RUSSO, DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION OF THE REGION: "IN VENETO, HIGH VACCINATION COVERAGE AND GOOD SCREENING ADHERENCE”
The Forum is promoted by the Veneto Region, the Municipality of Padua, the University of Padua, the Chamber of Commerce of Padua, and Fondazione Cariparo
Padua, March 7, 2025 – Precision medicine, health, and prevention are the main topics of the second edition of the World Health Forum Veneto, scheduled from March 13 to 15 in Padua. Over the course of the three-day event, 16 sessions will be held, addressing environmental, physical, and nutritional health issues, with a focus on their role in prevention and treatment in hospitals throughout the Veneto Region.
Prevention is a cornerstone of modern medicine, and one of the most anticipated interventions in this area is that of Dr. Francesca Russo, Director of the Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Directorate of the Veneto Region and a member of the Scientific Committee, who explains: "In my presentation, I will illustrate what we do in terms of prevention, placing the individual at the center and striving to ensure the concept of Health and Well-being even in the environment in which they live," emphasizes Dr. Russo. "This is achieved by involving the community, the workplace, and places of study. We incorporate prevention activities from birth to aging, adapting prevention programs accordingly.” A process that begins even before birth. "We pay attention to all stages of life, from conception to aging. As for children, we promote health through schools; additionally, we have targeted policies for active municipalities and pathways involving the entire community, leading to specialized surveillance projects. In addition to that, all healthcare policies related to aging," adds Russo. "The 'Vivo Bene’ (Living Well) communication campaign, aimed at increasing public awareness of health pathways, has yielded tangible results: in Veneto, we have the lowest chronic disease rates, high vaccination coverage, strong screening participation, and good survival rates. We are committed to combating alcohol consumption and obesity, which are other key aspects of our program. We have a population that tends to be healthy and understands the importance of self-care."
The discussion will also focus on innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, a topic that will be addressed by Professor Angelo Paolo Dei Tos, Full Professor of Pathological Anatomy and President of the Council of the School of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Padua and a member of the Scientific Committee: "We will explore the themes of digital revolution in both diagnostics and oncological research," he explains. "A revolution that involves the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance data analysis. More than ever, we are striving to provide answers that make precision medicine a reality. The new tools," continues the professor, "represent the true response to integrating data from different fields. By factoring in all the elements and utilizing computational power, we achieve precision medicine. The medicine of the future—and the present—cannot disregard Artificial Intelligence, and ignoring this trajectory means trying to stop a tsunami that is already arriving.”
Another key focus will be the "Factor IX Padua": a groundbreaking scientific discovery made in Padua by Professor Paolo Simioni, Director of the Department of Medicine DIMED at the University of Padua and a member of the Scientific Committee, which has revolutionized the approach to treating Hemophilia B. This severe disorder is caused by a deficiency of coagulation factor IX, leading to severe bleeding in affected individuals. "If we look at nature through the eyes of science, we can find unexpected solutions," explains Professor Simioni, who will present his discovery on stage at the World Health Forum. "While studying a young patient with thrombosis, we discovered a mutation in the gene that encodes the synthesis of factor IX, a protein essential for blood coagulation. In this young patient, the functional activity of his factor IX was nine times higher than normal, and this excess function was the cause of his increased risk of thrombosis."
This insight led to the groundbreaking discovery that earned a place in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. "Some people lack factor IX and develop Hemophilia B, characterized by spontaneous and prolonged bleeding," Simioni continues. "Using the hyperfunctional recombinant Padua factor IX could finally enable effective gene therapy to cure Hemophilia B permanently. Many international research groups recognized this potential and developed gene therapy protocols using the Padua factor IX. Essentially, 'thrombophilia helped us cure hemophilia'—we learned from a mistake of nature how to find a solution to a serious disease caused by another error of nature itself. Aristotle’s statement that 'Nature does nothing in vain' seems particularly fitting in this case. Today, Factor IX Padua is at the core of gene therapy for Hemophilia B and is already available to patients worldwide.”
The Scientific Committee
In addition to President Giorgio Palù, the Scientific Committee is composed of distinguished figures from the academic and scientific world, including Francesca Russo, Director of the Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Directorate of the Veneto Region; Angelo Paolo Dei Tos, President of the Council of the School of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Padua; Nicola Elvassore, Scientific Director of the Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM); Rosario Rizzuto, Director of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Padua; and Paolo Simioni, Director of the Department of Medicine DIMED at the University of Padua.
Taking the stage at the World Health Forum Veneto will be authoritative voices from institutional and economic sectors, as well as scientists from Italy and around the world, representing leading academic institutions such as Harvard Medical School, King’s College London, Imperial College London, and the University of Navarra. For this reason, many English-language events will have simultaneous translation to reach as broad an audience as possible. We remind that the event is open to all: citizens, professionals, patients, and experts.
Registration and Social Media
Registration for the three-day event is now open and completely free on the website: https://worldhealthforum.it/il-programma-2025. The World Health Forum 2025 also has active social media channels: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whfveneto), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/worldhealthforumveneto), X (https://twitter.com/WHFVeneto), and Threads (https://www.threads.net/@whfveneto).
Promoters
The event is promoted by the Veneto Region, the Municipality of Padua, the University of Padua, the Chamber of Commerce of Padua, and Fondazione Cariparo, in collaboration with the Public Health School Foundation and Venicepromex.
Blum. Business as a medium
The World Health Forum Veneto is born with a specific purpose: to analyze the present and delve into the future of medical sciences and technologies that can improve life.
