Firstly, I would like to greet the Honorary Committee:

• His Excellency Dr. Elio Iván Rodríguez Chávez, Rector of Universidad Ricardo Palma.
• Honorable Dr. Antonio Russo, whom I have the honor of briefly outlining today, in regards to his prolific contributions to medicine and society.
• Distinguished Dr. Félix Romero Revilla, Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs at Universidad Ricardo Palma.
• Madam Dean of the Faculty of Human Medicine: Dr. María del Socorro Alatrista, widow of Bambaren.
• Distinguished Dr. Salvattore: Delegate of the Faculty of Medicine and Representative of the Rector of University of Palermo

Mr. Secretary-General of Universidad Ricardo Palma, Dr. Raúl Vidal,

Esteemed Deans, Directors, Authorities of Scientific Societies, Hospitals, and Institutions. Teachers, Colleagues, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, and especially the delegation of experts from the University of Palermo.

The Doctor Honoris Causa is the highest honorary title awarded by Universidad Ricardo Palma to eminent individuals. It is conferred with great care by our institution to highly distinguished personalities from both the national and international realms, who with their work and personal trajectory honor culture, science, and humanity.

I would like to thank the Rector of the university for entrusting me with the task of making a brief portrayal of Dr. Antonio Russo.

Italy and Peru are brotherly countries that share many bonds from time immemorial.

Con base en la importante trayectoria en el mundo académico del Doctor Antonio Russo, sus valiosos aportes científicos y, de manera especial, su destacado espíritu de colaboración con el Perú, América Latina y específicamente con la Universidad Ricardo Palma, hoy estamos en esta ceremonia donde la Universidad Ricardo Palma le otorga el Doctor Honoris Causa.

What are some notable aspects of Dr. Antonio Russo?

Due to time and space constraints, I will mention just a few of them:

1. His intense and enriching scientific contribution.
2. His academic renown and journey through top universities.
3. His valued and respected daily work as a medical specialist in oncology and the respect and admiration of colleagues, friends, and patients.
4. His prestige as a Scientific Researcher.
5. His dedication and vocation as a Professor and Mentor to many generations of doctors, residents, interns, and doctoral students in his service and research laboratory.
6. His admirable human quality, values, principles, and his interest in helping even distant countries like those in South America.

Or perhaps all of these together, a rarity in our times.

His research is highly valued and recognized worldwide, with numerous books published in various countries and languages.

Hundreds of articles in the most impactful and prestigious journals, and countless participations in national and international congresses. More than 400 scientific papers published and others in the process of publication.

He has received recognitions, various awards, and distinctions:

Summary of academic trajectory and background:

• Dr. Antonio Russo is Full Professor of Medical Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Palermo (Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Oral Sciences).
• He serves as Head of the Clinical Division and the Reference Center for Rare and Heredofamilial Solid Tumors, Palermo (Italy).
• Since 2021, he is also the coordinator of the ERN - EURACAN (European Reference Network on Rare Adult Solid Cancers) Center in Palermo (Italy).
• He is also the Coordinator of the National Doctorate Course in Oncology and director of the School of Specialization in Medical Oncology at the University of Palermo.
• He is an adjunct full professor at Temple University, Philadelphia (USA).
• He is an expert in the field of translational oncology, hereditary, rare, lung, gastrointestinal, and ovarian cancers, focusing on liquid biopsy and the search for circulating prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
• Previously, he was co-chair of the "CRCP53 International Collaborative Study" project and also a member of the RASCAL II international project group.
• He was an expert member of INSERM (France), the INCA Scientific Committee (France), and the NWCRF (United Kingdom). Since 2015, he has been a member of the national AIOM committee and has been National Treasurer of AIOM since October 2022.
• Since January 2022, he is the president of COMU (National Council of University Medical Oncologists).
• He has recently received numerous professional recognitions, including that of Visiting and Honorary Professor at Universidad Ricardo Palma from Peru, an honor he has graced with multiple collaborations.
• In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious NIAF Award for Ethics and Creativity in Medical Research in Washington, D.C. (USA).
• In 2022, he was identified by Stanford University as being among the top 2% of the world's scientists in biomedical sciences (Area: cancer – medicine) and also by "Research.com" as one of the world's leading researchers in the field of Medicine.
• Since 2015, he has also been the coordinator of various AIOM recommendations/guidelines, namely, "Cardio-Oncology" and "Liquid Biopsy".
• From 2022, he serves as the AIOM Coordinator for the “Guidelines on Heredofamilial Cancers”.
• He has contributed to over 400 peer-reviewed publications listed in Medline-PubMed, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet, Annals of Oncology, Oncoimmunology, Lancet Oncology, Cell Stem Cell.
• Lastly, he is the editor-in-chief of several academic textbooks on oncology for Springer Nature, such as the "Practical Medical Oncology Textbook" (2021).
• With Dr. Antonio Russo's distinguished participation and enthusiasm, more than five international events have been organized at Universidad Ricardo Palma (International Symposia on Precision Medicine, Research Congress, Euro-Latin American Cancer Congress, Congress: “The long journey into BRCA 1/2 genes goes on: The Emerging landscape of BRCA-related tumors” among others.

