Dr. Liliana Elena Weimer | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr.  Liliana Elena Weimer, Center For Global Health Istituto Superiore di Sanita’ Rome, Italy.

Dr. Liliana Elena Weimer is a highly accomplished physician and clinical researcher , where she has risen to the prestigious Level II “First Researcher” position. Her professional focus lies in clinical trials for infectious diseases, particularly HIV and Hepatitis C. She has played a critical role in major national and international research efforts, including collaborations with the U.S. Clinical Trials Group and leadership of the large-scale PITER cohort involving 25,000 HCV patients. She is known not only for her scientific contributions but also for her humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 emergency. Among her recognitions is the 1st Prize at the 2019 International Congress on Hepatitis C in Seville. Throughout her career, she has exemplified scientific integrity, dedication, and service to public health.

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Born on December 19, 1965, in Buenos Aires to Italian parents, Dr. Liliana Elena Weimer embraced her dual heritage and committed herself to a life in medicine and research. With Italian citizenship and deep academic determination, she laid the groundwork for her career by studying medicine, ultimately finding her professional home in Italy. Her academic path, though not fully detailed, clearly led her toward a focus on clinical medicine and infectious diseases, with her earliest professional roles marking the beginning of a lifelong engagement in public health and biomedical research. Her intellectual dedication and international roots later became an asset in global research collaborations.

🩺 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Weimer’s distinguished career spans over three decades at the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), beginning in 1985. Starting as a dedicated clinical physician, she ascended to Level III researcher status by 1990 and continued to grow into higher ranks, culminating in her success in the national Art. 15 competition for the Level II “First Researcher” role in 2022, officially backdated to 2021. Throughout her tenure at ISS, she became a central figure within the Global Health Center in Rome. Known for her tireless commitment, she often described her career not simply as a job but as a “mission,” emphasizing both her personal and professional passion for making a difference in human health.

🧪 Contributions and Research Focus

Specializing in clinical trials, Dr. Weimer has coordinated and participated in numerous groundbreaking studies in HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). Since the early 1990s, she has collaborated closely with renowned figures such as Prof. Giovanni Rossi, Prof. Stefano Vella, and Prof. Gianni Rezza, contributing to some of the most pivotal HIV antiretroviral therapy trials in history. Her research efforts extended to co-leading and organizing both national and international multicenter clinical trials. Notably, she has been at the forefront of the PITER study, a major nationwide cohort that follows 25,000 patients undergoing HCV treatment—one of the most comprehensive initiatives in Italy in the fight against hepatitis.

🌍 Global Collaborations and Humanitarian Engagement

Her impact extends beyond Italy, thanks to her active involvement with the U.S.-based American Clinical Trials Group on HIV studies. These collaborations have enhanced international understanding and treatment of HIV/AIDS. In addition to her clinical and research commitments, Dr. Weimer also devoted herself to frontline service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteering both with the Civil Protection unit and at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, she demonstrated profound humanitarian values. Her presence during a critical time underscored her belief in serving communities not just from behind a lab desk but also on the ground, directly supporting patients and health systems under strain.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Weimer’s work has been acknowledged at both national and international levels. One of the most prominent recognitions she received was the 1st Prize at the International Congress on Hepatitis C held in Seville in November 2019, a testament to her excellence and influence in the field of infectious disease research. Her achievements are not only measured in accolades but also in the tangible difference her work has made in advancing therapy options and clinical management of chronic viral diseases. Her rise within the ISS and the trust placed in her leadership of major research projects further affirm her standing within the scientific community.

💡 Impact and Influence

Over the course of her extensive career, Dr. Weimer has significantly shaped clinical research strategies in Italy, especially regarding chronic viral infections. Her coordination of thousands of patient cases within structured clinical trials has informed policy decisions and improved treatment protocols nationwide. Her presence at the ISS has also influenced future generations of researchers and clinicians, many of whom benefited from her mentorship, leadership, and example of scientific integrity. Through her rigorous methods and patient-focused approach, she has played a key role in Italy’s standing as a leader in global health research, especially in relation to HIV and HCV.

🔬 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Dr. Weimer’s contributions will continue to echo through the fields of virology and clinical medicine. Her involvement in the PITER cohort and other studies has laid down essential groundwork for long-term epidemiological surveillance and patient care strategies. With her appointment as First Researcher, she enters a new chapter of leadership, likely to drive more innovative, patient-centered research initiatives in global health. Her legacy lies not only in her publications or awards but also in the thousands of lives improved by the treatments she helped to test, refine, and implement. The combination of scientific rigor and heartfelt service defines her enduring contribution to modern medicine.

Publication

• Outcome of sustained virological responders with histologically advanced chronic hepatitis C – TR Morgan, MG Ghany, HY Kim, KK Snow, ML Shiffman, JL De Santo, … – 2010

• Clinical, virologic, histologic, and biochemical outcomes after successful HCV therapy: a 5‐year follow‐up of 150 patients – SL George, BR Bacon, EM Brunt, KL Mihindukulasuriya, J Hoffmann, … – 2009

• Safety and efficacy of simeprevir/sofosbuvir in hepatitis C–infected patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis – V Saxena, L Nyberg, M Pauly, A Dasgupta, A Nyberg, B Piasecki, … – 2015

• Slow human immunodeficiency virus type 1 evolution in viral reservoirs in infants treated with effective antiretroviral therapy – D Persaud, SC Ray, J Kajdas, A Ahonkhai, GK Siberry, K Ferguson, … – 2007

• Evaluation of proton pump inhibitor use on treatment outcomes with ledipasvir and sofosbuvir in a real‐world cohort study – EB Tapper, BR Bacon, MP Curry, DT Dieterich, SL Flamm, LE Guest, … – 2016

• Microbial translocation is associated with residual viral replication in HAART-treated HIV+ subjects with< 50 copies/ml HIV-1 RNA – S Baroncelli, CM Galluzzo, MF Pirillo, MG Mancini, LE Weimer, … – 2009

• Predictors of failure with high-flow nasal oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure: a multicenter observational study – R Mellado-Artigas, LE Mujica, ML Ruiz, BL Ferreyro, F Angriman, E Arruti, … – 2021

• A randomized, double-blind trial on the use of a triple combination including nevirapine, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase HIV inhibitor, in antiretroviral-naive patients – M Floridia, R Bucciardini, D Ricciardulli, V Fragola, MF Pirillo, LE Weimer, … – 1999

• Modeling cost‐effectiveness and health gains of a “universal” versus “prioritized” hepatitis C virus treatment policy in a real‐life cohort – LA Kondili, F Romano, FR Rolli, M Ruggeri, S Rosato, MR Brunetto, … – 2017

• Real-life data on potential drug-drug interactions in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection undergoing antiviral therapy with interferon-free DAAs in the PITER network – LA Kondili, GB Gaeta, D Ieluzzi, AL Zignego, M Monti, A Gori, A Soria, … – 2017

🏁 Conclusion

Dr. Weimer stands as a distinguished figure in the field of global health research, with deep expertise in clinical trials and infectious diseases. Her legacy is marked by landmark contributions to HIV and HCV treatment protocols, influential collaborations, and compassionate public service. Her ongoing work continues to shape public health policy and medical research in Italy and beyond. As she advances in her leadership role at the ISS, her experience, insight, and dedication will remain vital to future innovations in clinical research and global health.