Alessandra Magnani

I am a paediatric immunologist and researcher, specialising in inborn errors of immunity, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy. I trained in medicine at the University of Pavia and specialised in paediatrics in Genoa and Paris. I subsequently completed a PhD in Genetics and Immunology between the University of Genoa and the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel. Throughout my career I have led clinical trials of advanced therapies and participated in several European projects focused on immunology and personalised medicine.

After several years at Necker-Enfants malades hospital in Paris, where I was medical director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, I joined SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital in 2022 as head of the Advanced Therapies Platform. I currently coordinate the production of advanced therapy drugs for paediatric patients and represent the centre in the national CERTERA network. At European level, I am co-chair of the ERN-RITA research group and since 2024 vice-coordinator of this network.

Training

• PhD in Genetics and Immunology, University of Genoa and Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (Basel, Switzerland), 2013.
• Specialisation in Paediatrics, Gaslini Hospital, Genoa and Necker-Enfants malades Hospital, Paris, 2009.
• Degree in Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy.

International experience

• Vice-coordinator of ERN-RITA, 2024.
• Co-chair of the ERN-RITA research working group, 2023.
• Medical Director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory at Necker-Enfants malades hospital (Paris), 2014-2022.
• Postdoctoral fellow at the Imagine Institute, Paris, supervised by Professors A. Fischer and F. Rieux-Laucat.

Scientific activity

• Invited expert member of the NRA (from 2023).
• Invited member of the Selection Committee of the High Council of Public Health (HCSP), 2022.
• Expert member of the Medical and Scientific Committee of the Agency for Biomedicine (ABM), from 2019.
• Scientific reviewer for journals such as: Journal of Clinical Immunology, Frontiers in Immunology, The Journal of Rheumatology, PlosOne.
• Patent filed: ‘Methods of generating haematopoietic stem cell grafts’ (No. 1761500, INPI France).
• Publications in various clinical journals.