Ilaria Capua

Born in Rome in 1966, Ilaria Capua graduated in Veterinary Medicine with honours from the University of Perugia in 1989, after which she obtained her postgraduate qualification as a specialist in Animal Health and Hygiene from Pisa University in 1991.

She is currently Head of the Virology Department at Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Padova, Italy and Head of the National, FAO and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Reference Laboratories for Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease. Her team of 45 staff consists of three units: one that carries out diagnostic activity; one that produces diagnostic reagents and evaluates vaccines; and one that performs research at an international level. Her laboratory annually hosts several scientists from developed and developing countries for training and collaborative research projects.