Prof. Elena Bargagli is associate professor at Siena University, Chief of Regional Referrral Centre for Rare Lung Diseases, ERN pattern for rare lung diseases, she published several manuscripts about biomarkers in different diffuse lung diseases. Her clinical interests includes: connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (ILD), idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), Pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (PLCH) and lymphangioleyomyomatosis (LAM). Her main research interest has focused on the study of proteomic analysis in the fluids of patients with ILD, chitinase potential role in sarcoidosis pathogenesis, the identification of prognostic biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). She obtained her medical degree and completed her training in respiratory medicine at the University of Siena, Italy, and subsequently specialised in ILD in the regional ILD specialist centre in Siena. She is (co)author of more than 100 manuscripts on ILD and sarcoidosis.

Dr. David Bennett has completed his Medical School at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University in 2009 and completed his training in Respiratory Medicine in 2014. Since 2010, Dr. Bennett participated to the Lung Transplant Program of the University Hospital of Siena, dealing with the management of patients on the waiting list, post-transplant follow-up and its complications. Since March 2020 he has took part of the COVID-19 team of the University Hospital of Siena. In addition to clinical practice, he continued his research by dedicating himself to the development of clinical database and the search for new biomarkers in patients with lung interstitial and lung transplant patients that led to scientific publications in international journals; in April 2017 he discussed the PhD thesis in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine of the University of Siena entitled "Biomarkers with clinical meaning in patients with interstitial lung diseases". He has also participated in numerous clinical studies to research new therapies in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He is author of scientific publications in impact factor journals and of numerous posters and oral communications at national and international conferences.

Dr. Laura Bergantini, is currently PhD student in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) at the laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, University of Siena. She received a Bachelor Degree in Biotechnology and Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology with honors. She published several manuscripts about biomarkers in different diffuse lung diseases including connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (ILD), idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), Pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (PLCH) and lymphangioleyomyomatosis (LAM). Today, her main research interests deal with the immunology of lung disorders through cytofluorimetric approach.

Dr. Miriana d’Alessandro, is currently PhD student in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) at the laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, University of Siena. She received a Bachelor Degree in Laboratory Technician and Master of Science in Health Biology. She published several manuscripts about biomarkers in different different diffuse lung diseases including connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (ILD), idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), Pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (PLCH) and lymphangioleyomyomatosis (LAM). Her main research interest has focused on the study of cytofluorimetric analysis in the fluids of patients with ILD, bioindicators related to sarcoidosis pathogenesis, the identification of prognostic biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Dr. Paolo Cameli is currently attending to PhD in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) at Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena. He obtained the medical degree in 2013 at the University of Siena and completed his training in Respiratory Medicine in 2018 at the University of Firenze, Italy. From February 2019, he was assigned as Research Fellow at Respiratory Diseases Unit (Regional Referral Centre for interstitial lung diseases) of Siena and from April 2020 is working at COVID19 Unit of Siena University Hospital. His principal research interests include the discovery, validation and interpretation of biomarkers in interstitial lung diseases (ILD), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sarcoidosis, chronic hypersensitivities pneumonitis (cHP) and connective-tissue disease related ILD (CTD-ILD), and severe asthma. He is (co)author of 37 manuscripts indexed on PubMed/Medline about ILDs and severe asthma.