Physiopathology and therapy of pediatric chronic inflammatory diseases

The Pediatric Research Team (PRT) is based at the Pediatric Clinic of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo. Our activities encompass a broad spectrum of clinical research on immune-mediated disorders, including pediatric allergic and autoimmune diseases, primary immunodeficiencies, and infectious diseases.

In addition, we conduct research in pediatric gastroenterology, endocrinology, and neurology. The overarching goal of our work is to characterize disease phenotypes in childhood, delineate their specific features compared with adult conditions, and support the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the PRT played an active role in investigating the clinical presentation and long-term outcomes of pediatric COVID-19, as well as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but severe complication associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A key focus of the PRT is now the advancement of precision medicine in pediatrics. We aim to integrate clinical, immunological, genetic, and microbiome data to better define patient subgroups, identify biomarkers predictive of disease severity or treatment response, and guide the selection of individualized therapeutic pathways. Through this approach, we seek to enhance diagnostic precision, streamline care pathways, and minimize the reliance on empirical treatment in children with complex or heterogeneous conditions.