Scientific cooperation between Italy and the United States received fresh support in New York as John Elkann announced a fellowship for a young Italian cancer researcher.
The announcement accompanied his acceptance of the Alessandro di Montezemolo Lifetime Achievement Award from the American-Italian Cancer Foundation on November 4, 2026. Presented by foundation chairman Daniele Bodini, the honor recognizes lasting contributions to cancer research and collaboration across the Atlantic.
The fellowship, named for the Fondazione Allegra Agnelli, will enable an Italian researcher to pursue training and research at a US cancer center within the American foundation’s network. It creates an opportunity to exchange knowledge, develop expertise, and establish international scientific relationships.
Italy’s consul general in New York, Giuseppe Pastorelli, attended the ceremony, which also honored 3 scientists for their research achievements: Ronald P. DeMatteo, Raymond J. Deshaies, and Silvia Formenti.
Founded in 1980, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation has connected scientific excellence with philanthropy for 46 years. Its founders included Umberto Veronesi and Alessandro di Montezemolo, with support from figures including Umberto Agnelli, Renato Dulbecco, and Mary Lasker.
Elkann paid tribute to his aunt Allegra and the community of donors behind the Candiolo cancer institute near Turin. The foundation supporting that institution began in 1986, followed by the institute’s opening in 1996.
Those dates make 2026 a double milestone – 40 years for the foundation and 30 for the institute.
Born in New York, Elkann linked that philanthropic legacy with a new international opportunity, helping carry a shared commitment to research into the next generation.
