Professor Francesca Spagnoli
Professor of Regenerative Medicine
Research interests
- Medicine
Biography
Francesca Spagnoli is a Professor for Regenerative Medicine at King's College London. After graduating from Medical School, Francesca obtained her Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics from the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. She then conducted postdoctoral research at The Rockefeller University, New York, USA. In 2008, she established her independent research group at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, Germany, where she initiated new lines of investigation on the control of pancreatic cell identity and lineage reprogramming strategies. Subsequently, in 2018 Francesca moved her group to the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, UK.
She has been the recipient of prestigious awards, including ERC Starting and ERC Proof-of-Concept grants, Wellcome Trust Investigator award, and EIC FET-Open consortium. She is currently the Director of the Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in 'Advanced Therapies for Regenerative Medicine' and the coordinator of a multidisciplinary Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge research programme funded by Steve Morgan Foundation/JDRF/Diabetes UK to develop innovative bioengineering solution for diabetes cell therapy. The long-term goal of her research is to translate developmental concepts into new therapies.
Research

Spagnoli Lab
Pancreas organogenesis and stem cells

From Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine
Understanding organ development and tissue regeneration provides a framework for elucidating disease mechanisms as well as for developing new therapeutics.

Spatial Biology Network
The Spatial Biology Network is a cross-faculty research interest group that brings together researchers from various disciplines, ranging from technology development and molecular biology, to bioinformatics and clinical translational research, to explore the complexity of spatial biology.
Organoids Research Interest Group (ORIG)
Organoids are 3D, miniature versions of organs grown from stem cells. They replicate organ structure and function, making them essential for studying tissue homeostasis, disease mechanisms, and developing new therapies. This research interest group encompasses all organoid-related research at King’s College London.
News
Professor Francesca Spagnoli elected among leading scientists to join EMBO Membership
Professor Francesca Spagnoli from King’s College London has been elected as a member of EMBO, recognising her outstanding contributions to life sciences...

£4.8 million awarded to King's scientists to help find cure for type 1 diabetes
Two major research projects, led by Professor Shanta Persaud and Dr Aileen King, and Professor Francesca Spagnoli, Dr Rocio Sancho and Professor Molly Stevens...

Events
Inaugural Lecture: Professor Stuart Jones
Inspiring talks from some of our brightest minds
Please note: this event has passed.
Research

Spagnoli Lab
Pancreas organogenesis and stem cells

From Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine
Understanding organ development and tissue regeneration provides a framework for elucidating disease mechanisms as well as for developing new therapeutics.

Spatial Biology Network
The Spatial Biology Network is a cross-faculty research interest group that brings together researchers from various disciplines, ranging from technology development and molecular biology, to bioinformatics and clinical translational research, to explore the complexity of spatial biology.
Organoids Research Interest Group (ORIG)
Organoids are 3D, miniature versions of organs grown from stem cells. They replicate organ structure and function, making them essential for studying tissue homeostasis, disease mechanisms, and developing new therapies. This research interest group encompasses all organoid-related research at King’s College London.
News
Professor Francesca Spagnoli elected among leading scientists to join EMBO Membership
Professor Francesca Spagnoli from King’s College London has been elected as a member of EMBO, recognising her outstanding contributions to life sciences...

£4.8 million awarded to King's scientists to help find cure for type 1 diabetes
Two major research projects, led by Professor Shanta Persaud and Dr Aileen King, and Professor Francesca Spagnoli, Dr Rocio Sancho and Professor Molly Stevens...

Events
Inaugural Lecture: Professor Stuart Jones
Inspiring talks from some of our brightest minds
Please note: this event has passed.