Born in Turin, Italy in 1948, graduated in Medicine and specialized in Gastroenterology in 1993 and 1997 at the University of Turin. Resident, Assistant and Laboratory Physiopathology Director at the Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Turin, Italy from 1975-1997. Visiting Scientist at the NIAID, NIH, Bethesda and the DMVI, Georgetown University Rockville, MD, USA from 1979-1981. From 1997 to 2001 Director of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit of the University Hospital of Pisa , Italy.   From 2001-2010 Chief Scientific Officer of the Foundation “Ca Granda” National Institute of Translational Research (IRCCS) Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan, Italy. From 2010 to 2016 General Medicine 2 Director, University Hospital of Pisa and Full Professor of Gastroenterology, University of Pisa 2003-2016. Currently Senior Researcher, Biostructure and Bioimaging (Institute IBB), National Research Council (CNR) of Italy. Publications 322 Scopus; Google Scholar Citations = 28592 H Index = 72; i10Index = 225. Major scientific achievements: the 1st method for detecting serum HBV-DNA and 1st  identification of HBeAg negative, anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B; characterization of the 1sthuman isolated strain of hepatitis Delta agent (HDV) and original characterization of HDV and the 2 Delta antigen (HDAg) proteins. Examples of AI applications to translational research: Ultrasound Med Biol. 2018 Aug;44(8):1585-1596; World J Hepatol. 2018 Feb 27;10(2):231-245; Methods Mol Biol. 2017;1580:21-44;Dig Liver Dis. 2015 Mar;47(3):249-54; PLoS One. 2014 Oct 28;9(10):e110782. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Aug;84(2):212-5. Mol Aspects Med. 2008 Feb-Apr;29(1-2):103-11; Antivir Ther. 2006;11(2):197-212; J Clin Virol. 2005 Dec;34 Suppl 1:S29-33; Antivir Ther. 2003 Dec;8(6):519-30.