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The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.
A key focus of her research is multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly the mechanisms that lead to damage to nerve cells and tissue in the progressive forms of the disease. In this context, she investigates the interaction between immune cells, glial cells and neuronal structures, as well as the molecular signalling pathways that link neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. She also develops and validates biomarkers that can be used to better assess disease activity, tissue damage and the progression of the disease. To this end, Gilli investigates biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, amongst other things, and combines clinical samples with modern molecular biological and so-called multi-omic methods. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the disease and to open up new possibilities for earlier diagnosis, more precise prognosis and the development of targeted therapies.
In recent years, Gilli has increasingly focused her research on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in progressive multiple sclerosis. In her current work, her team is investigating whether the targeted inhibition of specific signalling pathways can reduce chronic neuroinflammation and preserve neurological function. Furthermore, the researcher is examining the role of B cells and other components of the adaptive and innate immune response in the central nervous system. Another aspect of her research is devoted to the interactions between infections and neuroinflammation. To this end, uses both clinical samples from patients with multiple sclerosis and experimental models to investigate the long-term changes in the immune response within the central nervous system.
At Saarland University, Francesca Gilli aims to further expand her research at the interface of neuroimmunology, neurology and infectious immunology. In particular, she intends to intensify collaboration within the Faculty of Medicine as well as with the university's natural science research departments. Plans include joint research projects with the departments of Neurology, Immunology and Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, as well as the use of modern technologies to analyse biomarkers and molecular changes in neurological disorders.
A key objective of the new professorship is to bridge the gap between basic molecular research and clinically relevant questions. This will involve combining patient cohorts and biobanks with experimental models and modern omics technologies. In this way, researchers aim to gain new insights into the mechanisms of neuroinflammation and translate them as directly as possible into new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Francesca Gilli also intends to play an active role in teaching at the Faculty of Medicine in Homburg. During her time at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, her work included training medical students and teaching students of neuroscience and biomedical disciplines. Furthermore, for several years she served as co-director of the Graduate Programme in Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth, where she was involved in supervising Ph.D. students and providing scientific training for early-career academics.
In Homburg, she aims in particular to embed neuroimmunology more firmly within medical education and to develop modern, interdisciplinary teaching approaches. A key focus will be on the link between basic science and clinical neurology. The aim is to help students understand how insights into the immunological processes of the nervous system can contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The researcher will take up her professorship at the Faculty of Medicine on the Homburg campus on 1 October 2026.
Short biography
Francesca Gilli grew up in Italy and is bilingual thanks to her German mother. She studied biotechnology at the University of Turin, where she went on to complete a Ph.D. in human biology, specialising in neurobiology and neuroimmunology. She subsequently conducted research in the field of neuroimmunology at the University of Turin and the University of Basel. In 2011, she also completed a postgraduate course in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Turin. In the same year, the Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (FISM) awarded her the Rita Levi-Montalcini Prize for her scientific work on multiple sclerosis. In 2013, Gilli moved to Dartmouth Medical School in the USA, where she most recently held the post of Associate Professor of Neurology.
