As part of the initiatives promoted in Canada for the Italian Research Day in the World, the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa held the award ceremony for the “Ingegno italiano” Prize yesterday, April 29, at Carleton University’s Richcraft Hall in Ottawa. Now in its second edition, the award is dedicated to Italian scientists and researchers working in Canada who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scientific achievements in the fields of life sciences, physical and engineering sciences, and social and human sciences.
For this second edition, the award was presented to Professor Giada Sebastiani of McGill University for her exceptional contributions to the translation of epidemiological, diagnostic, and interventional discoveries and for her essential role in guiding government policy towards effective solutions for patients with fatty liver disease related to obesity and diabetes—one of the leading causes of liver transplants in North America and other industrialized countries.
The prize was awarded to Professor Sebastiani by the Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, who highlighted the extraordinary contributions of Italian scientists and researchers active in Canada to Canadian scientific life and to the strengthening of relations between the two nations. Following the award presentation, Professor Sebastiani delivered a lecture titled “Healthy Livers, Healthy Lives: Fighting a Silent Pandemic.” The event continued with a scientific discussion on the Italian contribution to science in Canada, titled “Italian Talent in Canada: Excellence and Collaborations.”
Giada Sebastiani is a Professor of Medicine and Hepatology at McGill University in Montreal. Ranked among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists,” Professor Sebastiani conducts her research through interdisciplinary collaborations involving hepatology, endocrinology, radiology, primary care, public health, and gender medicine. Internationally renowned, she co-founded the Canadian Fatty Liver Network in 2018 and has chaired its annual conference since 2021. The conference produced a white paper outlining a national strategy for managing fatty liver disease both in Canada and globally. In 2024, she was elected President of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver.
As part of the “Ingegno Italiano” Award, four additional scholars received special mention for their notable contributions in various fields of knowledge:
- Professor Carolina Tropini of UBC for Life Sciences
- Professor Cristina Conati of UBC and Professor Damiano Pasini of McGill University for Physical and Engineering Sciences
- Professor Stefania Maggi of Carleton University for Social and Human Sciences
The award process was coordinated by the Scientific Office of the Embassy, with the support of a Scientific Council composed of three internationally recognized scientists:
- Professor Rolando Del Maestro (McGill University, Emeritus)
- Professor Gabriel Niccoli (University of Waterloo, Emeritus)
- Dr. Eng. Franco Mammarella (Director of Technical Services at TRIUMF, Emeritus)
