Professor Federica Marelli-BergBHF Professor of Cardiovascular Immunology, Centre Lead of Biochemical PharmacologyCentre: Biochemical PharmacologyEmail: f.marelli-berg@qmul.ac.ukTelephone: +44(0) 20 7882 3443ProfileResearchKey PublicationsSponsorsCollaboratorsDisclosuresProfileFederica Marelli-Berg qualified in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Milan in 1989, and specialized in Hematology in 1993 at the University of Pavia, Italy. In 1997 she completed her PhD studies at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (London) under the supervision of Professor R. Lechler. In 2000 she was awarded a Governors’ lectureship by Imperial College London, where she continued her academic career to become Professor of Immunology in 2011. She joined the WHRI (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry - FMD, QMUL) as Professor of Cardiovascular Immunology in November 2011. Since 2014 she is leading the Centre of Biochemical Pharmacology. In 2016 she was awarded the prestigious British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Immunology.ResearchGroup members Dr Hongmei Fu (Principal Research Officer) Ms Guosu Wang Dr Juho Vuononvirta Dr Thanusian Poobalasingan Dr Carlene Dyer Ms Anitha Nair Ms Silvia Fanti Dr Alexandros Protonotarios Cardiovascular ImmunologyEffective immunity relies upon the prompt localization of activated T lymphocytes to the site of pathogen invasion. While other leukocytes migrate in response to non-specific inflammatory stimuli, activated T lymphocytes must discriminate and migrate to tissues where their cognate antigen is located. To maintain immune homeostasis, the anti-inflammatory regulatory subset of T cells also localizes to the site of inflammation to prevent excessive tissue damage. The regulation of memory and regulatory T lymphocyte trafficking is the main focus of my research. Our major contributions have been in the field of antigen-dependent recruitment, which allows selective recruitment of primed T cells to localize antigenic sites, and have unveiled key molecular mechanisms of this effect, which can be targeted pharmacologically. We have recently discovered a novel pathway which promotes selective T cell migration to the heart. In addition, we have pioneered the field of metabolic regulation of T cell motility and migration and have discovered molecules – implicated in T cell metabolism - that can be pharmacologically targeted to therapeutically modulate T lymphocyte trafficking. The long-term plan of our research is to provide translational bridges between T cell homing mechanisms and the therapy of immune-mediated diseases, including heart transplant rejection and myocarditis. We are currently developing these studies with an aim to provide a solid basis for imminent clinical use. Publications Sikking MA, Harding D, Henkens MTHM et al. (2024). Cytotoxic T Cells Drive Outcome in Inflammatory Dilated Cardiomyopathy. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.325183 QMRO: qmroHref Vyas V, Sandhar B, Keane JM et al. (2024). Tissue-resident memory T cells in epicardial adipose tissue comprise transcriptionally distinct subsets that are modulated in atrial fibrillation. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1038/s44161-024-00532-x QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/100779 Aikawa E, Allison MA, Arispe LI et al. (2024). Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr David A. Dichek. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.321293 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/100638 Powell JT, Marelli-Berg FM, Bendeck MP et al. (2024). Introducing Socrates’ Corner to ATVB Journal: Critical Appraisals of Animal Models of Disease. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.321253 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/100642 Martin J, Hollowood Z, Chorlton J et al. (2024). Modulating regulatory T cell migration in the treatment of autoimmunity and autoinflammation. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102466 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/100570 Golino M, Harding D, Del Buono MG et al. (2024). Innate and adaptive immunity in acute myocarditis. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131901 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/96019 Harding D, Fanti S, Marelli-Berg F (2024). Tumour necrosis factor-α in cardiac inflammation: friend or foe?. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad180 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/94929 Harding D, Marelli-Berg F (2023). Interferon-gamma signs off an old heart. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad151 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/91978 Fu H, Vuononvirta J, Fanti S et al. (2023). The Glucose Transporter 2 regulates CD8+ T cell function via environment sensing.. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00913-9 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/92475 Bonacina F, Moregola A, Svecla M et al. (2023). The low-density lipoprotein receptor fuels cholesterol-mTORC1 axis during CD8 T cell activation. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.06.722 QMRO: qmroHref View Profile Publication Page Sponsors British Heart Foundation Medical Research Council Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Immune Systems Research Theme (Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry) Diabetes UK CollaboratorsInternal Prof. Sussan Nourshargh Prof. Mauro Perretti Prof. Costantino Pitzalis Dr Crnogorac-Jurcevic Dr Suchita Nadkarni Dr Paula Longhi Dr Sam Mohiddin Dr Kostantinos Savvatis Dr Dunja Aksentijevic Prof Magdi Yaqoob External Dr Klaus Okkenhaug (Babraham Institute) Prof Giovanna Lombardi (KCL) Prof Anne Ridley (KCL) Prof Robert Lechler (KCL) Prof Julian Dyson (ICL) Disclosures Associate Editor British Journal of Cardiology (2023- ) Consultant AstraZeneca (2023) Consultant Serepta (2022) Associate Editor ATVB (2022- ) Associate Editor Immunometabolism (2020- ) Consulting Editor Cardiovascular Res. (2017-) Associate Editor Cell Stress (2017-) Associate Editor Curr Opin Pharmacology (2012-) Associate Editor Frontiers in Immunology (2012-) Associate Editor Am. J. Immunology (2012-) Associate Editor Frontiers in Pharmacology (2012-) Associate Editor Immunology (2010-) Back to top