“The gift" of the Body to Science - An Interdisciplinary Dialogue Five Years After Law No. 10/2020

Five years after the entry into force of Law No. 10/2020 on post-mortem body donation for study, training, and scientific research purposes, the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna is promoting an interdisciplinary conference dedicated to a collective reflection on the science, law, and ethics of donating one’s body to research.

The initiative, organized by the DIRPOLIS Institute of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, will unfold over two days:

November 13, 2025 – Research on Human Tissues: News from the Scientific Front
Held in the Conference Hall of Palazzo Boyl, the afternoon will focus on the latest developments in scientific research on human tissues, featuring contributions from experts in biomedical and bioethical fields as well as insights from national reference centers and biobanks.

November 14, 2025 – Research on Human Tissues: News from the Social Front
At the Main Campus of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Aula 3), the morning will address the legal and social implications of body donation and the use of human tissues, touching on informed consent, data protection, and the emerging challenges of the bioeconomy.

The conference will bring together university professors, researchers, healthcare professionals, and legal scholars from leading Italian institutions — including the Universities of Pisa, Bologna, Trento, and Rome “La Sapienza,” as well as the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana and the USL Toscana Nord-Ovest.

The event represents a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary dialogue on the value of donation as an act of responsibility and scientific solidarity — one that unites knowledge and care, research and respect for human dignity.