Section: Research in the fight against Covid-19

Winner: National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani (Rome)

The jury of the Res Publica International Award awards the 2020 honor for research on Covid-19 to the National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital in Rome. The award reflects the international community's appreciation of the outstanding health sciences that the institution has built over the years—and especially this year, with the spirit of academic determination, scientific acumen, and therapeutic application that the staff continues to display for understand the disease, causes and remedies.

Among the numerous initiatives implemented by the Spallanzani Hospital, the jury recognizes in particular the research on the pathogen at the origin of the pandemic, and the primary role played personally by the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Francesco Vaia and by Dr. Simone Lanini. Under the latter's direction, Spallanzani researchers were among the first in the world to isolate covid-19: among them Maria Rosaria Capobianchi, Francesca Colavita and Francesca Castiletti. The result of their studies leads to greater possibilities of understanding the pathogen to better counter its spread, as well as representing an essential step towards the discovery of the vaccine. The sequence of the virus created at Spallanzani and made available to the international community also brings immediate practical results, as it makes it possible to refine diagnoses and test drugs more effectively.

The promotion of a great medical conscience aimed at studying and assisting the sick up to the risk of the greatest personal sacrifice opens up new glimmers of light and hope.

La Giuria è orgogliosa di retribuire questo sforzo coraggioso ed efficace che realizza concretamente la missione del Premio Res Publica. La giuria nota anche che, pur essendo una delle strutture sanitarie più moderne al mondo con disponibilità dei migliori laboratori di virologia, l’Ospedale Spallanzani non avrebbe potuto raggiungere i livelli di professionalità che lo caratterizzano senza i grandi eroi che in essa partecipano: ricercatori, dottori e il resto del personale medico.  Grazie a professionalità e impegno essi continuano a dimostrare quotidianamente che, di fronte a una crisi sanitaria senza precedenti, la salute pubblica è uno dei pilastri nella nostra societa’.  Il Premio Res Publica onora questi eroi, come l’opinione pubblica ha fatto per mesi con applausi e saluti.