Giuseppe Caprotti – Guido Venosta Foundation and COVID: The “IEO-COVID free Project”

In April 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Giuseppe Caprotti assumed the leadership of FGV and committed himself to guiding it through the many emergencies arising during the crisis, striving to make a tangible and targeted contribution. Among these efforts was support for scientific research on preventing contagion and assessing the effectiveness of anti-Covid-19 vaccines. Responding to a call from the Italian Government and Regions—promoted by Imperial College London, Italian biomedical research institutes, and the network of Istituti di Ricovero e Cura (IRCCS)—FGV, together with Francesco Niutta and Nicolò Fontana Rava, financed the IEO (European Institute of Oncology) in Milan so that it could ensure a minimum-risk environment for patients and staff through widespread serological testing. These tests were subsequently used in a clinical monitoring study of a significant sample of the healthcare population throughout the Covid-19 period, the final report of which, published in October 2021, demonstrated the effectiveness of the anti-Covid vaccines.

“The spirit that animated the program,’ explained Giuseppe Caprotti while commenting on this important achievement, ‘is rooted in the belief that scientific research is essential for improving human living conditions. Research has always been part of my family’s DNA. My grandfather, Guido Venosta, was one of the pioneers of Airc (the Italian Association for Cancer Research), which he managed from 1966 to 1996. The Foundation continues in that same direction, contributing to the enhancement of public education towards the highest cultural, scientific, and solidarity ideals.”