Lara Gitto

Lara (Scientific Advisor) is Associate Professor of Political Economy at the University of Messina, Italy. She holds a PhD in Public Economics from the University of Catania with a thesis on the quality of hospital care, a Master of Science in Health Economics from the University of Messina, and a Master of Science in International Business and Economic Integration from the University of Reading (UK). She has been coordinator and scientific tutor of Masters and research projects in Health Economics and Management at the University of Messina, and has collaborated extensively in the research activities of CEIS at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. She is a member of several national and international research groups, including “Managing the Transition to SPMS – ManTra” (Istituto Neurologico Besta, Milan); “Development and validation of a tool for patient-reported assessment of cancer related financial toxicity” (Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione Pascale”, Naples); and COST Action 15111 – EUROMENE on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/(ME/CFS), EU Framework, Horizon 2020. She has authored over 130 scientific publications in international and national journals, is a journal referee, and an evaluator for the meetings of several scientific societies (IHEA, EuHEA, ISPOR). She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Association of Health Economics (AIES) and previously served on the Board of Auditors of the association from 2014-2017. Her research interests include the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases, the economic evaluation of health programmes, the efficiency of health structures and long-term care. She is currently coordinating an ongoing research project at the University of Messina on efficiency and academic productivity targets for
university physicians.