Rationale
The northern Italian cities of Bergamo and Brescia take up their joint status as Italy’s Capital of Culture 2023. Bypassing the usual application process, the Italian parliament approved the candidature in “a symbol of hope and rebirth” for Bergamo and Brescia, both of which were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The joint culture capital status “bears witness to a possible renaissance through the conscious choice of culture as a central element for civil education, creating skills, employment and social and economic resilience”, reads a statement on the Bergamo Brescia 2023 website. In this context, it is a great honor that the city of Brescia will host the 7th National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology (SIV-ISV). The SIV-ISV National Congress represents the annual forum for the Italian scientists working in the different areas of virology (medical-clinical virology, molecular virology, veterinary virology, environmental and plant virology) involving basic, clinical and translational research and taking advantage of the most advanced technological platforms. In keeping with the tradition, the scientific structure of the Congress features different thematic sessions: Viral pathogenesis and disease, Virus-host interactions, Structural virology and biotechnology, Diagnostic virology, Antiviral therapy, Viral diseases and vaccines, Linking viruses to cancer, Emerging viruses, Zoonosis and viral infections in animals, plant and environmental virology, and for the first time, a Italian Society for Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SIMIT)/SIV-ISV joint session on HIV/AIDS. As usually, the Congress will be conceived to promote productive interactions between the different virological souls and we invite participants to explore synergies between different disciplines. Every session starts with Invited Lectures followed by oral communications selected from the “Call for Abstracts”. Specific Symposia mainly dedicated to innovative methods of diagnosis, clinical aspects of virology, and tailored treatments, as well as Poster Exhibition and Discussion will complete the scientific structure of the Congress.
Special attention has been given to Young Investigators whose participation has been encouraged by Scholarships. The 7th national Congress of the Italian Society for Virology has been accredited to the Italian Ministry of health for CME Credits for the following professionals: Medical Doctor (all disciplines), Biologist, Biotechnologist, Medical laboratory technician, Nurse, Veterinary, Pharmacist, Physicist and Chemist.
