Francesco Pocchiari (25 June 1924, Melfi - 2 January 1989, Rome) was an Italian chemist and pharmacologist, researcher in microbiology and biological chemistry. He was the director of the

Istituto Superiore di Sanità The ''Istituto Superiore di Sanità'' (Italian National Institute of Health, literally 'Higher Health Institute'), also ISS, is an Italian public institution that, as the leading technical-scientific body of the Italian National Health Service ( ...

between 1972 and 1989. In honor of his memory, the Francesco Pocchiari Fellowship was established in 1991 with funds provided by the Italian Government.

Biography

Pocchiari was born on 25 June 1924 in Melfi, in the province of

Potenza Potenza (, ; ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one of ...

. He graduated chemistry in 1948 from the

Sapienza University of Rome The Sapienza University of Rome (), formally the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", abbreviated simply as Sapienza ('Wisdom'), is a Public university, public research university located in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1303 and is ...

. He started as a researcher in 1949 at the Laboratory of Chemical Microbiology of the

together with

Ernst Boris Chain Sir Ernst Boris Chain (19 June 1906 – 12 August 1979) was a German-born British biochemist and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on penicillin. Life and career Chain was born in Berlin, the son of Marg ...

. In 1969, he was appointed director of the biological chemistry laboratory of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and, in 1971, he became a director of the institute, a position he would hold until his death. During his more than sixteen tenure, Pocchiari faced delicate and serious issues including the 1973 cholera epidemic in Naples. There also he collaborated with Rita Levi Montalcini who, together with Pocchiari, carried out fundamental research to guarantee her the

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine () is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, acco ...

in 1986. In 1954, he also graduated in pharmacy; two years later, he became a professor of applied biochemistry at the Sapienza University of Rome and also taught at the universities of

Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...

and

Bari Bari ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia Regions of Italy, region, on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It is the first most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. It is a port and ...

. He also writes articles for medical journals such as

Brain Research ''Brain Research'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal focusing on several aspects of neuroscience. It publishes research reports and " minireviews". The editor-in-chief is Matthew J. LaVoie (University of Florida). Until 2011, full reviews were ...

Biochemical Journal The ''Biochemical Journal'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal which covers all aspects of biochemistry, as well as cell and molecular biology. It is published by Portland Press and was established in 1906. History The journal was established ...

, Lancet,

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

and is a member of Italian and international scientific committees such as the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

(WHO) Executive Committee in Geneva, and the European Council for Medical Research in Strasbourg. Pocchiari's achievements in the field of public health research are documented in the book "Accidental exposure to dioxins: human health aspects," which he co-edited with Frederick Coulston. After his death, the Aula Magna of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità was dedicated to him. In honor of his memory, the Francesco Pocchiari Fellowship was established in 1991 with funds provided by the Italian Government. This fellowship is administered by the WHO and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to public health research. The fellowship was initially endowed with US$104,960 from the Italian Government. Pocchiari was married with three children. He died on 2 January 1989 in Rome.

References

{{Authority control 1924 births 1989 deaths Italian chemists Italian pharmacists Sapienza University of Rome alumni Academic staff of the Sapienza University of Rome Academic staff of the University of Bari Academic staff of the University of Bologna