PREFACE

Over the years, those of us who live and work in Pesaro, have come to know and understand in depth the numerous aspects which make the town dynamic and powerfully competitive in its economy, cultural heritage and tourism.

Yet, as often happens, there are certain areas which are known only to a limited part of he population. In our opinon, that was the case, some years ago, of the Pesaro-based Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, at the time under the direction of Professor Guido Lucarelli.

The Pesaro Center was renowned in the international scientific community due to its successful track record in transplantations for the treatment of hematological diseases. Yet, we felt we had to promote public awareness and commit ourselves to supporting and extending it beyond the boundaries of a small Italian town.

When the Berloni Foundation was founded, in 1985, our aim was to create an organization, which would play an effective role in the fight against thalassemia. Our primary focus was on the promotion of studies and research to find – in what turned out to be not so fat into future - new methods to cure thalassemia, defeat it and expand research to other genetic diseases.
The efforts of the Berloni Foundation also contributed to the establishment of I.M.E., Istituto Mediterraneo di Ematologia , the Mediterranean Institute of Hematology, with the creation of the Rome-based International Center for Transplantation in Thalassemia and Sickle-Cell Anemia, also under the direction of Head Scientist Professor Guido Lucarelli.

There is yet a further reason for our commitment in this venture, this gamble on the future: our trust in people, who are central to our involvement today, as they will be tomorrow....
It is to them that we appeal so that we may stand united and share a message of solidarity and hope.

Antonio Berloni
President