Stefano Pluchino

Stefano Pluchino (born May 31, 1971) is Professor of Regenerative Neuroimmunology, within the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, at the University of Cambridge. His research studies whether the accumulation of neurological disability observed in patients with chronic inflammatory neurological conditions can be slowed down using next generation molecular therapies.

The overarching aim is to understand the basic mechanisms that allow exogenously delivered stem cells, gene therapy vectors and/or exosomes to create an environment that preserves damaged axons or prevents neurons from dying. The title of his PhD thesis was 'Development of a neural stem cell-based therapy for experimental multiple sclerosis in mice'.

He then completed his post-doctoral research at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan. He was also an instructor in Experimental Neurosciences at University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan until 2010.

In 2010, Pluchino joined the faculty at the University of Cambridge – School of Clinical Medicine, with a laboratory at the Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, on the Forvie site of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. He became University Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Neurology, as well as principal investigator at the Wellcome–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. He was promoted to University Reader in Regenerative Neuroimmunology in 2016. In 2021, Pluchino was further promoted to Professor of Clinical Regenerative Neuroimmunology, in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

Research and career Pluchino's research studies whether the accumulation of neurological disability observed in patients with chronic inflammatory neurological conditions can be slowed down using next generation molecular therapies.

Awards and honors

2003 AINI Award 2003 European Charcot Foundation (ECF) Award 2004 SIICA Award 2006 Serono Foundation Multiple Sclerosis Award; 2007 FISM Rita Levi-Montalcini Award; 2008 Regional Agency for Instruction, Formation and Work (ARIFL) Research and Internationalization Award; 2010 Royan International Research Award; 2025 UConn Health Petit Family, Distinguished Visiting Professor in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology 2026 Elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences