Paolo De Coppi

Paolo De Coppi is a distinguished Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the UCL Institute of Child Health in London, where he has been a pivotal figure since 2006. He holds the prestigious Nuffield Chair of Paediatric Surgery and serves as the NIHR Professor of Paediatric Surgery. His extensive experience includes roles as an Honorary Professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Carolina, USA.

Mr. De Coppi has a profound interest in congenital malformations and their treatment through minimally invasive techniques. His groundbreaking research in stem cells and tissue engineering has led to innovative approaches for addressing complex congenital anomalies. Notably, while collaborating with Dr. Anthony Atala at Boston Children’s Hospital, he discovered the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from amniotic fluid, resulting in an international patent and a cover feature in Nature Biotechnology in January 2007.

In 2010, he was instrumental in the first successful transplantation of a tissue-engineered trachea in a child at Great Ormond Street Hospital, marking a significant milestone in regenerative medicine. His current focus is on developing reliable methods for stem cell isolation and differentiation at a clinical level, ensuring that these advancements can be translated into effective treatments for patients.

With over 240 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, Mr. De Coppi has supervised more than 30 research fellows and Ph.D. students, securing national and international grants exceeding £23 million. He is also a prominent member of several editorial boards, including serving as Senior Editor for Stem Cell Translational Medicine, further solidifying his influence in the field of paediatric surgery and regenerative medicine.