Mar. 20 – HIV and hepatitis are the areas of research that have been talked about at Croi 2014, the International Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections held in Boston. Croi welcomes 10 000 delegates from all over the world for a three-day conference, with one session dedicated entirely to Italian research. In this area, the works of 17 Italian researchers were presented in what turned out to be an important occasion to launch the sixth national ICAR congress, the Italian Conference on Retroviruses and AIDS, to be held in Rome May 25-27. One the most interesting presentations given at the World Congress was the Italian study on new EEG systems (systems that allow to study the problem of neurocognitive damage in HIV cases). By looking at cases of people who suffer from premature aging, which could lead to dementia, the researchers developed a new technique to identify the neurological damages in newborns. “During the congress in Rome scheduled for May – says Massimo Andreoni, president of the Italian Society For Infectious and Tropical Diseases – we will present the main Italian researches on AIDS. This congress is very important to help focus attention on Italian research, which is currently in great trouble due to lack of funds. Nevertheless, projects continue to deliver excellent results, as demonstrated by this experience in Boston. In Rome, there will be further opportunity to give them all the space and attention needed.”
