Internal Medicine Department, Santa Croce Hospital, Fano, Italy;Dr. Sodani is an Italian haematologist with over 30 years of clinical and research experience, specializing in bone marrow transplantation, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease. Education: Medical degree from the University of Perugia (1993) and a PhD in Haematology (1998). Career highlights:. • Served as Scientific Consultant at Charité Hospital, Berlin (Haemato-Oncology Pediatric Section, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit), 2019–2022. • Haematologist at San Camillo Hospital, Rome (2015–2017). • Extensive tenure (2004–2015) at the Mediterranean Haematology Foundation / Tor Vergata University Policlinic, Rome, focused on bone marrow transplantation for thalassemia and sickle cell disease — treating roughly 180 thalassemic patients and helping develop transplant protocols (including haploidentical transplantation approaches) to improve outcomes and expand the donor pool for patients without HLA-matched relatives. • Earlier roles include Consultant Haematologist at Hospital S. Salvatore, Pesaro (1999–2004, ~80 transplants/year), and training under Prof. Massimo Martelli at the University Hospital of Perugia (1993–1998). • International experience includes a placement at the Royal Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK (1997). Research & publications: Author/co-author of over 30 peer-reviewed publications, primarily on haploidentical stem cell transplantation, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease treatment outcomes. Volunteer work: Active in humanitarian medical work, including thalassemia treatment programs in Pakistan (Cure2Children Foundation) and co-founding the CureThalassemia Foundation, working with Narayana Hospital in Bangalore, India.

Medical Coordinator, Cure2Children Foundation, Florence, Italy;Dr. Faulkner is an internationally recognized pediatric hematologist-oncologist with over 30 years of experience in bone marrow transplantation, with a particular focus on hemoglobinopathies (thalassemia and sickle cell disease) in low- and middle-income countries. Education: Medical degree from the University of Florence, Italy (1983, cum laude); pediatric residency at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn (1986–89); Pediatric Hematology-Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/New York Hospital/Cornell (1989–92). Career highlights: • Medical Coordinator of the Cure2Children Foundation (Florence, Italy) since 2006, which he also founded. • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology attending at the Children's Hospital of Florence (Ospedale Meyer), 1994–2005, and earlier at Policlinico Gemelli, Rome (1992–93). • Program Director, Sankalp-People Tree Hospitals Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Bangalore, India (2015–17), and Medical Coordinator of the Sankalp India Foundation since 2017. • Consultant for DKMS Group Germany's Access to Transplant program since 2020. • Visiting professor at Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia. Memberships & roles: Member of EBMT, ASH, ASCO, and SIOP; Chair of the Outreach Subcommittee (Pediatric Diseases Working Party, EBMT); JACIE inspector; Leader of the Thalassemia Group at Cure4Kids (St Jude). Research & funding: Principal investigator or coordinator on numerous grants (totaling several million euros) supporting thalassemia treatment and prevention programs in Pakistan, India, and globally, plus neuroblastoma research initiatives. Author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications spanning bone marrow transplantation, hemoglobinopathies, and pediatric oncology. Recognition: 2021 Distinguished Service Award from CIBMTR; featured in a dedicated chapter of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's book Building Social Business. Editorial board member for Annals of Hematology and Thalassemia Reports.