UniCamillus University has confirmed its growth in Italy’s academic landscape by securing a significant position in the 2020–2024 Research Quality Assessment (VQR), the main national exercise organised by ANVUR (Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes) to measure the scientific performance and impact of Italian universities’ Third Mission activities.
In terms of the quality of research in Medical Sciences, UniCamillus ranks:
• 1st among Italian non-state universities with a similar volume of projects assessed
• 3rd among all non-state universities
• 9th nationally, including both state and non-state universities.
Among the fields that contributed to the overall result, General and Applied Hygiene (3rd place nationally), Human Anatomy (4th place) and Human Histology and Embryology (6th place) stand out.
For the Third Mission, UniCamillus ranks:
• 1st among Italian medical universities, tied with Humanitas University
• 3rd nationally among over 90 universities assessed and a total of 858 case studies submitted by Italian universities.
ANVUR’s assessment is ‘Excellent’.
Education, research and social impact
This award recognises an academic model based on the integration of research, education and social impact, with a strong focus on Humanitarian Medicine, international health cooperation and the protection of the most vulnerable people.
In terms of research, the University is currently involved in around 30 ongoing projects, with a particular focus on neurodegenerative diseases, oncology and the impact of cancer on quality of life, cardiovascular diseases and gender-specific medicine. Studies are being carried out in the University’s laboratories and clinical settings to understand disease mechanisms, identify new biomarkers, improve diagnostics and contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic approaches.
Regarding the Third Mission, between 2020 and 2024 the University implemented a wide-ranging programme of social and healthcare initiatives involving over 24,900 beneficiaries. In Italy, the initiatives focused on social dentistry for children in disadvantaged communities, healthcare for homeless people, preventive cardiology programmes for frail older adults, and health-education activities. Internationally, UniCamillus has operated in vulnerable communities in Africa and the Amazon through multidisciplinary healthcare missions focused on prevention, nutritional support, vaccinations and telemedicine, with the aim of improving access to care and ensuring continuity of assistance.
Quality in the service of an increasingly humane form of medicine
“This achievement is a source of great pride for UniCamillus and confirms that we are on the right track”, says Gianni Profita, Rector of UniCamillus. “Being among Italy’s leading universities in terms of social impact in the medical field means receiving recognition for a commitment that combines research, education and responsibility towards the most vulnerable members of our society. It is the result of the work of our entire academic community and reinforces our responsibility to promote a more humane form of medicine, one that is closer to people’s real needs”.
Professor Donatella Padua, Delegate for the Third Mission, also expressed her satisfaction: “The University’s commitment to tackling health inequalities through international cooperation programmes confirms and strengthens its distinctive vocation for humanitarian medicine”.
“This achievement recognises the value of our researchers, whose daily commitment to clinical work and laboratory activities at the University makes a tangible contribution to progress in medicine”, emphasises Professor Emiliano Maiani, Delegate for Research.