One hundred and forty-three million euros in disbursements, 11 million in the Piedmont area alone where 79 research projects are financed. These are the most recent numbers from the Airc and they are what allow many women and men to have hope in the fight against cancer.
The organization of the “The azalea of research” initiative, scheduled Sunday 12 May, was the opportunity to bring together at the same table the members of the AIRC of Fossanese with Anna and Maria Giulia, heads of the Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta section of the Italian Association for Cancer Research. They were the ones who reeled off figures and numbers, which are truly impressive, and who explained the recent changes that the reform of the Third Sector has brought about: until a couple of years ago, in fact, the Airc had its Piedmont office in Candiolo. The hospital is owned by the Piedmontese Foundation for Cancer Research, whose president is Allegra Agnelli who was also at the top of Airc. The reform of the Third Sector has made it necessary to clearly distinguish and separate the two realities, which however continue to collaborate. “Cancer research continues thanks to an important network of donations, doctors and scholars, commitment and cutting-edge structures that are present throughout the national territory”explained Anna and Maria Giulia.
Thanks to the funds raised (also) with the various initiatives promoted during the year (the azaleas, the oranges, the research chocolates) Airc provided 143 million euros for research at a national level in 2023. Of these, 11 million arrived in the regional territory – a figure 10 times higher than the one million and 700 thousand euros collected from the sale of azaleas and oranges in Piedmont alone – to finance the most promising projects proposed by researchers and research centers excellence. Airc continues to finance the research activity promoted in Candiolo (this year with 2 million euros), but also supports other cutting-edge structures, such as the San Luigi di Orbassano, the Molinette and the Interdepartmental Center for Molecular Biotechnology in Turin .
“The projects are selected by the Airc scientific committee and by a group of foreign external reviewers (which changes every year) in such a way as to guarantee maximum objectivity in the choice – explained the two managers of Airc Piemonte -. It is worth underlining that it is not just a question of numbers: Airc boasts practically international research (just one of their researchers left for New Mexico) and much of the information is now shared by doctors, for the benefit of the entire community.”
The importance of being part of a network emerges: if Candiolo were not there, the Airc would have fewer research laboratories, but without the Airc Candiolo would have less money available, because with its resources the Piedmontese Foundation for cancer research it not only finances research, but must maintain the entire hospital which is constantly expanding.
Anyone who wants to help the Airc can do so, for example, by purchasing the azaleas on May 12th, while the funds raised in local events and initiatives, such as Fossano in bike or the dancing event organized periodically at the Cap by the friends of the second youth.
