Gabriele Hamonet, Marco Balconi and Lorenzo Napoletano: learning research by doing with the Virgilio Program
Three students reflect on how a project with Professor Gabbi strengthened their research skills and their ability to work as a team
Gabriele Hamonet, Marco Balconi and Lorenzo Napoletano share their experience of investigating the association between CFTR mutations and cancer prevalence worldwide. Guided by Professor Gabbi, they explored each stage of the research process, from defining a question to analysing data and interpreting results, gaining practical skills and a deeper understanding of scientific collaboration.
The opportunity to work together and with Professor Gabbi enriched our research knowledge. We would like to share our reflections on this project, which represents an essential step in each of our training paths.
“When Professor Gabbi offered us the opportunity to take part in a research project after the final lecture of the Scientific Communication course, I chose to participate because I was interested in the topic and wanted to contribute to a research study. At that time, I had very little experience with how a research study is actually designed and conducted. The project focused on investigating the association between CFTR mutations and the prevalence of different types of cancer across populations and regions worldwide. Throughout the project, Professor Gabbi guided us step by step through the entire research process, from defining the research question and designing the study, to searching for and extracting data, and finally analysing and interpreting the results. This experience gave me the opportunity to see first-hand what it truly means to build and carry out a research project, allowing me to move beyond the theoretical concepts discussed during the course and experience the research process in practice. It also provided me with valuable skills that will undoubtedly be useful for my future academic and professional development. I am truly grateful to Professor Gabbi for giving me this opportunity and for her guidance throughout the project!”
— Gabriele Hamonet
“During my time with the Virgilio Program, I wanted to take part in a research project to gain hands-on experience. The project presented by Professor Gabbi was a great opportunity to achieve my goals, as it taught us how to work effectively as a team and develop essential research skills. Over the course of about three months, I held regular calls with Professor Gabbi and my colleagues to discuss our weekly progress, during which she answered all of our questions, even though there were very many. Specifically, the project taught us how to manage a database, retrieve data from international databanks (such as the WHO), and perform statistical analysis. I will carry forward both the theoretical knowledge I acquired and the collaborative experience with my colleagues; in my view, teamwork is a crucial skill for any future physician, as collaboration leads to better outcomes. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Gabbi, my team, and the Virgilio Program for this valuable experience.”
— Marco Balconi
“As part of the Virgilio Program, I had the chance to take part in a research project with Professor Gabbi and my colleagues, studying the association between CFTR mutations and cancer prevalence worldwide. What I found particularly valuable was that each of our regular meetings went beyond simply reviewing our progress: Professor Gabbi used them as an opportunity to teach us about the scientific method, how to manage a dataset, statistical reasoning, and how to recognise and avoid bias in research. This turned the project into much more than a data collection exercise, giving us a genuine foundation in how sound scientific research is actually done. Beyond the academic side, working closely with my colleagues over these months helped us grow as a team, and I feel we truly learned how to collaborate effectively. I am sincerely grateful to Professor Gabbi for her guidance and dedication throughout this experience, and to the Virgilio Program for making it possible.”
— Lorenzo Napoletano
*Image generated using artificial intelligence for illustrative purposes.
