Dr. Carlo Salomoni from the
Encyclopedia of Diderot and D’Alambert
Fondazione HILARESCERE, chaired by Professor Fabio Roversi-Monaco, was set up on an initiative of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna. As is stated in the deed of formation, the Foundation aims to support medical and scientific research in the field of diseases of unknown or poorly known etiopathogenesis where the diagnostic and therapeutic standards have little effect on the quality of life of the affected individuals, with special reference to chronic and degenerative diseases of the nervous and vascular systems. It also aims at promoting and sustaining the dissemination of adequate preventive, diagnostic, care and assistance approaches to the subjects suffering from such diseases.
All these research funding and promoting activities have recently yielded their first relevant outcome: Last September, at the UIP 50 Meeting in Montecarlo experts in venous malformations from 47 different countries unanimously voted in favour of the diagnostic and therapeutic observations made by Professor Paolo Zamboni. The malformations obstructing the extracranial and extravertebral segments of the main cerebrospinal veins can be described as CCSVI, i.e. chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, a so far unrecognized syndrome. The UIP 50 Consensus Conference accepted to internationally include such obstructions among the congenital venous malformations with the relevant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as described in the publications supported by Fondazione Hilarescere (> Go to the Website).
.
As witnessed by the publications of Professor Paolo Zamboni (Centre for Vascular Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara), Dr. Fabrizio Salvi (Neurology Unit, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna) and Dr. Roberto Galeotti (University Hospital of Ferrara), the association between CCSVI and multiple sclerosis has already been the topic of a number of research studies. Being friends also with Augusto Zeppi, Vice-President of Hilarescere, they set up a highly committed and determined working group which includes members with highly heterogeneous yet complementary backgrounds. When their sound scientific results were submitted to the intellectual honesty, freedom of thought and love for truth of the Board of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, the Hilarescere Foundation was established.
The improvement found after treating CCSVI in patients who also suffered from multiple sclerosis led Fondazione Hilarescere to establish an international cooperation with the BNAC of the Marc Jacobs Neurological Institute, New York State University and to promote the dissemination of all these discoveries in the national and international scientific community (Cenaculum Studiorum, Bologna, 8 September 2009). In line with the meaning of the word hilarescere(in Latin: make cheerful, joyful), all the experts involved in these efforts intend to bring back a smile on the face of those who suffer from diseases for which there is no clear explanation or treatment, yet.