Maria Benedetta Donati

Born during World War II, she graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the Catholic University of Rome and received the Gemelli Prize for the best curriculum studiorum. She prepared her thesis with Giovanni de Gaetano, a colleague and life partner. After obtaining her PhD from the University of Leuven, she chose full-time scientific research. Back in Italy at the invitation of Silvio Garattini, she opened a new research line on thrombosis at the Mario Negri Institute in Milan and contributed to the development of this discipline and the training of numerous young researchers. She creatively participated in the founding of the Negri Bergamo Laboratories and the GISSI cardiological studies. In 1987, she opened the Biomedical Research Center of the Mario Negri Consortium South, in S. Maria Imbaro (Chieti), of which she is the Scientific Coordinator. The Negri Sud became a center of scientific excellence and cultural and economic development for the region. In 2002, she moved to Campobasso, where the Catholic University opened the Center for Research and High Technology Training in Biomedical Sciences, which since 2011 has become the Research and Care Foundation Giovanni Paolo II.

Scientific Coordinator of the Research Laboratories of the Center, active in MOLI-SANI, a large epidemiological project on genetic and acquired risk factors or prevention of cardiovascular diseases and tumors (http://www.moli-sani.org), with a focus on personalized medicine and gender issues. President of the Italian Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis Studies (2002-2004), the Scientific Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (1987-1993 and 2000-2006), Chairman of Framework Programs of the EC and Coordinator of a Marie Curie program.

Author of 400 publications and numerous volumes, she has received two honoris causa degrees (University of Debrecen, Hungary and Bialystok, Poland). Her scientific reputation is particularly linked to pioneering studies on the relationship between thrombosis and tumors/metastases.
With an h-index of 59, she is ranked 56 out of 2,640 Top Italian Scientists (characterized by an h-index based on received citations not less than 30).
International Minerva Donna Award, Career Award from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Special Mention UNESCO "Women in Science", Cardiovascular Prevention Award from the Association Femme-Santé. Member of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Commission for Women and Science.
Mother of two daughters, both doctors, and grandmother of four grandchildren.