Patrizia Ferretti

Professor Patrizia Ferretti is a distinguished academic at University College London's Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, where she serves as Professor of Regenerative Biology within the Developmental Biology & Cancer Department. Her research has established significant contributions to understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms in tissue repair, disease modeling, and regenerative processes, particularly focusing on neural and craniofacial systems.

Dr. Ferretti received her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Pisa (1978) and the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy (1981). Her early career included post-doctoral work at the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany, followed by research in molecular biology and organ regeneration in Professor J.P. Brockes' laboratory in London before establishing her own laboratory at the Eastman Dental Institute.

Her research program explores fundamental mechanisms governing regeneration of complex body structures in vertebrates, with particular emphasis on stem cell plasticity and differentiation potential. Current work focuses on human disease modeling using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), investigating dystrophin function in neural cells related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, studying acrodysostosis mechanisms, and developing bioengineered cartilage solutions using autologous mesenchymal stem cells for craniofacial reconstruction. Her laboratory has made significant discoveries regarding dystrophin-deficient astrocytes, pediatric adipose-derived stem cells for craniofacial repair, neural progenitor responses to spinal cord injury, and PAD enzyme regulation in neural injury response.

Professor Ferretti's publications demonstrate a strong focus on translational research, with recent work spanning neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. Her research consistently bridges basic science with clinical applications, particularly for childhood diseases and neural disorders, with growing emphasis on 3D culture systems, nanomaterial integration, and precise disease modeling using patient-derived cells.

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) (2018)
• STEM Ambassador (2019)
• Secretary of RSB London Branch Committee (2018)
• Member of British Society of Cell Biology (BSCB)
• Member of British Society of Developmental Biology (BSDB)
• Member of International Society for Neurochemistry

As an educator, Professor Ferretti co-directs the MSc in Cell and Gene Therapy at UCL, designing and leading the Stem Cells and Tissue Repair module while overseeing the Laboratory Projects module. She actively supervises undergraduate, Master's, PhD, and MD students, contributing significantly to postgraduate education both at UCL and internationally through lectures in France and Italy. Her laboratory operates through valuable collaborations with clinicians, bioengineers, and material scientists, creating an interdisciplinary environment focused on developing therapies for conditions including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, acrodysostosis, and craniofacial abnormalities.