Top Italian surgeon Franco
Locatelli has been appointed the new president of Italy's Higher
Health Council (CSS).
The CSS is the top body that the health ministry turns to
when it needs expert consultation.
Locatelli is the director of the department of
oncohaematology and genetic and cellular therapy at Rome's
Bambino Gesu' children's hospital.
Born in Bergano in 1960, he has worked at the Vatican-owned
hospital since 2010.
In December he was the head of the team that performed an
innovative bone-marrow transplant on a 20-month-old child called
Alex affected by a rare genetic disease using an innovative
manipulation of stem cells.
The CSS was hit by controversy last year when Health Minister
Giulia Grillo sacked all 30 members who were not on the board by
virtue of other institutional positions that they hold.
Grillo denied reports that the political background of the
outgoing board members had been a factor in the move.
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