Collaboration Background with URP-INICIB:

1. Based on previous collaborations with Prof. Dr. Antonio Russo from the University of Palermo-Italy, who has participated as a speaker and co-director in events organized by Universidad Ricardo Palma.
2. Prof. Dr. Antonio Russo has previously received distinctions as a Visiting Professor and later as an Honorary Professor of Universidad Ricardo Palma.
3. He is currently an international member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of the Faculty of Human Medicine at Universidad Ricardo Palma.
4. He has collaborated with us in publications such as a chapter in the Textbook of Oncology: Practical Medical Oncology Textbook, Springer 2021 by Prof. Dr. Antonio Russo (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-56051-5), where we participated as a co-author on gastric cancer with affiliation to Universidad Ricardo Palma.
5. We have represented INICIB-URP as a speaker at previous AIOM Congresses: Associazione Italiana de Oncologia Medica, 2021 and 2022.
6. We have collaborated representing INICIB in the translation of the “Guidelines for Hereditary Breast Cancer” of the AIOM: Associazione Italiana de Oncologia Medica.
7. Dr. Antonio Russo has facilitated academic collaborations of Universidad Ricardo Palma with other European scientific organizations such as AIOM: Associazione Italiana de Oncologia Medica and COMU (National Council of University Medical Oncologists, in Italy).

He is a member of many other international, scientific, and research organizations, and is the President of many of them.

Throughout his life, Dr. Antonio Russo has dedicated himself incessantly to teaching and research, as well as clinical activities. He leads research in advanced and innovative topics such as "Liquid Biopsy in Cancer" to assist patients in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. His cutting-edge research focuses on Precision Medicine, Molecular Medicine, and Genomics, directing research protocols and clinical trials for cancer patients, seamlessly combining clinical care with advanced research.

He has spread his knowledge worldwide, teaching courses and lectures, as well as undertaking multiple missions for cancer control in his country, Italy, across Europe, the USA, and globally.

At all times, he has shown his selfless dedication, cordiality, friendship, and ongoing support to everyone in need.

"To become truly great, one has to stand with the people, not above them," said Montesquieu; and you, Dr. Russo, have been, are, and I am sure will always be with all those who need it…

At Universidad Ricardo Palma and Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas, Dr. Antonio Russo, we share the dream that together we can continue to change the world… and if life permits, we are ready to continue adding efforts and collaborations to help many more people…

Today, we distinguish and honor a man who represents many doctors, oncologists, and researchers, who, with their effort, work, discipline, talent, intelligence, values, principles, and spirit of helping others, has dedicated his life to the work as a doctor, as a teacher, as a researcher, as a mentor… and for many lucky ones like us, has offered his friendship.

Thank you very much, Antonio... Continue helping people every day and working to improve the health and quality of life of our communities...


Prof. Dr. Jhony A. De La Cruz Vargas
General Director
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas
Universidad Ricardo Palma.