معرفی
Prof Francesco Del Galdo is a Professor of Experimental Medicine and Head of the Scleroderma Programme at the University of Leeds' School of Medicine. He specializes in autoimmune diseases, particularly Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), focusing on biomarker discovery, fibrosis mechanisms, and clinical trial design. His academic journey includes an MD from Italy, postgraduate training in immunology, and a PhD/postdoc at Thomas Jefferson University, USA. He established the Leeds Scleroderma Programme in 2009, securing over £3M in funding to pioneer biomarker applications like Optical Coherence Tomography and serum fibrosis markers. His work includes leading the UK’s first national cohort for SSc prevention, targeting early-stage patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Education & Research:
- MD, Italy (1999)
- Immunology Training, Italy (2003)
- PhD/Postdoc, Thomas Jefferson University, USA (2003–2008)
Research Interests: Prof Del Galdo’s work centers on SSc’s immunopathogenesis, biomarker validation, and translational research. His lab develops 3D skin models for drug testing and investigates fibrosis pathways. Key areas include:
- Early disease detection via biomarkers
- Immunomodulatory therapies
- 3D skin equivalents for preclinical testing
- Optimizing clinical trial outcomes
Grants & Leadership:
- £3M+ in research funding (2009–2014)
- Scientific board roles: EUSTAR, World Scleroderma Congress
- UK SSc Group member
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre lead for IT
Labs & Teams: His programme operates across Leeds’ Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and Chapel Allerton Hospital, collaborating with the Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit. Key initiatives include the VEDOSS cohort and imaging-based biomarker development.
