The Fondazione Ricerca e Innovazione Cardiovascolare was established in Lodi, on December 15, 2020.
The Fondazione was born, as often happens to innovative ideas, from a simple meeting over coffee in May 2020. On that occasion, one of its founding members, Bernardo Cortese, Cardiologist in Milan, had an outburst in front of future members Roberto Galvagno and Gianni Manetta.
“Is it possible that all the attention of our country is focused on Covid, and we forget that this year, more than in the past, cardiovascular diseases are claiming so many victims?” the question arose, spontaneously. Indeed, the first available data already showed an increase in cardiovascular deaths “due to forgetfulness.” But Covid was only the tip of the iceberg.
There was a need to fill this gap, not only at the level of correct information about the problem, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic situation, but also at the level of research. Few people in Italy are aware that very little is invested in our country to support studies of international relevance, and this applies to both public and private investments.
This happens in spite of an average high or very high scientific level of our researchers: despite this, the funding obtained is among the lowest in the world among countries considered developed.
AN HISTORIC DECISION
The three Founding Members mentioned above, therefore, made a decision at that time that was, in our humble opinion, historic, namely, to establish a modern, streamlined and efficient Foundation to support research in the Italian cardiac and cardiovascular fields. Specifically, the aims of Fondazione R.I.C. are to support the most innovative technologies and techniques in order to be able to better treat cardiac patients, especially the most delicate and high-risk ones, starting with the strands of research undertaken by Dr. Cortese, including the use of medicated balloons instead of prostheses (stents) and modern and safer operating techniques. The research and experiments that form the background of the Fondazione can be found here: https://www.bernardocortese.com/
We at R.I.C. ask ourselves some questions nowadays:
- Are there cures and treatment protocols that can be tailored to all patients?
- That to say, is it perhaps better to create Medicine tailored to the needs and characteristics of all patients?
- Can we reduce the risk of bleeding inherent in implanting common medicated stents, or their occlusion in the medium to long term?
- Can we avoid metal coating the coronary arteries of cardiac patients by reducing the extent and number of implanted stents?
- Can we expand the availability and treatment of patients with valvulopathy to increasingly less invasive techniques that allow for faster recovery?
- Can we treat patients by coronary angioplasty and discharge them after a few hours?
- Will we be able to treat patients with peripheral atherosclerotic disease less invasively?
- How can we better follow up patients with Heart Failure, even remotely, by reducing the number of scheduled visits and Emergency Room access?
- Is there an opportunity to develop protocols for managing heart failure patients or those at risk during pandemics, such as the Covid pandemic we are currently experiencing?
- Can we improve the interaction between Italian universities and research institutions to optimize processes, treatment protocols, and research in the Cardiovascular field?
- Can we better, and more effectively, educate Italians regarding cardiovascular disease?
- Is it possible to better educate among at-risk categories (e.g., athletes) to reduce the infamous sudden death during physical exertion?
- Can we psychologically support patients with severe cardiovascular disease, such as with the help of Music?
Fondazione Ricerca e Innovazione Cardiovascolare aims to answer these and other questions, which the currently available scientific evidence has not yet been able to answer.
It is an ambitious goal, with the purpose of bringing about deeper scientific knowledge where it is still lacking, with the aim of improving the quality and length of life of the most frail heart patient.
How do we want to do this? By supporting research in a transparent and unbiased way.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bernardo Cortese
President of Fondazione RIC – C.E.O of DCB Academy
BIOGRAPHY
For biography please visit: https://www.bernardocortese.com/
Armando Simbari
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Giovanni Manetta
Business Consultant
BIOGRAPHY
Giovanni Manetta was born in Palermo and immediately after graduating from university and earning a master’s degree in business disciplines, he moved to Milan where he embarked on his managerial career with major Retail Companies.
He has been working as a Business Strategy Consultant for 25 years. As an act of vindication of his indigent origins, he is involved in social work on behalf of the less-affluent families in the Palermo neighborhood where he was born.
Married, father of two daughters, he dabbles in cooking with notable results according to his guests at the table.
Indulging his culinary passion, he is Milan’s Bailli of the “Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Association Mondiale de la Gastronomie.”
He fully and enthusiastically shared Bernardo Cortese’s idea by giving his availability in the activity of running the Fondazione.
