ProfessorFrancesco D'Aiuto

Francesco's research focuses on the connections between oral and systemic health, exploring how periodontal inflammation, the oral microbiome and host responses contribute to chronic disease. His work brings together clinical trials, translational research and population-based studies to understand these relationships and identify opportunities for prevention and improved patient care.

His main research interests include:

Oral–systemic inflammation: Investigating the biological mechanisms connecting periodontal inflammation with systemic inflammatory responses and chronic disease.

Cardiovascular and metabolic health: Exploring the relationships between periodontal disease, vascular health, cardiovascular risk and type 2

diabetes, including the systemic effects of periodontal treatment.

Clinical trials and prevention: Developing and evaluating interventions to improve oral health and investigate their potential benefits for systemic health.

Microbiome and host responses: Understanding oral microbial communities, biofilms and their interactions with the immune system, including potential links with systemic disease.

Population health and healthy ageing: Using longitudinal cohorts and large epidemiological datasets to explore the contribution of oral health to multimorbidity, metabolic health and healthy ageing.

Francesco is also interested in translational biomarkers and innovative approaches to integrating oral health into broader healthcare and disease prevention strategies.

He welcomes interdisciplinary collaborations across medicine, dentistry, population health and biomedical sciences, particularly those with the potential to translate research findings into meaningful improvements in health and patient care.