Biographical Notes
Dr. Maria Giovanna Francipane is a Principal Investigator in Regenerative Medicine at Ri.MED, where she leads the Regenerative Hepatobiliary Medicine group. Updated as of July 2026, her research team is based at the Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS-ISMETT), while awaiting the opening of the Ri.MED Research Center in Carini, Palermo. The current team includes postdoctoral researchers Dr. Ayesha Rehman (since May 2025) and Dr. Elisa Capuana (since July 2026). Previous researchers and trainees who have carried out activities in the laboratory include postdoctoral researcher Dr. Mattia Pasqua (April 2021–April 2026, currently on leave), Giovanni Cavalli (October 2025–June 2026), who conducted research activities through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and Dr. Desirée Barruffaldi (May–July 2026), AIRC Short-Term Fellow and postdoctoral researcher at Politecnico di Torino. The laboratory has also hosted two trainees from the ITS Academy program in Quality System of Biotechnologically-Based Products and Processes, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, reflecting the group’s commitment to research training, the development of young researchers, and the promotion of international collaborations.
Maria Giovanna earned her Bachelor of Science (2004) and Master of Science (2006), both with honors in Medical Biotechnology, followed by a PhD in Immunopharmacology (2010) and a professional qualification as a Biologist (2010) from the University of Palermo, Italy.
In 2011, she received a postdoctoral scholarship from the Ri.MED Foundation and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. At the University of Pittsburgh, she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher until 2015, was promoted to Research Associate in 2016, and appointed Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology in 2017. She also served as an affiliated faculty member of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (2017-2023). While at the University of Pittsburgh, among her many professional development experiences, she attended a course in scientific management and leadership (2013) and obtained an Associate Certification in STEM Teaching (2019). After a decade in the United States, she returned to Palermo in September 2020 to establish and lead her current research group.
Maria Giovanna brings over 20 years of multidisciplinary research experience in the life sciences, with expertise spanning oncology, stem cell biology, organogenesis, and tissue engineering. Her work demonstrates a strong foundation in translational research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic leadership.
Her scientific contributions are substantial and impactful. During her time at Pittsburgh, she identified the lymph node as an in vivo vascularized tissue engineering platform capable of supporting the growth of multiple organs, including the kidneys—a discovery that inspired an episode of the television series Grey’s Anatomy. Since returning to Palermo, one of her team’s most significant contributions has been the development of a functional bile duct substitute, for which a patent has been filed. In this context, and also thanks to a brief volunteer experience at the University of Pittsburgh spin-out LyGenesis Inc. (2019–2020), which focused on liver regeneration using a patient’s lymph node to restore hepatic function, she developed an interest in intellectual property and technology transfer, including translating innovative biomedical technologies from bench to bedside.
Collectively, Maria Giovanna has authored 32 peer-reviewed publications, including original research, literature reviews, and book chapters, with 23 as first or last author. Three of her publications have been featured on journal covers. Her work has been cited over 1,700 times according to Scopus and over 2,400 times according to Google Scholar. Her research is currently supported by the Ri.MED Foundation, and she has participated in national and international grants, including programs funded by the Italian PNRR. She is an active reviewer, having evaluated a total of over 100 articles for more than 40 international journals since 2016.
Maria Giovanna has presented at numerous international conferences as both speaker and judge, receiving awards for best oral presentation and best poster. She is also committed to science outreach, participating in initiatives ranging from educational visits to schools to public science events, and been involved in programs at the University of Palermo for initial teacher training and certification.
Her qualifications, skills, and contributions were recognized in 2017 with the Italian National Scientific Qualification for the role of second-tier university professor in Applied Biology (05/F1).
Web of Science Reviewer Recognition Services (formerly Publons)
Scientific Activities
The Hepatobiliary Regenerative Medicine group, led by Maria Giovanna, develops regenerative solutions for biliary diseases. The team engineered a multiphasic tubular scaffold that mimics the human common bile duct, composed of biocompatible biomaterials and seeded with biliary epithelial cells. The construct demonstrates excellent mechanical strength, leak-proof function, and effective bile acid transport, supporting its suitability for in vivo applications. Ex vivo human blood assays showed a favorable immune response with minimal inflammation and sustained EGF release. A patent application for this technology has been filed. Ongoing work focuses on incorporating additional cell types to enhance physiological relevance and advance the construct toward preclinical testing.
In parallel, the group is developing advanced biliary cell culture techniques and establishing three-dimensional organoids to study intrahepatic biliary cancer.