Headshot of Francesco Dazzi, Medical Lead in Cell Therapies at AstraZeneca.

I am the Medical Lead in BioPharmaceuticals R&D for Cell Therapies where I am responsible for guiding our strategies for cell therapy clinical applications. Our cross-functional team takes the biology to accelerate the delivery of new cell therapies to patients. A major part of my role is to collaborate closely with internal and external experts in the cell therapy field and related disciplines. Within AstraZeneca, this goes across all therapy areas, to leverage the existing and emerging platforms in stem cell technologies, new modalities, universal cell lines and CRISPR-mediated genome editing. 

Externally, I work with existing collaborators as well as establish new partnerships, to develop technologies and cellular therapeutic projects that will discover novel treatments for serious diseases and advance these towards patients.

I bring expertise in biology and clinical applications of cell therapies in stem cell transplantation. In the late 90s, I established a highly successful programme of immune cellular therapies for leukaemia, and the regimen I developed has been adopted internationally. Based on my subsequent discovery that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) exhibit immunomodulatory activities, I curated a nationwide clinical programme for the use of these cells to control unwanted immune responses in transplantation. By uncovering the underlying mechanisms of these immunomodulatory responses, I have also identified a biomarker to stratify patients for MSC treatment and a new methodology to generate more effective MSC.

After graduating from Padua University in 1984, I trained as a haemato-oncologist before obtaining a PhD in Experimental Oncology. In 1996, I moved to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (now part of Imperial College London) and in 2007 was appointed as Chair of Stem Cell Biology. Six years later, I joined King’s College London as Professor of Regenerative Medicine and Lead of Cellular Therapies. King’s College hosts one of the largest initiatives within this field in all of Europe.

The opportunity for cell therapies to radically improve human health and transform patient outcomes continues to drive my motivation. We are at the forefront of this technology, powered by our expertise in disease biology coupled with major innovations in gene editing, protein engineering and cell culture technology.

Francesco Dazzi Medical Lead Cell Therapies, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca

Van Rood Prize, 2018

Best paper in Cellular Therapies, European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

‘Best Abstract’ Award, 2005

Best abstract award for basic science research at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Stockton Prize, 1999

Best oral presentation at the 25th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
 Headshot of Francesco Dazzi, Medical Lead in Cell Therapies at AstraZeneca.

Key Achievements

Medical Lead Cell Therapies, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca

2014-2022

Served as Professor of Regenerative and Haematological Medicine and Vice-Dean (International) for Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, and developed a highly successful mechanistic biomarker to stratify patients for treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells for severe graft-versus-host disease.

2006-2012

During my time at Imperial College London as Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Honorary Consultant Haematologist, I developed the clinical immunotherapy programme for haematological malignancies and coordinated the GMP facility to manufacture and distribute mesenchymal stromal cells to several Transplantation Centres across the UK.

1991-1996

Throughout my career, I am motivated by my time as a consultant haematologist at the University of Padova – with the patient and recognising the promise of making a difference.

Scientific publications

Veeva ID: Z4-52653
Date of preparation: February 2023