Riccardo Saccardi

Riccardo Saccardi (20 April 1956 – 19 February 2024) was an Italian hematologist and clinician-scientist noted for his pioneering work on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other severe autoimmune diseases. Based at Careggi University Hospital in Florence, he helped develop autologous HSCT as a high-efficacy therapy in aggressive multiple sclerosis, contributed to European guidelines and registries, and played a major role in accreditation standards for transplant and cellular therapy programs through the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and Joint Accreditation Committee of the International society for cell therapy (ISCT) and EBMT (JACIE).

Early life and education Saccardi was born in Florence and obtained a classical high school diploma at Liceo Michelangelo in 1974. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Florence on 28 October 1981 with highest honors, and specialized in Hematology at the same university in 1984, also with highest marks.

Clinical career Saccardi spent virtually his entire clinical career at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi in Florence, a major National Health Service hospital and academic center. Between 1990 and 1993, he worked as a Medical Assistant in the Hematology Department, specifically on the transplant ward. He led multicenter Italian and EBMT trials evaluating disease activity, disability and quality of life after HSCT in severe progressive or aggressive MS (including the ASTIMS phase II study). He also worked on conditioning regimens of intermediate intensity, showing beneficial risk–benefit profiles and conducted meta-analyses and long-term outcome studies demonstrating that "no evidence of disease activity" (NEDA) and durable stabilization or improvement are more frequently achieved with HSCT than with conventional disease-modifying therapies.

Key publications include original trials, MRI-based follow-up studies, and high-impact reviews and position papers in Lancet Neurology, Nature Reviews Neurology, Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis, some addressing whether HSCT should be considered as a first-line option in highly aggressive MS.

HSCT in other autoimmune diseases Beyond MS, Saccardi co-authored foundational EBMT registry analyses and guidelines on HSCT in systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, Crohn's disease, and other autoimmune disorders. His work with EBMT and collaborating societies included summarizing over a decade of experience with autologous HSCT in autoimmune diseases (Haematologica, Bone Marrow Transplant). He also contributed to randomized and non-randomized studies, including research on refractory Crohn's disease (JAMA 2015) and produced recommendations on cardiopulmonary assessment, cardiotoxicity in systemic sclerosis candidates for HSCT, as well as infection prevention and risk management.

He also participated in studies on allogeneic HSCT for selected autoimmune diseases and in expert-based position statements on innovative cellular therapies for autoimmune disorders (EClinicalMedicine 2024).

Regenerative medicine and mesenchymal stem cells Saccardi was involved in preclinical and translational research on bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and regenerative medicine, including experimental use of MSCs for muscle regeneration in sphincter damage models, preclinical models of MSC-mediated tolerance in organ transplantation (pancreatic islets and heart–lung grafts), and engineering of de-epidermized dermis with MSCs for skin regeneration.

He co-authored work showing impaired endothelial differentiation of MSCs and altered paracrine function in systemic sclerosis, elucidating mechanisms underlying vascular damage.

Bibliometrics and research output Saccardi co-authored more than 230 indexed publications, mainly on HSCT and cellular therapies in MS and autoimmune diseases, as well as on transplant practice and accreditation in Europe.

Roles in scientific societies and accreditation Saccardi played important roles in national and international organizations. He was member (2001-2024) and Chair (2004–2010) of the Autoimmune Diseases Working Party of the EBMT.

Honours and awards

2011: "Best Abstract Award" in the allogeneic transplantation category at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. Mancardi GL, Saccardi R. Autologous HSCT in multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. 2008. Muraro PA, Pasquini M, Saccardi R, et al. Long-term outcomes after autologous HSCT for MS. JAMA Neurol. 2017. Mariottini A, Muraro PA, Saccardi R. Should HSCT be offered as first-line DMT in MS? Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023. Muraro, P. A., Mariottini A. et al. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder — recommendations from ECTRIMS and the EBMT. Nature Reviews Neurology, doi:10.1038/s41582-024-01050-x (2025). Snowden JA, Saccardi R, et al. Updated EBMT guidelines for HSCT in severe autoimmune diseases. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2012 and 2020. Hawkey CJ, Saccardi R, et al. Autologous HSCT for refractory Crohn's disease: randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015. Farge D, Snowden JA, Saccardi R, et al. Cardiopulmonary assessment and recommendations for HSCT in systemic sclerosis. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 Greco R, Alexander T, Saccardi R, et al. HSCT for autoimmune diseases in the time of COVID-19: EBMT guidelines. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2021. Greco R, Saccardi R, et al. Innovative cellular therapies for autoimmune diseases: EBMT practice harmonization and guidelines. EClinicalMedicine. 2024.