Research

Research Priorities: Leukaemia, allotransplants, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, umbilical cord blood transplants, gene therapy, CAR-T-cells

Franco Locatelli is a specialist for blood and cancer diseases in children. The Italian paediatrician researches the development and treatment of leukaemia and leukaemia recurrence. He is considered a pioneer of umbilical cord blood transplants, because of his experiences with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Franco Locatelli is concerned with aspects of haemal diseases and haemal cancer (leukaemia) in children. He conducts the largest therapy programme for children’s cancer in Italy. Here, he primarily works with allogenic transplants of haematopoietic stem cells (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, HSCT) and authored important contributions on the application of HSCT.

During allogenic stem cell transplantation, healthy cells are transfused from a donor’s bone marrow. For this, the histoid properties (Human Leukocyte Antigens, HLA) between donor and receiver ought to be in accordance. Franco Locatelly employs all types of allogenic transplants. This includes donations from relatives, whose HLA do not fully match, non-related donor transplants, and umbilical cord transplants.

In Europe, the group around Franco Locatelli is the team with the most experience in the area of umbilical cord transplants. The researchers provided essential insights into the study of immune reconstitution, tumour immunology, induction of tolerance to alloantigens, and antiviral cellular immunity in childhood allogeneic HSCT and have thereby decisively advanced therapies.

Recently, Franco Locatelli researched gene therapies against cancer, especially for the use of CAR-T cells. This involves treating patients with the body's own defence cells that have been genetically modified in the laboratory.

Career

• since 2022 Professor of Paediatrics, Section of Biosciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
• 2018-2022 Professor of Paediatrics, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
• since 2010 Director, Section of Haematology, Oncology, and transfusion medicine, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
• since 2007 Professor of Paediatrics, Section for Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 2005-2007 Associate Professor for Paediatrics, Section for Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia,         Italy
• 2000-2010 Director, Section of Paediatrics, Haematology, and Oncology, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
• 1997-2000 Associated Member, Section for Paediatrics, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
• 1991 Coordinator, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Section for Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1991 Assistant Professor, Section for Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1994 Specialisation in Haematology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1990-1994 Fellowship, Haematology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1990 Fellow, Leukaemia Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
• 1986-1990 Fellow, Section for Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1985 PhD, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
• 1979-1985 Studies in Human Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

Functions

• since 2019 President, Consiglio Superiore di Sanità, Ministry of Health, Italy
• 2004-2006 President, l'Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP), Italy

Honours and Memberships

• 2021 Honorary Doctorate for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Innovation in clinical and methodical research, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
• 2019 Antonio-Feltrinelli Award in Medicine, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Italy
• since 2006 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2005 Medaglia d'oro al Merito, President of the Italien Republic, Italy