Valentina Pucino

Dr. Valentina Pucino is an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, Department of Rheumatology, University of Birmingham (UK). She specializes in immunometabolism research focusing on autoimmune rheumatic disorders with expertise in inflammation pathways and metabolic regulation of immune responses.

Her research interests include:

• Immunology and Inflammation
• Metabolism in Autoimmune Diseases
• Immunometabolism
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Fibroblast-Immune Cell Interactions

Dr. Pucino's research program centers on identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets through investigating how metabolic intermediates like lactate regulate immune cell function in autoimmune conditions. Her work spans immunology, rheumatology, and metabolic science with particular focus on synovial fibroblasts, macrophages, and stromal cells in inflammatory environments.

Her notable scientific recognition includes the Versus Arthritis Clinical Research Fellowship which supported her PhD work at Queen Mary University of London.

• Versus Arthritis Clinical Research Fellowship

Dr. Pucino is actively mentoring by accepting PhD students for projects in immunology, inflammation, and metabolism. She maintains extensive research collaborations across multiple institutions as evidenced by her co-authorship patterns and international publication record.

Her laboratory work focuses on investigating immunometabolic pathways regulating autoimmune responses, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome, with emphasis on the intersection between cellular metabolism and immune function in chronic inflammatory conditions.