Prof Stefano Pluchino

Stefano Pluchino is a Clinical Professor of Regenerative Neuroimmunology and Honorary Consultant in Neurology at the University of Cambridge. He obtained his MD and PhD in Experimental Neuroscience from the University of Siena, Italy. 

His pioneering research focuses on applying next-generation molecular medicines, including gene, stem cell, and exosome-based therapies, to halt neurological disability in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), spinal cord injury, Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. His team is particularly focused on elucidating how neural stem cells (NSCs) create a neuroprotective environment, rescuing axons and preventing neuronal death. This work has shifted the field's perspective on neural grafts, moving beyond simple structural replacement to innovative therapeutic strategies centred on NSCs and the potential of patient-specific stem cell insights for personalized medicine. 

His work has been recognized with awards such as the Rita Levi-Montalcini prize and the International Royan Award. He has an H-index of 65, and his publications have been cited over 20,500 times. Previously, he was a tenured group leader at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan and moved to Cambridge in 2010.

Project/study information 

The Pluchino team's research centres on understanding and applying stem cell-based therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), spinal cord injury, Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. This involves elucidating how neural stem cells (NSCs) modulate detrimental host immune responses, particularly in response to inflammatory metabolic signals like succinate. 

These insights have led to first-in-kind clinical trials of allogeneic somatic NSCs in progressive MS patients. The team is also developing and interrogating novel patient-derived stem cell models of progressive MS, using multi-omic analyses and advanced cellular reprogramming to identify new therapeutic targets and understand the role of cellular metabolism and senescent cell dysfunction. This most recent work holds significant promise for developing personalized therapeutic strategies and unravelling fundamental mechanisms of disease pathogenesis through patient-specific stem cell insights. 

Recruitment of PhD / Post doctoral students 

We always seek highly motivated undergraduates, PhD, MPhil students and postdocs who are creative, curious, and dedicated team players. Ideal candidates will be hard-working, exhibit strong loyalty, and possess the ability to think critically and innovatively to push the boundaries of our research. Informal enquiries can be sent to Prof Pluchino by email at spp24@cam.ac.uk  

Selected Publications 

1. L Peruzzotti-Jametti, N Vicario, G Volpe, S Rizzi, C Kwok, A D’Angelo, I Lombardi, AM Nicaise, G D’Amico, G Krzak, CM Willis, A Braga, K Saeb-Parsy, C Zhao, RJM Franklin, F Edenhofer, S Pluchino. Remyelination of the chronic demyelinated lesions of the spinal cord with directly induced Neural Stem Cell (iNSC) grafts. BRAIN, in the press DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaf208; 

2. RB Ionescu, AM Nicaise, JA Reisz, EC Williams, P Prasad, M Dzieciatkowska, D Stephenson, M Suarez Cubero, L Pirvan, CM Willis, L Peruzzotti-Jametti, V Fossati, F Edenhofer, T Leonardi, C Frezza, I Mohorianu, A D’Alessandro and S Pluchino. Increased Cholesterol Synthesis Drives Neurotoxicity in Patient Stem Cell-Derived Model of Multiple Sclerosis. CELL STEM CELL 2024; 31: 1-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.09.014; 

3. L Peruzzotti-Jametti, CM Willis, G Krzak, R Hamel, L Pirvan, RB Ionescu, JA Reisz, HA Prag, ME Garcia-Segura, V Wu, Y Xiang, B Barlas, AM Casey, AMR van den Bosch, AM Nicaise, L Roth, GR Bates, H Huang, P Prasad, AE Vincent, C Frezza, C Viscomi, G Balmus, Z Takas, J Marioni, A D’Alessandro, MP Murphy, I Mohorianou and S Pluchino. Mitochondrial complex I activity in microglia sustains neuroinflammation. NATURE 2024; 628, 195-203 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07167-9; 

4. MA Leone, M Gelati, DC Profico, C Gobbi, E Pravata’, M Copetti, C Conti, A D’Alessandro, L Peruzzotti-Jametti, S Pluchino and AL Vescovi. Phase I clinical trial of intracerebroventricular transplantation of allogeneic neural stem cells in people with progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30, 1-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.11.001; 

5. L Peruzzotti-Jametti, JD Bernstock, N Vicario, ASH Costa, CK Kwok, T Leonardi, LM Booty, I Bicci, B Balzarotti, G Volpe, G Mallucci, G Manferrari, N Iraci, A Braga, JM Hallenbeck, MP Murphy, F Edenhofer, C Frezza and S Pluchino. Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Succinate Licenses Neural Stem Cells to Suppress Chronic Neuroinflammation. CELL STEM CELL 2018; 22(3): 355-368 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.01.020.