Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, accounting in 2018 for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths. In Italy and Japan it is the cause of about 28% of annual deaths. The word cancer embodies a large group of diseases with a variety of multiple mechanisms that remains to this day largely unknown. The conventional chemotherapy treatments are in many cases not, or only temporarily, effective, and burdensome for the patients. That calls for the urgent development of alternative cancer therapies. Nonetheless, enormous advancements have recently been made thanks to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms of tumor development. The webinar aims at showcasing the Italian and Japanese research advancements in alternative cancer therapies. The event is held within the framework of the Italian Research Day in Japan 2021 and of the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Health and Medical Sciences between the Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Italy’s Ministry of Health.
Venue: Zoom platform
Date: 18 October 2021, 16.00-18.30 Japan time (9.00-11.30 Italy time)
Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W6dPoj6lQGesaZ6vUAw9Ww
PROGRAM
16.00-16.04 Welcome and Opening Remarks – H.E. Gianluigi Benedetti (Ambassador Designate of Italy to Japan)
16.04-16.05 Introduction by the Moderator – Prof. Enrico Traversa (Scientific Counsellor, Embassy of Italy in Japan)
16.05-16.10 Opening address (video message) – H.E. Maria Cristina Messa (Minister of University and Research, Italy)
16.10-16.15 Opening address – Ambassador Hiroshi Minami (Deputy Director-General for Global Health, Office of Healthcare Policy, Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Japan and Ambassador for Public Diplomacy, International Economic Affairs and Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
16.15-16.35 “Future perspective of cancer immunotherapy” – Prof. Tasuku Honjo (Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2018, Deputy Director-General and Distinguished Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, and Director, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology (CCII), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University)
16.35-16.55 “Tumor microenvironment” – Prof. Alberto Mantovani (Scientific Director, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Emeritus Professor, Humanitas University, Milan, and Chair of Inflammation and Therapeutic Innovation, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University, London)
16.55-17.15 “Reprogramming Cancer Tissue as Emerging Therapy: Anakoinosis” – Prof. Lina Ghibelli (University of Rome Tor Vergata)
17.15-17.35 “Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer for Alternative Therapies” – Prof. Pier Giuseppe Pelicci (Director of Research, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan)
17.35-17.55 “Nanomedicine for Tumor Immunotherapy” – Prof. Horacio Cabral (Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo)
17.55-18.30 Panel Discussion with the 5 speakers and wrap-up by moderator