An independent contribution to the growth of paediatric clinical pharmacology in Italy

Abstract

Providing young researchers with an education is one of the priorities of the Mario Negri Institute, the main, private, non-profit Italian research foundation. Between 1994 and 2006, 21 research fellows from different health-care areas were selected for a problem-oriented fellowship in paediatric clinical pharmacology in the Laboratory of Mother and Child Health. Of these, 18 received at least 2 years of training and 12 completed a formal pharmacology research course focused on paediatrics. One research fellow received a PhD degree, and another is currently working towards a PhD. The majority of these research fellows are currently employed in the private health sector, four work in the public National Health Service, and four continue to work as senior scientists at the Mario Negri Institute. To guarantee a safer and more effective use of medicines in children, more post-doctoral fellows should receive training in paediatric clinical pharmacology. Financial resources must be raised to support an adequate education, training, and research programme in this field. A possible challenge could be a European network of interested, expert institutions collaborating in a joint initiative in the interest of paediatric clinical pharmacology, and, more importantly, in the interest of rational therapies for children.