Professor Francesco Dell’Accio is a clinical rheumatologist and scientist at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the William Harvey Research Institute (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry) and the Department of Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology. His research focuses on regenerative medicine and osteoarthritis, with a particular emphasis on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying cartilage repair and identifying therapeutic targets. He leads a multidisciplinary team investigating signaling pathways in cartilage injury and disease progression, aiming to develop pharmacological interventions to restore cartilage integrity and alleviate osteoarthritis pain. His research group includes senior members like Prof. Shafaq Sikandar and Dr. Suzanne Eldridge, as well as postdoctoral researchers and PhD students such as Aida Barawi, Sabah Bharde, and Melody Deniz. Collaborations span institutions like Oxford, Harvard, and international partners in Germany and Scotland. Funding sources include Versus Arthritis, the Medical Research Council, and industry partners like UCB. Key research themes include the role of agrin in cartilage regeneration, ROR2 signaling blockade for osteoarthritis therapy, and neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles in joint protection. His work integrates molecular biology, preclinical models, and clinical translation, with a focus on pain mechanisms and disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs). The ReGen Lab (@TheReGenLab) is at the forefront of developing novel strategies to address cartilage defects and arthritis-related pain.
