Tribute to Roberto de Marco

It is with great sadness that we report the death of one of the scientific partners in the ALEC project. Roberto de Marco, Professor of Medical Statistics, was the Scientist in Charge at the University of Verona. He had worked for many years on the ECRHS project, where he had led many of the most highly cited papers that greatly contributed to the advancement of knowledge in chronic respiratory diseases. He coordinated the ISAYA and GEIRD studies, which represent two of the main contributions to the epidemiology of pulmonary diseases in Italy.

Within ALEC, Roberto would have led the research on lung function decline in asthma and on the assessment of trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We will all miss and remember a critical mind, an independent researcher and a friend.