FESTMIH President Marco Albonico Awarded Grassi Medal

FESTMIH President Marco Albonico Awarded Grassi Medal

To commemorate the centenary of the death of Giovanni Battista Grassi (1925-2025), the Italian Society of Parasitology (SOIPA) established an award of medals to scientists who have distinguished themselves in the field of parasitology. The medals were awarded on 25th June 2026, during the Symposium on GB Grassi at the XXXIV SOIPA Congress, at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna.

Among the senior awardees, was Prof Marco Albonico, our FESTMIH President. Marco has been a passionate scientist on parasitology since his early career on Pemba island, Tanzania. In his acknowledgements he mentioned three masters: prof Ivo de Carneri, Prof Mario Coluzzi and Dr Lorenzo Savioli. They taught him the science, the art and the passion for parasitology research and, especially, the insight of parasitology towards social science for improving public health. The legacy of Grassi is valid until today:  understanding disease requires careful observation, attention to ecologic and biologic complexity, and collaboration across disciplines.