Neonatology is a particular branch of pediatrics occupied primarily with newborn ailments, with special attention given to premature babies. It is a rare and very costly branch of pediatrics, because specialists in this discipline must study an international program of studies to achieve excellence and pursue research projects dedicated to newborns.

L’Insieme has decided to donate 40,000 euros to I.O. PhD, Italy-Netherlands to finance several Doctorates of International Research in the discipline.

I.O. PhD, Italy-Netherlands is coordinated in Italy by Diego Gazzolo, director of the Department of Neonatology in the Cesare Arrigo Hospital of Alessandria, and promoted by the Association I Colori della Vita Onlus. It collaborates scientifically with the University of Utrecht, the University of Maastricht, and the Children’s Hospital of Alessandria, a center of pediatric excellence in Italy founded in 1876.

The donation will be an important contribution towards young, Italian doctoral candidates that have proven eligible for this specialization after being selected by an international commission.

As Dr. Gazzolo says, “Currently, the collaboration between the Children’s Hospital of Alessandria and the Netherlands has created fourteen research projects for as many candidates, four of whom are already doctors and seven of whom will become doctors within the next year. In Italy, there is no international research and study project in neonatology, and it’s for this that we began this fundraiser, in order to guarantee young academics the chance to take the course of qualified studies. The objective is to develop scientific projects in Italy and obtain European recognition. In this way, we can contribute to developing neonatology in Italy and avoid the ‘brain drain.’”

What will the funds be used for? To finance abroad studies, to buy educational and scientific material, and to organize training courses. The contribution will be managed by the program I.O. PhD, Italy-Netherlands, which will distribute the money to provide for highly-prepared specialists in neonatology, a medical specialization that, every year, saves the lives and takes care of thousands of newborns who are in their earliest and most fragile stages of life.