In memoriam: Professor Giampaolo Velo (1943-2017)

The field of clinical pharmacology has lost one of its pioneers. On August 17, 2017 Giampaolo Velo, cofounder and former chairman of EACPT, died after a period of illness in Verona, Italy.

His research activity started from experimental pharmacology, in particular the area of inflammation, and then gradually moved to clinical pharmacology, expanding his interests to pharmacovigilance, drug information and ecopharmacovigilance.

Prof. Velo was secretary of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) from 1988 to 1992, chairman of the Section of Clinical Pharmacology of SIF (1994-1996 and 2003-2007) and councilor of IUPHAR, Clinical Pharmacology Division (1992-2000). Cofounder of EACPT, he was vice Chairman (1995-1999) and then Chairman (1999-2003). He was also president of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) from 2003 to 2006.  He was the organizer of CPT 2000-Seventh Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Fourth Congress of the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, held in Florence, July 2000.

Giampaolo was curious, ironic and full of a contagious enthusiasm, but also accurate and scrupulous if needed.  We can never forget the scientific events he organized over many years in the beautiful village of Erice, Sicily, as director of the Ettore Maiorana Foundation, in a friendly and collegial atmosphere. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Giulia, his son Stefano, and his daughters Stefania and Elisabetta. EACPT will miss you.