Professorship

From its inception until 2008, the Foundation supported neurological research at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as well as at multidisciplinary biomedical research centers at HMS, through different yearly grants and awards.

In 2008 the Foundation launched two professorships, as part of an effort to offer sustained support for both neurological research at MGH and multidisciplinary science at HMS.

The professorships were financed using USD 7 M of its endowment to support MGH’s clinical chair and the basic biological science chair at HMS.

The Giovanni Armenise Harvard Foundation Professorship in Neurology

This professorship in neurology supports biomedical research and collaborative research between Harvard and Italian scientists. The first incumbent was Dr. Verne Caviness and, in 2013, Dr. Caviness became the Armenise Harvard Distinguished Professor of Neurology. Dr. Tracy Batchelor, at Massachusetts General Hospital, was the second Giovanni Armenise Harvard Foundation Professor in Neurology, from 2013 until 2020. Dr. Scott Randall Plotkin at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the third and current Giovanni Armenise Harvard Foundation Professor in Neurology.

The Giovanni Armenise Harvard Foundation Professorship in Basic Biomedical Sciences

This professorship was created to encourage research that transcends Harvard Medical School departmental boundaries. Incumbents are expected to support collaborative initiatives with Italian scientists and the advancement of biomedical research in Italy. The first incumbent of the professorship is Dr. Stephen C. Harrison.