In February 2024, the international stem cell transplant and autoimmune disease community announced the death of Dr. Riccardo Saccardi at the age of 67 after a long battle with an illness that never diminished his dedication to scientific innovation and advancement. We lost a prominent clinician and scientist. in clinical practice through standardization.
Ricardo's scientific career has been primarily spent advancing knowledge and exploring the application of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) in intractable autoimmune diseases (AD), particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). This includes many years of close collaboration and leadership within the European Society of Hematology. Bone marrow transplantation (EBMT). He is also an international leader in quality improvement and regulatory issues for hematopoietic cell therapy, having held a leadership role on JACIE (Joint Accreditation Committee of the International Society for Cell Therapy). [ISCT] and EBMT).
Riccardo was born and educated in Florence, Italy. After he graduated in 1981, he participated in a postgraduate fellowship in hematology at the University of Florence. From 1987 until 1988, he was a visiting scientist at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Since 1990, Riccardo worked primarily in HCT and cell therapy at the Collegiate University Hospital of Florence, where he held several positions including Medical Director of the Florence Cord Blood Bank from 1996 and Director of the Cord Blood Bank from 2009 to 2016. I served as From 2011 to 2012 he worked for 2 years on biobanking and cord blood cell transplantation, in collaboration with the CNT/CNS (Central National Trapianti/Central National Sanguet), College University Hospital, Eurocode of Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris. Coordinated international projects. Since 2016, Riccardo has served as Head of the Department of Cell Therapy and Transfusion Medicine. Under his direction, many projects related to regenerative medicine, stem cell manipulation, CAR-T and other immune effector cell therapies were carried out at Khaleghi University Hospital.
Ricardo made significant contributions within EBMT as Chair of EBMT's Autoimmune Disease Working Group (ADWP) from 2004 to 2010. In 2008 he was the Scientific Chair of the EBMT Annual Meeting in Florence, and in 2009 he organized the important international conference on HCT for severe autoimmune diseases, again in Florence ( Figure 1). He has led collaborative projects with neurologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, immunologists, internists and the hematology and transplant communities to strengthen cross-species fertilization and multidisciplinary approaches across various specialties. We promoted it.
Riccardo also held key leadership roles at JACIE, serving as a very active examiner, serving as a member of the FACT-JACIE Standards Steering Committee, and serving as JACIE's Medical Director from 2016 to 2020. Ta.Riccardo has created an international, modern, risk-adapted benchmarking program for his HCT results across individual his EBMT centers as a means of ensuring the quality of the HCT process and meeting FACT-JACIE accreditation requirements. [1].
In Italy, Riccardo was an active member of GITMO (Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo) and served as coordinator of the GITMO-Neuro Intergroup. [2] From 1998 to 2003, he pioneered HCT in MS at the national level, working with the cell transplant and neurological communities. Additionally, Riccardo recently participated in the development and delivery of his CAR-T cells and immune effector cells within EBMT and GITMO, with a focus on regulatory aspects.
Ricardo has been a leader in many national and international research projects and clinical trials on the development of autologous HCT in severe and refractory MS. [3] (Randomized Phase II EBMT ASTIMS trial, etc.) [4]), significantly contributing to the evidence base to reduce disability, improve quality of life, and support translational science in immune reconstitution. He is also active in many research projects and clinical trials in other indications such as HCT, bone marrow and cord blood stem cell biology, cell therapy (including CAR-T and mesenchymal stromal cells), and regenerative medicine. Contributed. He has published over 220 peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals. He received the “Best Abstract Award” at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, and in 2013 he received the “Van Beckham Award” at the EBMT Annual Meeting.
Riccardo devoted his life to his profession. He was always there for his patients, caring for all of them to the same high standards and treating them diligently and with respect and dignity. Riccardo is a mentor and role model for many scientists and clinicians across a variety of specialties, and his professional appointments at national and international levels demonstrate his deep commitment to the future of medicine and science, and his deep commitment to the future of medicine and science. This is a testament to his belief in the interdisciplinary approach of In this regard, he also spent a lot of time supporting students with their lectures, theses, dissertations, and scientific achievements.
Riccardo's professional life reflected his dedication to his family. He leaves his wife Claudia, his daughter Camila, his grandson Timo, and his extended family and friends with whom he shared many interests, including traveling and sailing.
Paolo Muraro, professor of neurology, neuroimmunology and immunotherapy at Imperial College London, UK, said:I can only think that I value Riccardo equally highly as a clinician, researcher, and human being. He was eager to meet, discuss and understand, and his “door” was always open. As a clinician, he went above and beyond the call of duty to care for his patients. Riccardo's expertise in clinical research was in demand. He was often invited to speak at conferences outside his medical specialty. This is evidence of the interdisciplinary nature of much of his research and of his high reputation. We had many fun and productive opportunities, such as meeting at neurology and hematology conferences and in Florence, where we visited for lectures and many collaborative studies. He was always eager to learn, participate and discuss our work and common interests, and he did so in a soft-spoken and reserved manner, but always thoughtfully and with constant determination. He made many notable contributions to this field, which he never overemphasized. I miss him so much.”.
Basil Sharak, professor of clinical neurology at the University of Sheffield, UK, recalls:I first met Ricardo at a meeting in Chicago arranged by Richard Burt. Richard introduced Riccardo as Italy's leading transplant hematologist. Throughout the meeting, Riccardo spoke in such a soft, gentle, calm manner that I had to ask if he was really Italian. As a person Riccardo was a gentleman, and as a researcher Riccardo was a legend. He has a talent for examining data to find ideas and solutions, and has always been able to bring projects he has worked on to fruition.We have lost a very dear friend, but his legacy will endure.'.
Dominique Farge, a professor of internal medicine and a hospital worker at AP-HP, a publicly supported hospital in Paris (France), recalled:When I first met Riccardo 20 years ago, he had just been named executive director of ADWP and was a prominent Italian hematologist from Florence. I immediately noticed that he was modest, tall and elegant, with a quiet, calm voice and a brown, bright gaze. Italian elegance and style is what we will always remember, both physically and socially. Gradually, in close collaboration with colleagues in the Neurological Society and EBMT, he pioneered the development of autologous HCT as the first therapeutic approach to achieve long-term remission in relapsing-remitting MS. This was by no means an easy task, but Ricardo never complained or expressed doubts. During his last three years, I have often told him that he has acted like a hero throughout his fight against this terrible disease, and that he has worked tirelessly for patients and his EBMT in various areas of cell therapy. I went on to accomplish a lot. We appreciate and honor Ricardo's memories of his year-long stay in Paris with the Saint-Louis Hospital and EBMT staff. His MS patients around the world will never forget him, and neither will his colleagues and friends.'.
Ricardo was a good friend to many. His exemplary leadership and commitment to the national and international transplant community will be greatly missed and a reference to the entire community.
