Announced last October in memory of Prof. Daniele Cusi, founding partner of Bio4Dreams, the Daniele Cusi Award will be presented as part of the 6th edition of Seed4Innovation (S4I), the scouting and acceleration program of the University of Milan.

The Daniele Cusi Award

Established to honor the memory of Daniele Cusi and his commitment to research and the education of future generations, the award is dedicated to Life Sciences projects aligned with his scientific work, particularly in areas such as nephrology, cardiology, genetics, physiology, and cellular pharmacology.

A physician, professor, and researcher, Daniele devoted much of his career to studying the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying arterial hypertension, combining his scientific activity with a constant commitment to training young physicians and researchers.

As a founding partner of Bio4Dreams, he also contributed from the very beginning to the selection and development of high-potential scientific and entrepreneurial projects, bringing scientific rigor, experience, and critical thinking, together with a strong focus on supporting young entrepreneurs.

The award includes an incubation program at Bio4Dreams worth up to €30,000, providing strategic support, access to funding opportunities, and networking within Bio4Dreams’ national and international ecosystem.

For this initiative, Bio4Dreams will be supported by BION – Cluster lombardo scienze della vita, the regional network established by Regione Lombardia to connect public and private stakeholders across the Life Sciences ecosystem.

BION will contribute to the evaluation and development of the selected project and will provide access to its network of members.

The award within Seed4Innovation

Now in its 6th edition, Seed4Innovation is the University of Milan program dedicated to the development of innovative ideas and projects. Bio4Dreams and BION – Cluster lombardo scienze della vita take part as program partners, contributing to project scouting and evaluation activities.

The decision to present the Daniele Cusi Award within Seed4Innovation reflects the strong alignment between the award and the program, both sharing the goal of enhancing research and supporting high-potential projects as they move toward new development opportunities.

Within this framework, the award will place a specific focus on innovative projects in arterial hypertension and genetics, two fields that played a central role in Daniele Cusi’s scientific and academic career.