We have invested these first 15 years in the construction of something that was missing in the field of transplants in Italy and in Veneto, the dissemination of the culture of donation and the continuous training of the healthcare personnel involved in the process of donation and transplant. We have obtained results that make us proud of the energy we have put into them. We have become the reference training agency for the Veneto Regional Government and the National Transplant Centre, and we have actively contributed to the dissemination of the culture of donation with our reference Voluntary Associations. But today we must meet the new challenges that the progress of science and technology offers to scientific research.

With CORIT, our operational arm for research since 1997, we set ourselves an important goal, to create the Regenerative Medicine Research Plan for 2009-2011. The aim of this project is to identify new treatments for our people by developing research studies on stem cells and bioartificial organs. Veneto is the first region in Italy to develop a single coordinating policy for scientific research in this field, and has identified our Consortium as the ideal partner for this activity. And this makes us proud of the work we have done so far. CORIT, in fact, combines expertise from centres of healthcare excellence throughout the broader Veneto region, such as the Universities and Hospitals of Padua, Verona and Udine, the health authorities of Treviso, Vicenza, Rovigo, Venice and Trento, and the Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie. Over time it has been able to create an important pool of resources in transplant immunology, focussed on lengthening the survival time of the human organs that are available, and conducting research into new immunosuppressors drugs. As part of the Regenerative Medicine project, CORIT will develop new clinical approaches, with the use of stem cells in haematology, orthopaedics, maxillofacial medicine and eye disease.

But as we know, research has a huge impact in terms of the financial commitment it requires. For this reason, FITOT and CORIT are engaged, alongside the Veneto regional government, in the search throughout the region for the vital resources the research needs to be effective creating an articulated programme to collect the funds to enable us to carry out this important project. We must not forget that investing in research today means investing in our future. And this is why we need the help of everyone who wants to join us in this adventure. We believe that to be able to identify new treatments for all of us by supporting scientific research into Regenerative Medicine is a goal that is truly fundamental for the constant improvement of the quality of out lives.

The Chairman
Pilade Riello