Our history

Since 2004, the Penta Foundation has been at the forefront of paediatric research, collaborating with a global network of scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals. United by a common goal, we work tirelessly to reduce the prevalence and impact of infectious diseases in children and during pregnancy.

Penta Foundation is established

2004

From the original office at Padova University Hospital, a dedicated group of people started working to support Penta’s research activities, driven by the commitment to improve health outcomes for children living with HIV.

Tr@inforPedHIV is born

2005

In collaboration with ESPID and EuroCoord, the Penta Foundation launched its first innovative training programme on paediatric HIV for healthcare professionals.

Penta Foundation leads its first EU-funded project

2006

The PENTA/ECS project, funded by the 6th EU Research Framework Programme, emerged from Penta’s integration with the European Collaborative Study, one of the largest cohorts of children born to mothers with HIV. This partnership created a centralised European network for paediatric HIV research.

Testimonies

Congratulations to Penta Foundation on celebrating your 20th anniversary!

Working with Penta Foundation for the past 7 years has been a rewarding experience. Your dedication as a trusted partner and engaged coordinator of conect4children has played a crucial role in maintaining the success of this public-private partnership.

Your expertise in paediatric infectious diseases and commitment to developing new medicines, including vaccines, has had a significant impact on improving the health of children and communities worldwide. Working with us during the Covid-19 pandemic, your unwavering support and collaboration with clinicians, investigators, and patients have been instrumental.

Here’s to many more years of success and making a difference in the lives of those in need!

Heidrun Hildebrand, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Paediatric Medicine; Industry co-Project Lead IMI conect4children

The Penta Foundation represents a model of excellence in paediatric infectious disease research. Collaborating with you is both professionally and personally enriching.

Together, we are building a healthier future for generations to come.

Happy Birthday!

Evelina Tacconelli, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Verona; Director of the Infectious Diseases section, Verona University Hospital

For a decade, UNICEF and Penta have been collaborating to strengthen national healthcare systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Through joint training programs, Penta and UNICEF have built the capacity of hundreds of healthcare providers, leading to significant improvements in prevention, treatment, and support for children and adolescents living with HIV and co-infections such as tuberculosis. These programs have been highly valued not only for delivering state-of-the-art knowledge but also for challenging stereotypes, reducing stigma, and addressing human rights violations associated with HIV infection. The collaboration has also been instrumental for rolling-out World Health Organization clinical guidelines.

The UNICEF-Penta collaboration has created valuable networking opportunities among health professionals across countries and has been deeply appreciated by the children and their parents, who have experienced enhanced quality of care and support.

Heartfelt thanks to Penta for our ongoing partnership and for our shared commitment to the well-being of children now and in the years to come.

Nina Ferencic, MA, PhD, formerly Senior Adviser on HIV and Young People’s Health and Developemnt, UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia; and Dr Ruslan Malyuta, Paediatric AIDS Specialist, UNICEF Headquarters

Meet our people

At Penta, we recognise that our success relies on the talent, dedication, and wellbeing of our staff.

We take pride in our multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion. We offer a diverse, safe and ethical working environment, in which all employees have equal opportunities to fulfil their potential.

But don’t just take our word for it – hear directly from our staff about what it’s like to work at Penta!

Through the eyes of our children

In this very special gallery, children’s imagination brings our daily work to life!

These fun and colourful artworks celebrate our staff’s dedication to helping children stay healthy. Enjoy this heartwarming mix of art and work, and see what our children think of what we do!