Giampaolo Merlini, MD, is the Director of the Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Centre, and of the Clinical Chemistry Laboratories, Scientific Institute Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy. He was trained in clinical and laboratory investigation of monoclonal gammapathies in the Centres directed by Prof. Jan Waldenström (Lund University, Sweden, 1979-1981) and by Prof. Elliott Osserman (Columbia University, NY, 1981-1986). He is Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pavia. His main research interests are the pathogenesis, natural history and treatment of monoclonal gammapathies and of systemic amyloidoses. Over the past 25 years, he focused on the development of new diagnostic approaches, of reliable biomarkers for assessing the prognosis and response to therapy, and of novel medicines for the treatment of systemic amyloidoses. His current research interests focus on the development of animal models of systemic amyloidoses and on the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects of misfolded proteins. He is the author of over 300 papers in refereed journals. He is the recipient of funds from the European Community (FP6), the Italian Ministry of Health and the Italian Ministry of Research and University. He has served on a number of national and international committees and scientific societies, including as the Chair of the Committee on Plasma Proteins, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (2000-2010) and he is now Member of the Executive Board of the Scientific Division of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. He is the past President of the International Society of Amyloidosis. He is the recipient of the Waldenström's Award (Stockholm, October 18, 2008) in recognition of his contributions to the scientific understanding of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.