Over the past decade, research has shown the importance of gender differences in various areas, including health. For example, when a drug has to be tested, the reactions of men are mainly taken as a reference, while the female representation does not exceed 20-25%. To change course, in 2017, the Reference Center for Gender Medicine (MdG), a discipline that deals with the biological differences between the two sexes and their influence in the treatment of diseases.
It is directed by the doctor Alessandra Carè, born in 1955, who, amidst obstacles, responsibilities and strengths, tells of her love for biology and the reasons that accompanied her during her professional career.
When did you decide which path you would take?
«When I finished high school I didn’t have very clear ideas, I was undecided between apparently distant worlds: ancient letters, to be an archaeologist, and biological sciences to become a researcher. In reality they were united by the same curiosity and desire to seek answers. In the end, I chose biology and, during the university, the meeting with a good professor of genetics has increased my passion for research and still today I maintain the same tenacity as then. I will retire in a couple of years and I already know that I will miss everything, from scientific conferences to everyday life with colleagues ».
What have been your strengths along the way?
“I think I had good teachers, from whom I learned a lot, both in my family and among fellow researchers who made me take my first steps in this world, such as the period I spent at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia and that at the ‘National Cancer Institute in Milan. Equally important were my commitment and tenacity: after graduation, I was a volunteer at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for five years and in the meantime, in order not to be completely dependent on my parents, I worked as a substitute teacher of mathematics and science in middle school ” .
It had to be divided on two fronts …
«In the morning I drove around the Lazio schools by car, and in the afternoon, after a quick-eaten sandwich, I was in Rome for research and experimentation: they were tiring days, but I felt very motivated! Then, after winning the research competition, I started spending most of my time in the Institute’s premises, feeling more and more at home and welcomed into a second family. In these 40 years, between satisfaction and moments of depression, my innate patience and a good dose of optimism have played a fundamental role ».
What kind of difficulties did you encounter?
«In absolute terms, researching is not easy. The wait for a job is very long and today it seems increasingly directed towards fixed-term jobs. Looking at gender equality, there is still a long way to go. In this context, the reality of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità is particular, since the management of the structures are equally divided between men and women and, on the whole, we are mostly women ».
What prompted you to follow a gender approach?
«Certainly the desire to add new pieces to the knowledge useful for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The position as director of the Center for Gender Medicine has brought with it great responsibilities, including that of coordination at the national level, since the ISS is home to an Observatory dedicated to this discipline. To highlight the biological differences means, in my opinion, to deal with diseases in the best possible way, moving towards a truly personalized and consequently fair medicine ».
What would you recommend to a woman who wants to follow her example?
«I would advise you to work hard, to study well and to believe in it. The researchers are many, and all very attentive and able to broaden their gaze by putting forward interesting hypotheses that, in some cases, they will be able to demonstrate. It is a demanding but beautiful job, in which it is necessary to work as a team, making your skills available to the whole group. For those who want to work in research, I would suggest an experience abroad, essential for learning about other cultures and new organizational methods, as well as for learning English well. It will be possible to discover along the way that, with the right confidence in one’s abilities, good results can be achieved in any context. At least for me it was like that! ».
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