Dr. Ardigò is an MD with a specialization in Internal Medicine. He obtained his PhD at the University of Parma (Italy) and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University (California, US). Before joining the industry, he worked at the University of Parma (Italy) in the field of cardiovascular and metabolic genomics, and as free-lance consultant for various academic institutions. He joined Chiesi in 2010, where acted as Clinical Lead in the registration of the first stem cell therapy in EU and led the cross-company team (with uniQure BV) treating the first patient with a commercial gene therapy in EU. He is currently the Head of the R&D Rare Disease Unit in Chiesi. He is also serving as chairman of the Therapies Scientific Committee of IRDiRC (International Rare Diseases Research Consortium) and board member of the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE). He is author of 50 indexed papers and speaker at international medical and industrial congresses.