Mutinelli Franco
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Role | Director |
| Structure | National Reference Centre for Animal Assisted Interventions (Pet Therapy) National Reference Centre for Beekeeping SCS3 – Ecosystems Laboratory Animal Facility and Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes |
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| Phone | +39 049 8084287 | |
| fmutinelli@izsvenezie.it |
Profilo professionale
Franco Mutinelli is the Director of the SCS3 – Ecosystems Unit of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), as well as Head of the National Reference Centre, Regional Reference Centre (Veneto Region), and FAO Reference Centre for Beekeeping, and Head of the National Reference Centre for Animal-Assisted Interventions. He also serves as Head of the SSDS4 – Animal Facility and Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes Unit.
He graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bologna in 1983, subsequently obtaining a diploma from the European College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1998 and an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Management (EMMAS V) from Bocconi University in 2006. His primary areas of expertise include apiculture (diagnosis, control, and research regarding bee diseases, hive products, environmental monitoring, and regulations); histopathology of domestic, wild, and laboratory animal diseases; neoplastic pathology and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs); as well as laboratory animal management, welfare, and regulation.
He actively collaborates on numerous national and international research projects, including: Apenet: Monitoring and Research in Apiculture; Beenet: Beekeeping and Agriculture Network (2011–2014); EPIZONE: Network of Excellence for Epizootic Disease Diagnosis and Control (Priority 5: Food Quality and Safety, EC Contract: FP6-2004-Food-3); COST Action FA0803 Prevention of Honeybee Colony Losses (COLOSS) (Management Committee member, 2008–2012), which subsequently led to the establishment of the COLOSS Association; EUROSTARS Project E!5928 Optimizing a Novel, Safe and Efficient RNA Interference Protection Strategy for Honeybee Nosema Disease (NOLESSBEES); EPILOBEE: A Pan-European Epidemiological Study on Honey Bee Colony Losses (2012–2014); and BeeOshield: An Innovative Biomolecular Defence Against Bee Parasites (2019–2022).
He has served as a speaker and tutor for the European Commission’s Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) initiatives on Animal Health of Bees (2010–2017), Live Animals: Import Control of Bees and Bumblebees (2017–2019), and Companion Animals Movement (2017–2019), as well as for TAIEX events (2018–2019) focused on protecting and improving bee health and hive production. He is also a member of the EU Expert Group for honey bee diseases.