In Their Own Words:

Interviews with Fellows and Mentors

When promising, early-career cancer researchers are given the opportunity to pursue novel research approaches and train in another country, the benefits of their experience have a ripple effect. Back in their home countries, professional colleagues and hospital committees benefit from the knowledge that the young scientist brings home, which in turn directly helps cancer patients in the community at large. Colleagues in the host country also benefit from the different perspective that an outsider can bring to an on-going research study. The result is a measurable increase in knowledge about how to investigate, treat, and, hopefully, beat cancer.

Many AICF Fellows have gone on to publish important research studies and become prominent scientists in their fields. About 50% eventually take research positions at important US oncological institutions, returning to their home institution to share knowledge gained during the fellowship period. The other half rise to prominence at the best European cancer research centers.

For example, one of the first fellowships that AICF awarded in 1983 was to Antonio Bargellesi Severi to conduct research at Albert Einstein Medical Center (now Yeshiva). Since that time, Severi has risen to great prominence in the field of immunology and is now Director of the Lab of Immunobiology at the Mario Negri Institute in Genoa, one of Italy's most famous cancer research centers. Another prominent AICF alumnus is Pier Guiseppe Pelicci. AICF fellowships in the mid-1980s gave Dr. Pelicci the opportunity to study and train with some of the best research oncologists at New York University and the Salk Institute. Today, Dr. Pelicci is Head of Research of the Department of Experimental Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan.

Recently, we interviewed Dr. Pelicci, Dr. Silvia Grisendi, a current fellow, and Dr. Vincent T. DeVita, a fellowship mentor, to hear their perspectives on AICF's International Fellowship Program. We thank these outstanding individuals for sharing their thoughts and insights about this important program.

AICF Fellow Dr. Silvia Grisendi Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center NYC, New York	AICF Fellowship Alumnus Dr. Pier Guiseppe Pelicci Head of Research, Department of Experimental Oncology European Institute of Oncology Milan, Italy
AICF Fellowship Mentor Dr. Vincent T. DeVita Director Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center New Haven, Connecticut