POL 108

Methods and Tools to Face Global Health Challenges

Senior project manager at the Penta Network, leading antimicrobial resistance and paediatric HIV consortia delivering international research through multicentre randomised clinical trials and observational studies. Currently completing a PhD in clinical medicine at the University of Oxford with a mixed-methods research project on capacity development in clinical research.

Education 

• DPhil in Clinical Medicine (April 2018 – graduation in June 2022)
  Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford.
• Master of Science (MSc and BSc) in International and Diplomatic Sciences (October 1999- July 2004), Universtià degli studi di Torino, Turin.

Work Experience

• Senior Project Manager and qualitative researcher (March 2016 – current) – Medical Research Council Clinical Trial Unit of University College London and St George’s Hospital – London, funded by Fondazione Penta Onlus, Padua
  Sponsor representative and project manager of international paediatric phase II and III trials on antiretroviral therapy optimised dosing and international observational studies on the use of antibiotics in neonatal intensive care units – projects funded by private institutions (budget managed 10 to 20 million euros)
• Project Manager (September 2009 – February 2016) – Fondazione Penta Onlus, Padua
  Project manager for European paediatric phase II trials on the use of vancomycin and meropenem – EU-funded projects. (budget managed 5 to 10 million euros)
• Part-time lecturer in International Relations (September 2013 – December 2016) – Sophia University Institute, Florence
• Consultant in education and capacity building training (April 2009 – May 2012) – Rainbow – Vicenza
• Representative at United Nations Geneva on right to development – (May 2006 – current) – New Humanity NGO, Rome

Key skills and competencies

• Leadership: coordination of large international consortia combining the in-depth knowledge of local contexts in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the need to achieve global common goals. Developed excellent stress management and prioritization skills.
• Partnership and relationship management: ensuring efficient communication and engagement within the project consortium and with relevant national and international partners and funders through effective planning, systematic coordination, regular monitoring, process evaluation, risks control and timely reporting.
• Negotiation and mediation: contractual and financial negotiation with multiple stakeholders. Implementation of contract and mediation of disputes.
• Cross-functional coordination: leadership of international teams with different expertise, experience leading the integration of teams, and the delivery of projects on time and within budget.
• Research conduction abilities: designing, conducting, and monitoring health-related qualitative/mixed-methods research projects, using different methodological approaches for a robust data-driven approach to research.

Impact and Influence

• Launch of new paediatric formulations of antiretroviral therapy as a result of successful clinical trials.
• Development of new data on the impact of antimicrobial resistance in 12 countries across 4 continents informing national policies across countries.
• Restructuring and expansion of the Penta network and its representative institutions.
• Successful negotiation of a new area of social sciences for clinical research in the Penta consortium’s activities.

Language proficiency

• Italian: mother tongue
• English: Proficiency level
• French, Spanish and Portuguese: Intermediate level

Other activities and interests
Student Leader at Green Templeton College – University of Oxford with responsibility for events organisation and welfare and pastoral support for students. Member of the Venture Capitals society, University of Oxford.
Rower, singer, adventurous cook.

– Measuring research capacity development in healthcare workers: a systematic review. Bilardi D, Rapa E, Bernays S, Lang T. BMJ Open. 2021 Jul 7;11(7):e046796. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046796. PMID: 34233984 Free PMC article.

– Dolutegravir as First- or Second-Line Treatment for HIV-1 Infection in Children.
Turkova A, White E, Mujuru HA, Kekitiinwa AR, Kityo CM, Violari A, Lugemwa A, Cressey TR, Musoke P, Variava E, Cotton MF, Archary M, Puthanakit T, Behuhuma O, Kobbe R, Welch SB, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Amuge P, Kaudha E, Barlow-Mosha L, Makumbi S, Ramsagar N, Ngampiyaskul C, Musoro G, Atwine L, Liberty A, Musiime V, Bbuye D, Ahimbisibwe GM, Chalermpantmetagul S, Ali S, Sarfati T, Wynne B, Shakeshaft C, Colbers A, Klein N, Bernays S, Saïdi Y, Coelho A, Grossele T, Compagnucci A, Giaquinto C, Rojo P, Ford D, Gibb DM; ODYSSEY Trial Team. N Engl J Med. 2021 Dec 30;385(27):2531-2543. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2108793. PMID: 34965338 Clinical Trial.

