SHRO GALA DINNER 2026: €200,000 raised in Vico Equense for Cancer Research
23 Jun , 2026
Vico Equense, 19 June 2026 – Last night, in the splendid setting of Le Axidie Resort, the SHRO GALA DINNER 2026 took place, a charitable event organized by the Sbarro Health Research Organization to celebrate science and provide concrete support for cancer research. The evening brought together prominent representatives from Italian and international institutions, the scientific community, business and culture, with the aim of raising funds for new scholarships and research projects at SHRO laboratories in Italy and the United States.
During the event €200,000 was raised; the full amount will be allocated to the Foundation’s activities and to funding the educational and scientific careers of young researchers. This significant result once again confirms how cooperation between civil society, businesses and the scientific community can translate into tangible support for the medicine of the future.
The Gala Dinner
Hosted by Lello La Pietra and Teresanna Pugliese, with artistic direction by Mario Esposito, the evening unfolded through a series of institutional moments, personal testimonies and collective participation.
The awards ceremony honored Alfredo Ercoli (Full Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Policlinico Tor Vergata in Rome), Andrea Vidali (internationally recognized surgeon specializing in endometriosis and founder of ESSI), Lello Arena (actor, director and screenwriter), Pasqualino Monti (CEO of Terna) and Matteo Salvini (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Italian Republic, Federal Secretary of the League), who were recognized for their professional and public commitments.
Also on stage were the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, and politician, journalist and publisher Italo Bocchino.
Artistic performances by Francesco Cicchella, Mariacristina Lucci and Francesco Maria Mandara enriched the programme with displays of talent and emotional intensity.
Statements
In his address, Prof. Antonio Giordano, internationally renowned oncologist, pathologist and geneticist, founder and president of SHRO, emphasized the value of the achievements reached in recent years, noting that shared commitment has already made it possible to fund scholarships and develop innovative projects in oncology. “Today we can say with pride that, thanks to the support of many friends, partners, companies and supporters, we have funded dozens of scholarships, supported young researchers and contributed to the development of innovative projects in the field of oncology,” he said.
“Our goal is not only to improve treatment, but to contribute to greater prevention, building a healthier and more aware society,” Prof. Giordano added, drawing attention to SHRO’s new strategic directions.
On one front is the project to establish a new Translational Medicine Programme, the first of its kind spanning Philadelphia and New York City with coordination between Rome and Naples, designed to integrate clinical practice and scientific research. “Thanks to this approach we will be able to identify new biomarkers, develop increasingly personalized therapies and intervene more effectively on tomorrow’s patients. It is the medicine of tomorrow that we are building today.”
On the other front is the One Health programme, focused on prevention and the study of environmental factors and lifestyle influences on health.
During the evening, Dr. Giancarlo Arra, SHRO vice president, reiterated the strategic value of the network built around research, highlighting how every donation and partnership helps turn generosity into concrete opportunities: “Research never lives in isolation. It needs vision, expertise, time, but above all alliances. Those who are here tonight are not simply guests, but partners of research, allies of knowledge, an active part of a mission that concerns us all.”
Acknowledgements
The Sbarro Health Research Organization extends heartfelt thanks to sponsors, funders, partners and everyone who contributed to the success of the evening, as well as to the entire organizational staff who made such a high-profile event possible.
Special thanks to the companies: AP, Atida/Efarma, Bourelly, Casilli, Cos‑Mo, De Clemente, EDM, Farmacie Internazionali, Generali, Kiton, Innovaway, Liu Jo, Petrone Group, Prequel Genetics, Promoitalia, Rigenera, Fondazione Scudieri and to Acqua Smeraldina, SHRO’s official partner.
Thanks are also due to the organizing secretariat Ble&Associates; Grafica Nappa and Industria Grafica FG for printing services; Zeus for merchandising; Masseria Alfano, Tenuta Fontana and Vesuvius for wine and gin provisions; Lello Esposito for creating the awards; Maison Ugo Cilento for ties; Sirio for hostess services; Le Axidie; chef Peppe Guida for the dinner; master pizzaiolo Vincenzo Capuano and Giuseppe Scicchitano for the opening aperitif.
About SHRO
The Sbarro Health Research Organization is an international non-profit medical organization engaged for more than 30 years in cancer research and international scientific training. Founded and chaired by Prof. Antonio Giordano and led together with SHRO vice president Giancarlo Arra, SHRO conducts research and study programmes that integrate bio-innovation, medical-scientific education and medtech development to support medical progress and research, promote increasingly effective diagnoses and treatments for patients and create new opportunities for future generations of researchers.
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