He graduated in Medicine in 1986 with a thesis on image processing applications in orthopedics. He qualified in orthopedic surgery in 1991. Since 1982, he has worked in biomaterials and Computer applications in orthopedic research. He was appointed to the scientific committee of the COMETT course on “imaging techniques in biomaterials” (Portugal, 1992). He is a member of several scientific societies, treasurer of the Italian Society of Biomaterials, and auditor of the European Society of Biomaterials. He is a former board member of the International Research Society of Spinal Deformity. Merolli can be reached by e-mail at