Telemedicine as an ally of early diagnosis

Telemedicine today represents one of the most relevant areas for the innovation of prevention, diagnosis and treatment models and for the strengthening of integration between research, clinical practice and territory. The scientific update event scheduled for Friday 19 December, at the Aula Magna in Piazza Università in Sassari, is dedicated to this theme, focusing on technological transfer in telemedicine for early diagnosis in the medical field.

The conference, aimed at healthcare professionals, is promoted from the University of Sassari , within the TELEMACO-S project, in collaboration with the Aou of Sassari .

The works will open from  Gavino Mariotti,  Magnificent Rector of the University of Sassari and from  Mario Carmine Palermo , extraordinary commissioner of the Aou of Sassari, to underline the strategic value of TELEMACO-S as a project capable of combining innovation, research and concrete impacts for the regional healthcare system. The scientific managers of the initiative are Gavino Casu , director of the School of Specialization in Cardiovascular Diseases and director of Interventional Cardiology of the Aou of Sassari and Valentina Micheluzzi , nurse and telemedicine researcher.

«The TELEMACO-S project fits fully into the University's strategy aimed at the development of research and innovation initiatives closely linked to the needs of the territory and the dimension of the public service – declared Professor Gavino Mariotti – Telemedicine represents, in this sense, a strategic tool to strengthen the relationship between universities, the healthcare system and citizens."

«Telemedicine represents one of the most important challenges to guarantee modern, equitable healthcare that is truly close to citizens – declared Doctor Mario Palermo – Projects like TELEMACO-S demonstrate how technological transfer can translate into concrete tools for early diagnosis, patient care and strengthening local assistance, especially in a region like Sardinia. Investing in innovation means investing in the quality of care and the sustainability of our healthcare system."

He will also participate in the meeting Antonio Vittorino Gaddi , president of the Italian Telemedicine Society (SIT), who will formalize the Scientific Society's support for the initiative, strengthening the national profile of the project and its inclusion in the most advanced digital health scenarios.

The conference represents the final day of the cycle “Technology and precision medicine: new paths for healthcare in Sardinia”, started on 9 and 16 December 2025, which involved doctors, healthcare professionals, engineers, jurists and students from the Departments of Medicine and Surgery and Law.

In the first meeting on 9 December, among other topics, the the role of artificial intelligence in hygiene and epidemiology , telemedicine as a lever for hospital-territory integration and the potential of telerehabilitation and new technologies in treatment paths, with a focus on early remote diagnosis and the management of immunotherapy toxicity.

The day of December 16th was instead dedicated to valorisation of research and technological transfer, with the presentation of the results of TELEMACO-S and of an innovative demonstrator for the mediation of conflicts in the healthcare sector, with possible applications also in the private sector and in healthcare and technological SMEs.

«The seminars – explained the professor Gavino Casu – offered the opportunity to present the results and objectives achieved by the different areas involved in the TELEMACO-S project: from cardiovascular diseases to dermatological oncology, from clinical neuroscience to diabetology and nutrition, up to respiratory pathologies, radiodiagnostics, the management of time-dependent emergencies, public hygiene and epidemiology, maxillofacial surgery and conflict management in the healthcare sector».

«These seminars represent a unique opportunity to bring together ideas and skills on telemedicine from a transversal, multi-professional and multidisciplinary perspective, creating a space for discussion between doctors, healthcare professionals, lawyers and engineers», he underlined Valentina Micheluzzi , scientific director of the conference.

Financed with over 13 million euros under the PNRR, TELEMACO-S it is part of Spoke 01 “A new route to preventive medicine: genomics, digital innovation and Telemedicine” of the ecosystem e. INS (Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia).

The project, a multidisciplinary research and innovation programme, aims to transform the Diagnostic-Therapeutic-Care Pathways through replicable, patient-centred organizational models and the integrated provision of the six essential telemedicine services (televisit, teleconsultation, telemonitoring, teleassistance, telerehabilitation and telereporting).

Thanks to the use of advanced digital technologies for the collection and analysis of clinical data, TELEMACO-S aims to improve prevention, early diagnosis, personalization of treatments and continuous monitoring of pathologies, strengthening local assistance and hospital-territory integration, for closer, more inclusive and more effective regional healthcare.

« TELEMACO-S represents a strategic infrastructure for clinical and healthcare innovation in Sardinia, integrating scientific, technological and clinical skills in a single operational framework", he finally declared Salvatore Masala , director of Radiological, interventional and emergency sciences of the Aou of Sassari and scientific coordinator of the project.