On August 14, we said goodbye to our lifelong friend and co-founder of Bio4Dreams, Professor Daniele Cusi. We remember him with his ever-present, warm and positive smile – an expression that lit up his face – and honor the legacy of an extraordinary and brilliant scientist in the fields of arterial hypertension and genetics.

Born in Milan in 1951, Daniele dedicated his life to research and scientific discovery. He earned his degree in Medicine and specialized in Nephrology and Cardiology at the University of Milan. He then pursued advanced training in Paris at the Unité de Recherches de Physiologie et Pharmacologie Rénale (INSERM U7), and in Boston at the Department of Physiology and Biophysics of Harvard Medical School, focusing on cell physiology, pharmacology, and transcellular ion transport – fields in which he became a leading expert.

Upon returning to Italy in the late 1980s, he joined Prof. Giuseppe Bianchi at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, initially focusing on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of salt-sensitive hypertension. He later broadened his research to encompass genetics more broadly. He published extensively in prestigious international scientific journals, ranking among Italy’s most respected clinical medicine researchers.

Daniele’s career was also marked by a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring the next generation of physicians. Starting as a research fellow at the University of Milan in the late 1980s, he remained there until 2015, concluding his academic journey as Full Professor and Director of the Nephrology Residency Program. To his students, he was not only a knowledgeable teacher, but also an inspiring and motivating mentor – always ready with a metaphor, a touch of irony, or a witty remark.

He held several key leadership positions over the years: Head of the Hypertension and Kidney Disease Prevention Unit at IRCCS MultiMedica (2005–2008); Head of the Nephrology Unit at AO San Carlo, Milan (2008–2009); and Head of the Nephrology Unit at AO San Paolo, Milan (2009–2015).

Beyond his academic accomplishments, Daniele had a deep passion for technology and innovation. He constantly sought to integrate new technologies into clinical practice and research. His intellectual curiosity extended to the arts and gastronomy, passions he shared enthusiastically with friends and family.

At the end of 2017, we co-founded Bio4Dreams – a challenge Daniele embraced wholeheartedly, as it represented a new chapter in his lifelong commitment to innovation and to supporting new generations of scientists with an entrepreneurial spirit. Together, we reviewed projects, selected business ideas, and launched startups driven by scientific rigor, entrepreneurial vision, and true passion. Daniele’s sharp wit, refined intellect, and constructive critical thinking played a vital role in shaping what Bio4Dreams is today.

Reserved and far from the spotlight, Daniele was a man – and a scientist – of true substance. To him, research meant quality: not a race for publication numbers, but a journey built on solid hypotheses, meticulous data collection, and careful analysis. His values, his humanity, his enthusiasm for life, and his love for research are now cornerstones of how we do business every day.

Announcing the “Daniele Cusi Award”

As a living tribute to Daniele’s memory, Bio4Dreams will establish the Daniele Cusi Award in 2026. The award will be dedicated to very early-stage entrepreneurial ideas and/or startups in the fields of arterial hypertension and genetics.

The award will be assigned through a dedicated Call for Ideas, open nationwide, which will launch in early 2026 and be announced soon.

The initiative will support the creation of a new entrepreneurial venture through a Bio4Dreams incubation program worth €30,000, offering strategic support, access to funding opportunities, and networking within our national and international innovation ecosystem.