Host by the University of Bologna and Fin-ceramica SPA, Faenza, Italy
18th – 22nd February 2019

(Left to Right)
Marco Senale (ESR5, Ansys/Uni of Sheffield)
José Rui Rodrigues (ESR2, University of Sheffield/Finceramica)
Cameron James (ESR5, ADAGOS/University of Sheffield)
Jennifer Fayad (ESR4, University of Bologna/National Center of Spinal Disorders)
Denata Syla (ESR1, University of Sheffield/Finceramica)
Norman Powell (Project Manager, University of Sheffield)
Lingzhong Gou (Lecturer, University of Sheffield)
Chloé Techens (ESR3, University of Bologna/National Center of Spinal Disorders)
Gwen Reilly (Coordinator, University of Sheffield)
Luca Cristofolini (Host, University of Bologna)
Laura Grillini (Researcher, Finceramica)
Peter Eltes (Surgeon, National Center of Spinal Disorders)
Michel Rochette (Director of Research , Anys)
Mathieu Causse (Software Developer, ADAGOS)
Claudia Mazzà (Professor, University of Sheffield)
Enrico Dall’Ara (Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield)
In February, the fellows attended their second training, hosted by Luca Cristofolini at the University of Bologna.
On the first day, the fellows observed a spine surgery led by Prof Cesare Faldini at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli.

On the second day, Carla Pegoraro from the PLoS One journal and Insigneo’s former Director, Marco Viceconti, now at the University of Bologna, explained how to write scientifically from a publishing and academic perspectives. Luca gave a tour of the Biomechanics Laboratory. Vittorio Colombo from the University of Bologna give a workshop on Intellectual Properties.

On the third day, the Fellows had an opportunity to present their progress to the group. In the afternoon, Claudia Mazzà, University of Sheffield talked about Research Ethics.
Over the course of the week, the Fellows learnt about Project Management from three different industrial perspectives: Michel Rochette, Ansys, as a large software house, Mathieu Causse, as a start-up software company and Christopher Schilling, Aesculap in the development of an implantable device.

Finceramica in Faenza, a biomaterials company that synthesises materials for bone and joint repair, hosted the final day. They providing an insight into their products and materials and the development of implantable products.

(clockwise from left):
Luca Cristofolini (Host, University of Bologna)
Denata Syla (ESR1, University of Sheffield/Finceramica)
Marco Palanco (Researcher, University of Bologna)
Enrico Dall’Ara (Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield)
Chloé Techens (ESR3, University of Bologna/National Center of Spinal Disorders)
Marco Senale (ESR5, Ansys/Uni of Sheffield)
Jennifer Fayad (ESR4, University of Bologna/National Center of Spinal Disorders)
José Rui Rodrigues (ESR2, University of Sheffield/Finceramica)
Cameron James (ESR5, ADAGOS/University of Sheffield)
Michel Rochette (Director of Research , Anys)
Mathieu Causse (Software Developer, ADAGOS)
Claudia Mazzà (Professor, University of Sheffield)
By day, the Fellows experienced Bologna la dotta, the learned, through their technical and professional development and arguable Bologna la rossa, the red, observing the surgery. By night, they experienced Bologna la grassa, the fat, exploring the medieval, porticoed centre to feast in the shelter of the twin, leaning towers, on the cured meats, cheeses, fresh pasta, of course beef ragú, the famous Bolgnese sauce.

Denata said: “Being able to observe a spinal surgery in person was not only fascinating but gave me a better idea of what is realistic and what not when designing a bone graft which could later be possibly used by the surgeons for spinal repair.”
Another Fellow said “The event was excellent and included some great activities. The scheduling achieved a really good balance between the more inolved activities (tours etc.) and the presentations, so that no single day was spent entirely in a lecture environment.”