Pedianet is an Italian independent network of more than 400 family paediatricians (FP) established in 1998 to collect relevant data for clinical and epidemiological research. The database is owned by an SME based in Padova (Società Servizi Telematici). The coordination of the project and data analysis are carried out by a scientific committee that includes internationally well-known paediatricians, epidemiologists and researchers. The network connects FPs who use the same software (JuniorBit) in their professional practice. About 4500 FPs (50% of the total) use JB in Italy and are all potential candidates to be part of the system. So far over 40 clinical epidemiological studies on major paediatric diseases or pharmacovigilance have been conducted. These studies have resulted in over 80 publications and presentations at conferences. Studies carried out to-date have been funded by public bodies (European Commission, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, AIFA, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Regione Veneto, Aziende Socio Sanitarie, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie, etc) or private groups such as pharmaceutical companies or international research groups and foundations.
Pedianet is one of the data sources involved in two IMI-funded projects (EMIF and ADVANCE) aiming at creating a common European medical information framework and infrastructure among several databases spread all over the continent. In addition, it participated in important European projects on paediatric medicine, such as TEDDY and GRIP, on pharmacovigilance (EU-ADR and SOS) as well as on use of antibiotics in children (ARPEC).
PEDIANET, supported by its paediatrician network will lead the project dissemination activities directed to key stakeholders as described in WP10. PEDIANET, through its database will provide information on drug prescriptions necessary for the conduction of the market analysis and the cost-effectiveness study.
Luigi Cantarutti is a Medical Doctor specialised in Paediatrics and Neonatology (1979-80). Luigi is a paediatrician. He has been President of SoSePe srl (Società di Servizi per la Pediatria) since 1989 and President of Società di Servizi Telematici since 1997. He is the scientific coordinator and project leader of PEDIANET, the first European network of home-paediatricians. He has been involved as collaborator in several EU funded projects including ADVANCE, EMIF, EU-ADR, SOS, GRIP and TEDDY.
Maria Cavallo, expert in medical communication with children and experienced in the preparation of informative packages and assent forms (implemented in the DEEP project).
Mariangela Lupo, Master’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations. She is involved in the communication and dissemination activities in several European projects (InNerMeD-I-Network, CloSed and DEEP).
