RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Professor Locatelli leads the largest programme of childhood allogeneic HSCT in Italy and has made important contributions in the field of allogeneic transplantation of heamatopoietic stem cells. In the Pavia's Unit, all the types of allograft (i.e. cord blood transplants, T cell depleted transplants from HLA-partially matched relatives, matched unrelated donor transplants) are routinely employed in the treatment of children with either malignant or non-malignant disorders. It is credited as one of the most qualified centres worldwide in paediatric HSCT and adoptive immunotherapy for prevention and treatment of both leukaemia relapse and infectious complications occurring in immunocompromised individuals. In particular, Professor Locatelli's group pioneered the use of cord blood transplants in Italy and represent one of the most experienced European centres in this field. In addition, Professor Locatelli's group provided seminal contributions in the study of immune reconstitution, tumour immunology, induction of tolerance towards alloantigens and anti-viral cellular immunity in childhood allogeneic HSCT, improving the knowledge of the fundamental milestones in this type of therapy.