Lucia Scaffardi

Lucia Scaffardi is a Full Professor of Comparative Public Law at the University of Parma's Department of Law, Political and International Studies. She teaches Italian and Comparative Constitutional Law in the Political Science and International Relations program and Comparative Public Law in the Jurisprudence program. As Coordinator of the BRICS Parma Research Group and member of the Teaching Board for the Doctorate in Legal Sciences (University of Parma and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), she maintains significant academic leadership roles.

Her educational background includes a degree with honors from the University of Genoa and a PhD in Constitutional Law from the University of Bologna (1996). This strong foundation has supported her extensive research career spanning constitutional systems, human rights, and emerging legal challenges.

Professor Scaffardi's research interests demonstrate remarkable breadth and relevance to contemporary challenges. Her work on genetic databases for judicial purposes bridges bioethics and criminal procedure, while her investigations into Novel Food regulation address cutting-edge food technology challenges. Her pioneering research on BRICS legal networks has established her as a leading scholar in South-South legal cooperation. She also maintains strong expertise in federal systems, fundamental rights protection, and European constitutional law.

Her publication trajectory reveals a strategic evolution from traditional constitutional scholarship toward interdisciplinary work addressing emerging technologies and global governance challenges. Recent publications (2023-2025) focus on cell-based meat regulation, AI and data protection, environmental constitutionalism, and food security - demonstrating her ability to anticipate and address legal challenges at the forefront of societal development.

Professor Scaffardi has directed significant research projects, including the national-level study "Legal Transplants and Parliaments: A Possible Dialogue Among Legislators," which resulted in influential publications on comparative law in legislative drafting. Her international research fellowships at Oxford, Coimbra, King's College London, and the American University of Washington highlight her global academic engagement.

As Coordinator of the BRICS Parma Research Group, she leads an active research team investigating legal cooperation among emerging economies. Her work bridges academic scholarship and practical policy development through previous advisory roles with the Italian government's Unit for Simplification and Regulatory Quality and the National Committee for Biosafety, Biotechnology and Life Sciences.