– ODYSSEY clinical trial design: a randomised global study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive children, with nested pharmacokinetic sub-studies to evaluate pragmatic WHO-weight-band based dolutegravir dosing.
Moore CL, Turkova A, Mujuru H, Kekitiinwa A, Lugemwa A, Kityo CM, Barlow-Mosha LN, Cressey TR, Violari A, Variava E, Cotton MF, Archary M, Compagnucci A, Puthanakit T, Behuhuma O, Saϊdi Y, Hakim J, Amuge P, Atwine L, Musiime V, Burger DM, Shakeshaft C, Giaquinto C, Rojo P, Gibb DM, Ford D; ODYSSEY Trial Team. BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Jan 4;21(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-05672-6. PMID: 33446115 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.

– An optimised dosing regimen versus a standard dosing regimen of vancomycin for the treatment of late onset sepsis due to Gram-positive microorganisms in neonates and infants aged less than 90 days (NeoVanc): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Hill LF, Turner MA, Lutsar I, Heath PT, Hardy P, Linsell L, Jacqz-Aigrain E, Roilides E, Sharland M; NeoVanc Consortium. Trials. 2020 Apr 15;21(1):329. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4184-8. PMID: 32293527 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.

– Implementation and Operational Research: Implementation of the WHO 2011 Recommendations for Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) in Children Living With HIV/AIDS: A Ugandan Experience.
Costenaro P, Massavon W, Lundin R, Nabachwa SM, Fregonese F, Morelli E, Alowo A, Nannyonga Musoke M, Namisi CP, Kizito S, Bilardi D, Mazza A, Cotton MF, Giaquinto C, Penazzato M. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Jan 1;71(1):e1-8. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000806. PMID: 26761275

– Predictors of Treatment Failure in HIV-Positive Children Receiving Combination Antiretroviral Therapy: Cohort Data From Mozambique and Uganda.
Costenaro P, Penazzato M, Lundin R, Rossi G, Massavon W, Patel D, Nabachwa S, Franceschetto G, Morelli E, Bilardi D, Nannyonga MM, Atzori A, Mastrogiacomo ML, Mazza A, Putoto G, Giaquinto C. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2015 Mar;4(1):39-48. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piu032. Epub 2014 May 3. PMID: 26407356

– Viral load detection using dried blood spots in a cohort of HIV-1-infected children in Uganda: correlations with clinical and immunological criteria for treatment failure.
Costenaro P, Lundin R, Petrara MR, Penazzato M, Massavon W, Kizito S, Nabachwa SM, Nannyonga Musoke M, Namisi C, Morelli E, Bilardi D, Mazza A, Zanchetta M, Giaquinto C, De Rossi A. J Clin Microbiol. 2014 Jul;52(7):2665-7. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00961-14. Epub 2014 Apr 30. PMID: 24789197 Free PMC article.

– Factors Determining Survival and Retention among HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents in a Community Home-Based Care and a Facility-Based Family-Centred Approach in Kampala, Uganda: A Cohort Study.
Massavon W, Barlow-Mosha L, Mugenyi L, McFarland W, Gray G, Lundin R, Costenaro P, Nannyonga MM, Penazzato M, Bagenda D, Namisi CP, Wabwire D, Mubiru M, Kironde S, Bilardi D, Mazza A, Fowler MG, Musoke P, Giaquinto C. ISRN AIDS. 2014 Apr 1;2014:852489. doi: 10.1155/2014/852489. eCollection 2014. PMID: 25006529

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