A tribute to Giulio Jori on his 70th birthday

Some colleagues from around the world would like to take this opportunity to highlight a special occasion in the life of an internationally renowned photobiologist and photochemist, but most of all in his capacity as a very dear friend and mentor to many. The occasion is the 70th birthday of Giulio Jori, Professor at the University of Padova, Department of Biology, Padova, Italy. Giulio has a trail of excellent scientific achievements and memorable occasions that have been and are still shared by the many friends and colleagues who have had the benefit of walking with Giulio on his never-ending path of engagement and relentless enthusiasm. Pill-Soon Song remembers meeting Giulio when visiting with Professors L. Musajo and G. Rodighiero in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Padova in the early 1970s. So too can Jean Cadet trace his memories back to meeting Giulio almost 30 years ago in Austin, Texas, at the occasion of one of the first major conferences devoted to oxygen and oxy-radicals in chemistry and biology. Apart from the many shared scientific interests, Herbert Hönigsmann also claims Giulio as a compatriot because of Giulio's Austrian roots and the fact that his grandfather served in the imperial Austro-Hungarian army. Jacques Piette particularly recalls the time when he had to defend his PhD thesis, and his main supervisor had invited Giulio as an external examiner because he was the best in the field of photosensitisation. It was something of a shock to realize that this high profile scientist actually turned out to be quite friendly, kind, encouraging and respectful of the work done by a young photobiologist.

Some of the highlights that will always be remembered for their impact, success and warm collegial contact include Giulio's pioneering role as a member of a group of European photobiologists who formally established the European Society for Photobiology (ESP) during the first European Congress of Photobiology in Grenoble in 1986 (Fig. 1). Prior to the establishment of ESP during this first Congress, Jacques Piette and Herbert Hönigsmann recollect the first Charter Meeting of the ESP on 8 February 1985, followed by a Founding Committee meeting in November of that year, which consisted of Giulio Jori, Kurt Schaffner, Tom Dubbelman, and Johan Moan. During that period Rex Tyrrell recalls Giulio's characteristic diplomacy, patience and determination in a meeting they shared with councillors of the American Society for Photobiology to negotiate a share for the new society in the main photobiology journal at the time. Although the outcome was not as hoped, Giulio's vision and tenacity led to an alternative approach within a remarkably short period with the launch of ESP's first official journal, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology, of which Giulio was Founding Editor. Giulio and colleagues further strengthened the ESP through the setting up of the first society-owned journal, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (PPS) in 2002, which is now the official journal of ESP and its collaborating partners, the European Photochemistry Association (EPA, co-owner with ESP), the Asia and Oceania Society for Photobiology (AOSP) and the Korean Society of Photoscience (KSP).

Fig. 1 A photo of the 1st ESP meeting with Giulio Jori ringed. Herbert Hönigsmann, Jean Cadet and Rex Tyrrell also appear in the photo.

Jacques Piette sums up Giulio's unique contributions to science as largely being a result of his strong intellectual capability to integrate physico-chemistry with photobiology for biomedical and biosecurity applications. In doing so, Giulio's scientific accomplishments cover a vast field of pioneering work in photosensitisation that includes photodynamic therapy of cancer and infectious diseases, photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy, and the use of photosensitisers also as photoinsecticidal agents. Francesco Ghetti and Francesco Lenci have seen that the way Giulio approaches scientific problems and his scientific ingenuity have not only guided his co-workers but also the wider international scientific community. For them, the contact with Giulio has always been an occasion to smile, enjoy life, and to make fun of themselves amid his never-conventional and always graceful irony, as well as sharing some sad events like the loss of young colleagues who prematurely passed away. Like all really great scientists, Giulio is proud of his mentors, toward whom he has always expressed devotion and respect, and we are glad that in turn we can testify to the devotion and respect Giulio receives as a mentor himself.

For younger researchers it is of great value to be surrounded by top scientists who still show their enthusiasm and engagement after decades of commitment to the same scientific field. Giulio has been such an inspiration to many young scientists for at least 30 years through his teaching skills and delight in sharing his impressive knowledge in the fields of photobiology. Kristian Berg speaks for all of us as he notes that photobiology would have been a much weaker scientific field with less recruitment, scientific progress and enthusiasm without people like Giulio. This good work continues with Giulio as a co-organiser of a new photobiology school in 2010 run by ESP.

In parallel to his active and highly successful scientific career, spanning over 300 papers devoted initially to photosensitised reactions of proteins and then, from the mid-1980s, to more biologically orientated studies including basic and applied aspects, we marvel at the way Giulio is a master in establishing contacts, and fostering collaborations, especially between scientists from diverse fields, as well as managing to bridge the gaps between basic scientists and clinicians. The success of ESP is a clear demonstration that the efforts made by a single person with an unshakable belief in the future of photobiology can so strongly unite so many scientists to work together.

Among the long list of activities and leadership roles engaging both peers and students, Giulio has served as Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Photobiology (CARP, Sardinia), an organisation promoting photobiology through setting up of advanced schools, PhD courses, symposia and meetings. CARP was established by ESP, the Italian Society for Photobiology (ISP), and the Laser Center for Medical Application (CLAM, Firenze), a Division of the Consorzio Centro di Eccellenza Optronica (CEO). He was also President of ESP, and Chair of the Ownership Board of the journal, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (PPS). With his inevitable foresight Giulio promoted the scientific collaboration of European and Asian photobiology communities through an office for an Editor-in-Asia to support the journal. Pill-Soon Song, who took on this editorial role, can attest to the fact that PPS is now more widely read in Asia and receives more manuscripts for publication from this part of the globe than before the establishment of the Asian editorial office. Although Janet Bornman attended the first ESP Congress in Grenoble and most of the subsequent ones, the privilege of experiencing Giulio in action at close range—carefully forceful, persuasive and astutely full of ideas—came at the many ESP journal-related meetings, as well as at photobiology workshops and meetings for promoting photobiology in far-flung places such as Ujung Pandang, Meknes and Cairo. One was left with a sense of deep personal commitment and passion far beyond any confines of the usual scientific framework within which most of us operate.

At a glance, Giulio seems (in the words of Pill-Soon Song) to ‘have defied the chronobiological clock’ and that he ‘would look boyish if he ever shaves off his trademark beard’ (see Fig. 2). To wrap up our good wishes for Giulio's 70th year, Pill has some encouraging cultural wisdom. According to the zodiac calendar that has been followed in Korean and other oriental culture and custom, long before Julius Caesar invented the Julian calendar, one re-starts his/her life after the 60th birthday. It is called “Hwan Gap” in Chinese, meaning “Return Cycle” of 60 years. When one gets to celebrate his/her 70th birthday, that represents another milestone in the life of a person and is called “Go Hee”, meaning “Pleasure of Being Old”. We are all sure that Giulio will be pleased to read that he began his second life cycle a decade ago, and has now reached a Go Hee milestone! However, we have no doubt that Giulio will continue to keep himself actively engaged not only in research, but also in professional services to the photobiology community in general and to the ESP and PPS journal activities in particular. At the start of a new decade we wish him happiness and good health.

Fig. 2 Giulio Jori, then and now.

Congratulations Giulio, and best wishes on behalf of everyone who knows you!

 

Francesco Lenci, Francesco Ghetti, Pill-Soon Song, Jacques Piette, Jean Cadet, Herbert Hönigsmann, Rex Tyrrell, Kristian Berg and Janet Bornman

---