(1966-2006) During this forty-year period, the indisputable and often solitary protagonist of the "Nuova Specie" theory-practice project wasMariano Loiacono: both in terms of research into epistemologies and a new code ("theory"), and also with regards to the "Metodo alla Salute" or MaS Method ("practice"). As from 1977, the context in which the project first grew and developed was the "Centre for Social Medicine", currently home to the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Foggia.
In his book "Verso una Nuova specie" (Towards a New Species), Mariano Loiacono speaks of this long period:

"I believe it is important to give you a few short background facts regarding this "australopitecal" laboratory, which I started many years ago (...), when I began working as an ant while surrounded by dancing grasshoppers collectively elated at the deflagration of the village-world and the miraculous manna of goods offered by the capitalist economy.
Indeed, for many years I have had a small workshop in one of the many Fontamara of Southern Italy. For many years I have worked patiently and continuously on this laboratory, alternating results with setbacks, friends with traitors, anguish with exhaltation, closures with openings. But I'm still here, and I think I'll keep going, because I sincerely believe in this project and I think it is realistic to devise and spread the four virtues needed to give birth to a new species."