Meet the editors

Alberto Vannelli attended medical school and completed postgraduate research and general surgical training in Milan before training in colorectal surgery at the National Cancer Institute and eventually joining the faculty there. Over the 10 years that followed, he played an instrumental role in developing what was widely considered the finest department of colorectal surgery in the world. He is currently director of general sur-

gery at Valduce Hospital, Como, Italy, a referral center for a colorectal disease that is known for sphincter-saving procedures for rectal cancer and for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr. Vannelli focuses on advanced minimally invasive techniques, including multidisciplinary management of patients with colorectal cancers. He has participated as a speaker at national and international meetings and has published several publications in peer-reviewed journals. In 2012, Dr. Vannelli founded Erone Onlus to assist cancer patients and their families. He collaborates with the School of Specialization in General Surgery at the Emergency Department of the University of Milan.

Dr. Daniela Lazar is an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania. She began her career in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the same university, where she acquired clinical skills in gastroenterology, learned the techniques of endoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography and began her research activity. She is specialized in Gastroen-

terology, Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and underwent completed her Ph.D. thesis in the field of gastric cancer. Dr. Lazar's research interests are concerned mainly with the neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, especially gastric cancer. She has published many studies regarding angiogenesis, premalignant lesions, prognostic factors and novel therapies in gastric cancer in prestigious journals, with numerous citations. She is a reviewer for many international journals. She is also interested in aspects of the epidemiology, phenotypes, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and is a member of national and international working groups in this domain. Dr. Lazar has taken part in many national and international congresses with research studies in the field of gastroenterology and digestive oncology.
