, your team has also expanded its focus to more challenging cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer. Among these diverse areas, which line of research do you currently see as having the greatest potential for breakthrough, and why?
5. In the context of the rapid development of precision tumor treatment, what are the benefits of applying artificial intelligence in oncology?
About the interviewee:
Professional Biography: Prof. Rossana Berardi, MD is Professor in Medical Oncology at Università Politecnica Marche, Ancona, Italy. A Director of Department of Medical Oncology, Director of the Postgraduate School of Oncology, Head of "Genetic Cancer" Laboratory, Deputy Director of Department of Clinical and Molecular Science, at Università Politecnica Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Academic Appointments: Member of the Academic Medical Oncology Committee, Member of the "Education and Training" Working Group of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology and member of the "Core Curriculum" Task Force of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). She is also member of the European Hyponatremia network.
Honors and Awards: Dr. Berardi has been awarded many grants and prizes (among the others, several ASCO and ESMO travel grants and merit awards and, more recently, an Italian Oscar Prize for best researcher in oncology).
She has authored more than 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, she has been a speaker at national and international meetings and she has been involved in advisory boards on GI, neuroendocrine tumours, chest tumours, SIADH and on clinical and translational research.
Editor: Frida Zhai
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully submitted by the Editorial Office of Journal of cancer metastasis and Treatment.
