Arturo Falaschi
Encyclopedia
Arturo Falaschi was an Italian geneticist. He led a very successful life as a student, teacher and a science administrator. He graduated in Medicine in 1957 from Milan
University and undertook two post doctoral studies. Firstly, with J. Adler and Har Gobind Khorana in Wisconsin
, USA (1961 to 1962), and later with Arthur Kornberg
at Stanford (1962 to 1965). His main field of research was the replication of DNA. He was Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Pavia
(1966 to 1979); Director of the Instituto di Genetica Biochimica ed Evoluzionistica, CNR
, Pavia
(1970 to 1987); and Director of the Progetto Finalizzato “Ingegneria Genetica” of the Italian National Research Council (1982 to 1989). He taught Molecular Biology
at the University of Pavia
(1966 to 1979) and remained Director of Graduate School of Genetics, University of Pavia (1979 to 1984). He was coordinator of the Graduate School of Molecular Genetics, International School of Advanced Studies (SISSA
), Trieste
(1988 to 2001) and Professor of Molecular Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS), Pisa
, Italy from 2004 to his last breath.
As science administrator, he was responsible for the establishment of several research institutes and was a strong believer in the internationalization of science and an advocate of North-South collaboration. He was very articulate and convinced several governments in the developed and the developing world to establish a 2-component International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, with one component in New Delhi
, India
and one in Trieste
, Italy
; both devoted to research and training of young researchers from the developing world. He became the first head of the Trieste Component of ICGEB (1987 to 1989) and then Director General of both components (1989 to 2004). In the pursuit of his desire to promote biotechnology
and its applications in Asia
, he became the Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Molecular Biology Network (2006 to 2009) and then Senior Counselor (2009-to date). He had profound influence on the work plan of A-IMBN and played a key role in the success of this organization.
On 1 June 2010 he died unexpectedly, but left his legacy as a great person and scientist. He will be sorely missed for his kind and generous character and his great humanity.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
University and undertook two post doctoral studies. Firstly, with J. Adler and Har Gobind Khorana in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, USA (1961 to 1962), and later with Arthur Kornberg
Arthur Kornberg
Arthur Kornberg was an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1959 for his discovery of "the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid " together with Dr. Severo Ochoa of New York University...
at Stanford (1962 to 1965). His main field of research was the replication of DNA. He was Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
(1966 to 1979); Director of the Instituto di Genetica Biochimica ed Evoluzionistica, CNR
CNR
-Science, technology, computing and communications:*Carrier-to-noise ratio *CNR , the quantity "Contrast to Noise Ratio" in diagnostic imaging*Cisco Network Registrar, a DHCP, DNS and TFTP server suite offered by Cisco...
, Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
(1970 to 1987); and Director of the Progetto Finalizzato “Ingegneria Genetica” of the Italian National Research Council (1982 to 1989). He taught Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
at the University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
(1966 to 1979) and remained Director of Graduate School of Genetics, University of Pavia (1979 to 1984). He was coordinator of the Graduate School of Molecular Genetics, International School of Advanced Studies (SISSA
Sissa
Sissa is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 100 km northwest of Bologna and about 20 km northwest of Parma....
), Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
(1988 to 2001) and Professor of Molecular Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS), Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, Italy from 2004 to his last breath.
As science administrator, he was responsible for the establishment of several research institutes and was a strong believer in the internationalization of science and an advocate of North-South collaboration. He was very articulate and convinced several governments in the developed and the developing world to establish a 2-component International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, with one component in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and one in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; both devoted to research and training of young researchers from the developing world. He became the first head of the Trieste Component of ICGEB (1987 to 1989) and then Director General of both components (1989 to 2004). In the pursuit of his desire to promote biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
and its applications in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, he became the Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Molecular Biology Network (2006 to 2009) and then Senior Counselor (2009-to date). He had profound influence on the work plan of A-IMBN and played a key role in the success of this organization.
On 1 June 2010 he died unexpectedly, but left his legacy as a great person and scientist. He will be sorely missed for his kind and generous character and his great humanity.
External links
- biography in italian
- Arturo Falaschi page on ICGEB website: personal page in English at ICGEB
- http://www.icgeb.org/tl_files/News/ICS-UNIDO%20_%20Arturo%20Falaschi,%20the%20Rector.pdf: obituary on UNIDO website
- http://www.a-imbn.org/board/board_view.php?board_idx=44&page=1&board_id=news&search_keyfield=&search_keyword=: obituary on Asia-Pacific Molecular Biology Network Website
- : Italian Republic President message of grief