Università degli Studi di Modena

Professor Giuseppe Boriani is currently a Full Professor of Cardiology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where he also serves as the Director of the Postgraduate School in Cardiology and the Undergraduate Course in Cardiology. A distinguished clinician and academic, he leads the Cardiology Division at Modena University Hospital and the Department of Nephrology, Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery. After graduating summa cum laude in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna in 1984, Professor Boriani specialized in Cardiology in 1988 and obtained a PhD in Cardiovascular Physiopathology from the University of Milan in 1993. Over the years, he has held several prestigious academic roles, including Professor and Researcher at the University of Bologna, before joining the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia as a Full Professor in 2015. Professor Boriani’s research focuses on arrhythmias, clinical electrophysiology, cardiomyopathies, and the pharmacology of antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic agents. His work has earned international acclaim, with over 900 publications indexed on PubMed in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and Circulation. With more than 77,000 citations and an H-index of 82 on Google Scholar, his contributions have profoundly influenced cardiovascular medicine. He is deeply engaged in scientific leadership, currently serving as Editor-in-Chief ad interim for Europace. His role includes shaping the direction of cutting-edge research in cardiac arrhythmias and device therapy. In addition, he has been recognized for his exceptional peer-review contributions, earning the Top Reviewer Award from the European Heart Journal. As fellow of the European Society of Cardiology and former President of the Italian Society of Cardiac Pacing and Arrhythmology (AIAC), Professor Boriani is an active contributor to multicenter studies and European Union-funded research projects. He covered many positions in the Board and Committees of EHRA (European Heart Rhythm Association) and in Task forces of ESC (European Society of Cardiology), including Chair of the Health Economics Committee of EHRA and member of the m-HealthTask Force of the European Society of Cardiology (2022-2024). He is also Fellow of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) He covered the position of member of Task Forces and co-authors of International Consensus Guidelines: • 2013 Guidelines on Cardiac Pacing of the European Society of Cardiology • 2018 American College of Chest Physicians- CHEST Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation • 2020 Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology • 2021 Guidelines on Cardiac Pacing of the European Society of Cardiology • 2022 Guidelines on Cardio-Oncology of the European Society of Cardiology Professor Boriani is included in the Top 2% Scientists list, published by Stanford University since the edition published in 2020. His dedication to advancing clinical and academic excellence places him at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine and innovation.

Dr. Davide Antonio Mei is a cardiologist specializing in atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, and cardiac pacing. He is currently a second-year PhD student in Clinical and Experimental Medicine at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Boriani, and a Research Fellow at the Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, directed by Prof. Gregory Y.H. Lip. Additionally, he practices as a cardiologist at the Cardiology Division of the Modena University Hospital, with a focus on electrophysiology and cardiac device therapy. Dr. Mei graduated magna cum laude in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Florence in 2018 and completed his specialization in Cardiology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 2023, also with highest honors. His academic and clinical work centers on the management and outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation, including studies on antithrombotic treatments, multimorbidity, and the application of advanced cardiac pacing and monitoring technologies. He actively contributes to the scientific community as Associate Editor for BMC Cardiovascular Disorders and through his role as a peer reviewer for leading journals, including EP Europace and JACC EP. His research outputs include over 30 publications in indexed journals, with notable contributions to the understanding of arrhythmia management and device therapy. Dr. Mei is involved in numerous international research projects, including the ARISTOTELES initiative, funded by Horizon Europe, which utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance personalized care for multimorbid cardiovascular patients. He has also participated in pivotal multicenter trials and observational studies that aim to refine clinical approaches to atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Regularly presenting at major international cardiology conferences, such as the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Dr. Mei is committed to translating research findings into improved clinical care. His work highlights his growing influence and dedication to innovation in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Manuela Orlandi is currently holding a research fellowship at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where she works on the ARISTOTELES project as a Clinical Data Manager. She is a biotechnologist with a strong academic background and extensive practical experience in molecular biology, biobanking, database management, planning and coordinating research projects. She holds a magna cum laude Master degree in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Committed to continuous professional growth, she has completed several specialized courses, including training in NGS systems, post-transplant monitoring, and GCP trainings. Her skills include also bioinformatics analysis, statistical tools, and proficiency with image analysis software. During the years as a research fellow at the Hospital-University of Padua she contributed to several scientific publications, including research on biomarker testing in lung cancer and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. She also contributed to research on rare diseases at the Regional Coordination Center for Rare Diseases in Udine, working with knock-out cell models and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.

Dr. Marco Vitolo is an Assistant Professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Consultant Cardiologist at the University Hospital of Modena in Italy. He is also a Research Fellow at the Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, UK. His clinical and research activities focus on cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, electrophysiology, cardiac implantable electronic devices, and heart failure. Dr. Vitolo earned his PhD cum laude in Clinical and Experimental Medicine at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and from June 2023 he has obtained the National Scientific Qualification to function as Associate Professor in the Italian higher education system for the disciplinary field of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases. The scientific impact of his work is demonstrated by more than 130 publications in indexed journals, over 1,800 citations, and an H-index of 25 (Scopus/PubMed). In recent years, Dr Vitolo has received multiple awards for his research and editorial contributions. He is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) and holds leadership roles in Italian cardiology associations, promoting educational initiatives in cardiac arrhythmias, device therapy and remote monitoring. He is a member of the editorial boards of several leading cardiology journals, including the EP Europace the official Journal of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC where he serves as Associate Editor. He is actively involved in international and national research projects and is currently part of the Horizon Europe-funded ARISTOTELES project.

Jacopo F. Imberti is an Assistant Professor in Tenure Track at the University of Modena, Italy and Consultant Cardiologist at the A.O. Policlinico di Modena, Italy. His interest in cardiology and clinical research dates back to the Medical School he attended at University of Pavia. Driven by this passion, in 2016 he graduated with a research dissertation on catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia under the supervision of Prof. Silvia G. Priori. In 2018 he began the four years residency in cardiology at the A.O. Policlinico di Modena, where he is currently working with Prof. Giuseppe Boriani. Since 2020 he is also Clinical Research Fellow at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital under the supervision of Prof. Gregory YH Lip. His main research fields are atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, AHRE, stroke, and implantable cardiac devices.