In memory of Placido
A campaign in memory of Placido Illiano
Fundraising by Roberta Brambilla
Here Placido comes to the door of my office, "May I?"
We don't know each other or have an appointment, but he has heard through the grapevine that I am looking for a new collaborator for a multiple sclerosis research project. Our adventure, which lasted almost five years, thus begins, by chance, with Placido quickly becoming the backbone of my lab at the University of Miami, as well as a dear and irreplaceable friend.
Placido was a brilliant and enthusiastic young researcher, committed to the forefront of scientific research on multiple sclerosis, strong with the support of no less than two scholarships awarded to him by FISM - Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, awards of which he was particularly proud. In addition, thanks to his passion and expertise, Placido had won several awards both in the United States and in Italy, where in 2019 he was awarded the Best Poster "Young Researchers" Award by FISM. His dream was to one day not far away run his own research laboratory and continue to dedicate himself to the discovery of a cure for multiple sclerosis.
But even before that, Placido was an exceptional person, selfless and sunny, loved by family, friends and colleagues and a dear friend to all the people who were lucky enough to know him.
Sadly, Placido left us too soon, at just 35 years old, in the prime of life. To honor his memory and remember his lifelong commitment to scientific research, we believe there is no better way than to support with a fundraiser in his name the cause that was closest to his heart, namely the mission of the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
In this way our affection will leave a concrete and tangible sign of the values that represented Placido during his lifetime.
Roberta Brambilla