Andrea Bagno is associate professor of industrial bioengineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Padova. After receiving a degree in chemical engineering (1991), he received a PhD in chemical engineering in 1995. His research interests are focused on the interaction between biomaterials and biological tissue and on biomaterial surface treatment and characterization. His other research activities concern the biomechanical characterization of native and decellularized pericardium for the production of blood-contacting surfaces; the development of vascular and urological substitutes; the early detection of mechanical heart valves failure by phonocardiographic means; and the assessment of skin microcirculation by means of laser doppler fluxmetry.