People Biography

Biography

Camillo Ricordi, MD, FNAI. Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, Director of the Cell Transplant Center and Director Emeritus at the University of Miami, Diabetes Research Institute. 

A leading scientist in diabetes cure-focused research, cell transplantation and regenerative medicine, Ricordi is well-known for inventing the method to isolate large numbers of pancreatic islets and for performing the first series of successful clinical islet allotransplants in diabetes. The procedure is now used worldwide. Ricordi led the team that performed the first successful extra-hepatic islet transplants, using a bioengineered endocrine pancreas implanted in the abdominal cavity of recipients with diabetes. He chaired for over a decade the consortium that successfully completed, the NIH-funded, FDA Phase 3 multicenter trials. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the stem cell-derived islet transplant trials (Vertex; VX-880), of the first trial (Vertex; VX-264) without any anti-rejection drug. 

In addition to diabetes cure-focused research, Ricordi’s interests include the prevention and treatment of viral, autoimmune and chronic age-related diseases, to prolong a healthy lifespan (www.Fit4Healthspan.org). 

He led the international team that successfully completed the first FDA-approved RCT to treat the most severe cases of COVID-19, with mesenchymal stromal cell infusions that resulted in 91% patient survival (100% in subjects with diabetes or with less than 85 years old) at one month, compared to 42% survival in the control group. 

Over 100 honors and awards include the Nessim Habif World Prize in Surgery (University of Geneva) for developing a technology that significantly contributed to the advancement of a surgical field, and the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award (ADA). In 2009, he was Knighted by the President of the Republic of Italy, and in 2018 he was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors USA for outstanding inventions that made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society. He served on the Italian Supreme Council of Health, and in 2023 he was awarded the TaoBuk Da Vinci Award (co-shared with Nobel Prize Yamanaka and Semenza) and the Venice Golden Lion Award.

Ricordi is also President of the Board of ISMETT (Mediterranean Institute of Transplantation and Advanced Therapies) since 2004 and was appointed President of Fondazione Ri.MED by the Italian Prime Minister, for the 2013-2017 term, successfully completing the partnership with ISMETT for the creation of an unprecedented biotechnology center linked to ISMETT, to foster clinical translation of novel therapies (http://www.fondazionerimed.eu/content/progetto-CBRB.aspx).

Founding president of The Cure Alliance and Chairman of the Diabetes Research Institute Federation, to promote cure-focused research at leading institutions worldwide, Ricordi serves as a consultant and/or on the board of advisors of several non-profit foundations, and government agencies, including the QBRI (Qatar Foundation), and on several venture capital, investment funds, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Ricordi contributed over 1,170 publications, that received over 54,000 citations, has 112 H-index and 28 patents awarded.

In 2022 he published the Oscar Bestseller Mondadori book “IL CODICE DELLA LONGEVITÀ SANA” now available also in its English edition: “THE HEALTHSPAN CODE” (Amazon.com).