Stefano Pluchino

Stefano Pluchino received his MD and PhD degrees at the University of Siena, Italy, and additional training at Cambridge University, UK. ​He is currently University Reader in Regenerative Neuroimmunology (2016) and Honorary Consultant in Neurology, within the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Cambridge University. Stefano Pluchino has a strong interest in Regenerative Neuroimmunology, and his research over the last 20 years has recalibrated the classical view that cellular grafts only function through structural cell replacement and opened up a new therapeutic avenue by which to use exogenously delivered stem cells, or even stem cell-derived acellular therapies that include extracellular vesicles and exosomes.

The Pluchino team studies whether the accumulation of neurological disability observed in patients with chronic inflammatory neurological conditions can be slowed down using next generation molecular therapies. The overarching aim is to understand the basic mechanisms that allow exogenously delivered stem cells, gene therapy vectors and/or exosomes to create an environment that preserves damaged axons or prevents neurons from dying. Such mechanisms may be harnessed and used to modulate disease states in an effort to repair and/or regenerate critical components of the nervous system. By understanding the mechanisms of intercellular (stem cell) signalling, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) may be treated more effectively, and significant neuroprotection may be achieved with new tailored molecular therapeutics.​Stefano Pluchino is recipient of numerous national and international awards, among which the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM) Rita Levi-Montalcini prize for outstanding research in MS (2007) and the International Royan Award for outstanding research in Stem Cell Biology and Technology (2010). He is a 2009 Italian Ministry of Health Young Investigator Awardee and 2010 European Research Council (ERC) Starting Independent Researcher.

His laboratory research on Regenerative Neuroimmunology is documented in >120 publications in international journals, including many recent articles in highly prestigious journals, such as Nature, Cell, Cell Stem Cell, Nat Cell Biol, Nat Chem Biol, PNAS, PLoS Med, Brain, Ann Neurol, and J Neurosci, as well as invited review articles in Nat Rev Neurosci, Physiol Reviews and Trends in Mol Med and Trends Immunol. His publications have to date received >13,000 citations (ISI-WOK), having a Hirsch Factor of 51.

Education
University of Siena
PhD, Neurosciences
1999 – 2003

University of Siena
Residency in Neurology, Clinical Neurology
1995 – 1999

University of Siena
MD, Medicine
1989 – 1995

Experience
iSTEM Tx
Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Dec 2019 – Present
iSTEM Tx is committed to improve sufferers quality of life by promoting brain regeneration, slowing down disease progression, and thus reducing the costs of care by introducing breakthrough stem cell innovations.
Having the chance to establish brain-specific stem cell lines from the patient's own somatic tissues represents a unique perspective of the whole Regenerative Medicine, Neurology and Neuroimmunology.

University of Cambridge
University Reader in Regenerative Neuroimmunology
Sep 2016 – Present
University Lecturer in Brain Repair and Honorary Consultant Neurologist
Jun 2010 – Sep 2016

CITC Ltd
Director of Healthcare and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Dec 2014 – Present
Innovation in high tech fields that require multi-disciplinary approaches and know-how: from bio-electronics, integrated smart sensors and systems to advanced medical solutions. Services include Design and Engineering; Advice and Consulting; and New Business Development.

San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park
Group Leader
Oct 2008 – May 2010
Project Leader
Oct 2005 – Sep 2008
Post doctoral fellow
Mar 2003 – Sep 2005

Key Publications

Cusimano M, Biziato D, Brambilla E, Donegà M, Alfaro-Cervello C, Snider S, Salani G, Pucci F, Comi G, Garcia-Verdugo JM, De Palma M, Martino G, Pluchino S (2012), “Transplanted neural stem/precursor cells instruct phagocytes and reduce secondary tissue damage in the injured spinal cord.” BrainDetails

Bacigaluppi M, Pluchino S, Peruzzotti Jametti L, Kilic E, Kilic U, Salani G, Brambilla E, West MJ, Comi G, Martino G, Hermann DM (2009), “Delayed post-ischaemic neuroprotection following systemic neural stem cell transplantation involves multiple mechanisms.” Brain 132(Pt 8):2239-51 Details

Pluchino S, Gritti A, Blezer E, Amadio S, Brambilla E, Borsellino G, Cossetti C, Del Carro U, Comi G, 't Hart B, Vescovi A, Martino G (2009), “Human neural stem cells ameliorate autoimmune encephalomyelitis in non-human primates.” Ann Neurol 66(3):343-54 Details

Pluchino S, Zanotti L, Brambilla E, Rovere-Querini P, Capobianco A, Alfaro-Cervello C, Salani G, Cossetti C, Borsellino G, Battistini L, Ponzoni M, Doglioni C, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Comi G, Manfredi AA, Martino G (2009), “Immune regulatory neural stem/precursor cells protect from central nervous system autoimmunity by restraining dendritic cell function.” PLoS One 4(6):e5959 Details

Pluchino S, Muzio L, Imitola J, Deleidi M, Alfaro-Cervello C, Salani G, Porcheri C, Brambilla E, Cavasinni F, Bergamaschi A, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Comi G, Khoury SJ, Martino G (2008), “Persistent inflammation alters the function of the endogenous brain stem cell compartment.” Brain 131(Pt 10):2564-78 Details

Pluchino S, Zanotti L, Rossi B, Brambilla E, Ottoboni L, Salani G, Martinello M, Cattalini A, Bergami A, Furlan R, Comi G, Constantin G, Martino G (2005), “Neurosphere-derived multipotent precursors promote neuroprotection by an immunomodulatory mechanism.” Nature 436(7048):266-71 Details

Pluchino S, Quattrini A, Brambilla E, Gritti A, Salani G, Dina G, Galli R, Del Carro U, Amadio S, Bergami A, Furlan R, Comi G, Vescovi AL, Martino G. (2003), “Injection of adult neurospheres induces recovery in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis.” Nature Apr 17;422(6933):688-94