Serena Colafrancesco, MD, PhD, is a researcher at Humanitas University and an Attending Physician in the Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Humanitas Research Hospital, where she also coordinates the Sjögren Clinic. She holds an honorary position at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London (EULAR Centre of Excellence).

She has over a decade of experience in clinical and translational research on autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, with a particular focus on Sjögren’s Disease. Her work integrates clinical observation with molecular and cellular approaches to investigate disease mechanisms and identify biomarkers of disease activity and treatment response. In Sjögren’s Disease, she focuses on target tissues-especially minor salivary glands-to better understand disease onset and progression. She has established a referral center for minor salivary gland biopsy and promotes translational studies, including efforts toward histopathological reclassification of the disease. She has strong expertise in clinical research, experimental rheumatology, epidemiology, and biostatistics.

She is Principal Investigator of competitive national and international grants (including PRIN and FOREUM) and is actively involved in phase I-IV clinical trials, both investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored, contributing to the development of novel therapies in autoimmune diseases.

Serena Colafrancesco is an active member and institutional coordinator in several national and international research networks, including EULAR study groups and collaborative consortia focused on Sjögren’s Disease and autoinflammatory conditions. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, and her research aims to bridge translational science and clinical care, advancing precision medicine and improving patient stratification and outcomes.