New podcast episode: Prof. Walter Ricciardi on an urgent case for science

“We as scientists, we as professionals, we as leaders have to first of all realise how the situation is changing, a change of epoch, and how to manage. Because for the first time, the dams that shaped our security are trying to break.”

The latest episode of the BBMRI-ERIC podcast shares the keynote address delivered by Professor Walter Ricciardi at the BBMRI-ERIC 10th anniversary workshop.

The anniversary event was held at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the European Union, Brussels on 29 February 2024 and brought together key members of the biobanking community to explore BBMRI-ERIC’s impact as a research infrastructure over the last ten years and look to the future.

We were delighted, and privileged, that the 10th anniversary keynote was delivered by Prof. Walter Ricciardi who is the EU Cancer Mission Board Chair and Chair of the BBMRI-ERIC Scientific and Ethical Advisory Board.

Walter has been a key advisor for BBMRI-ERIC over a number of years and shares our strong vision on the importance of health and life science research for societal wellbeing. He also understands the vital role that biobanks play in this.

Prof. Ricciardi is full Professor of Hygiene and Director of the School of Hygiene and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) (Rome). He is Chair of Mission Board for Cancer (EC), Scientific Committee of Human Technopole Foundation, European Mission Board for vaccination.

In this talk, Professor Ricciardi presents an urgent case for science in an age when we are facing multiple pressures on our health that is intrinsically linked to the health of our planet.

You will hear him link to the EU Mission on Cancer and the vital role that policy makers play in supporting the work of research infrastructures, such as BBMRI-ERIC, to drive forward innovative approaches, standards and research into solving major health challenges.

The full transcript is available here.

BBMRI-ERIC Podcast

Meet Dr. Ángel Álvarez-Prado, principal investigator at the Translational Cancer Immunogenomics Lab at the Luxembourg Institute of Health. His journey took him from a curious child and self-described “computer nerd” to the head of his own laboratory, dedicated to advancing cancer treatment. Ángel first crossed paths with BBMRI-ERIC in 2023 while working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at the University of Lausanne. He was selected to participate in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, an annual event where young scientists have the rare opportunity to engage with Nobel Laureates and explore breakthroughs in their fields.

BBMRI-ERIC sponsored Ángel’s participation and the experience helped spark his motivation to become independent and establish his own translational research lab. Later, as his dream of building a lab began to take shape, Ángel started analysing clinical samples and BBMRI-ERIC played a key role by helping him identify suitable collections for his research and by streamlining access to them.

In today’s episode, Angel shares his research, his vision for personalised cancer therapies and offers advice to aspiring scientists considering a career in research.

Further reading:

Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: https://www.lindau-nobel.org/

BBMRI Podcast: https://www.bbmri-eric.eu/bbmri-eric/bbmri-eric-podcast/