Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Francesca Taraballi earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences and M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Milan – Bicocca, Italy, followed by a second M.S. in Structural Biochemistry. She completed her Ph.D. in Nanostructures and Nanotechnologies through a joint program between the University of Milan – Bicocca and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Trained as a technologist, Dr. Taraballi bridges engineering and medicine by working closely with surgeons to develop immune-engineering solutions that direct the body’s healing processes. She is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration at Houston Methodist Research Institute, within the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. She also holds affiliations with the Center for RNA Therapeutics, the Department of Nanomedicine, and the Neal Cancer Center.
Her research focuses on designing smart biomaterials—injectable and implantable—that modulate the immune system to support tissue repair and regeneration. By engineering the immune response, her work aims to create targeted, adaptive therapeutic strategies for orthopedic injuries, cancer, and neurological conditions. Her innovations in immune-responsive biomaterials and drug delivery have laid the groundwork for next-generation regenerative therapies.
Dr. Taraballi is also deeply committed to education and mentorship, actively guiding students and young scientists to pursue careers in biomedical research. Her dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration and translational science continues to drive impactful discoveries that improve patient outcomes.
Research interests
- mRNA therapeutics for orthopedic applications
- mRNA vaccine development and validation in small and large animal models.
- Translational bioaterials fabrication and functionalization to tune the immune system towards tissue homeostasis for reconstructive surgery
- cGMP fabrication of devices and regulatory studies for validation
- Development of smart nano-biomaterials to tune the immune system
- Enhancing immunemodulatories capabilities of mesenchymal stem cells from different sources for surgical adjiuvant. (Clinical trials)
- Evaluation of local delivery of antibiotics to fight surgical-related infections (Clinial trials)
Research Area Keywords
- Nanomedicine
- Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
- Infectious Disease & Pathology
- Immunobiology & Inflammation
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Intraosseous Vancomycin and Cefazolin vs Intravenous Administration in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Taraballi, F. (Key Personnel)
3/24/25 → …
Project: Clinical Trial
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Biomimetic Nanoparticles-Mediated Delivery of Immunomodulating Nucleic Acids as a Strategy to Anticipate Melanoma Drug Resistance
Taraballi, F. (PI)
9/1/23 → 8/31/26
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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A Local Immunoactive Patch for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds
Taraballi, F. (PI)
1/15/23 → 1/14/26
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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Intraosseous vs. Intravenous Vancomycin Administration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Changing the Paradigm
McCulloch, P. (PI), Park, K. (Key Personnel) & Taraballi, F. (Key Personnel)
Project: Clinical Trial
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Biomimetic intervention strategies for endogenous in utero repair of spina bifida
Taraballi, F. (PI)
9/1/24 → 5/31/25
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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Advantages of nanoencapsulation in the delivery of therapeutics for bone regeneration
Banche-Niclot, F. & Taraballi, F., 2025, In: Nanomedicine. 20, 8, p. 773-775 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
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Non-Invasive Assessment of Structural and Mechanical Microenvironment (MME) Changes during Long Bone Regeneration Using Multi-Modal and Multi-Parametric Ultrasound Imaging Techniques in a Segmental Tibial Sheep Model In Vivo
Tang, S., Shajudeen, P., Taraballi, F., Hasse, C., Cabrera, F., Yang, X., Islam, M. T., De Rosa, E., Weiner, B., Becker, M., Tasciotti, E. & Righetti, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Optimizing mesenchymal stem cell therapy: from isolation to GMP-compliant expansion for clinical application
Williams, M. E., Banche Niclot, F., Rota, S., Lim, J., Machado, J., de Azevedo, R., Castillo, K., Adebiyi, S., Sreenivasan, R., Kota, D., Mcculloch, P. C. & Taraballi, F., May 6 2025, In: BMC Molecular and Cell Biology. 26, 1, p. 15 15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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RNA therapies for musculoskeletal conditions
Mancino, C., Franke, M., Greco, A., Sontam, T., Mcculloch, P., Corbo, C. & Taraballi, F., Jan 10 2025, In: Journal of Controlled Release. 377, p. 756-766 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Scopus citations -
Sugar Functionalized Collagen Material for Local Modulation of Innate Immunity
Taraballi, F., Corbo, C., Enterria-Rosales, J., Martinez, J. O., Minardi, S., Pandolfi, L., Wang, X., Tasciotti, E., Singh, K. V., Arias, C. A. & Corradetti, B., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Advanced Science.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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EnMed Mentorship award
Taraballi, F. (Recipient), Aug 12 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Excellence in Research
Cooke, J. P. (Recipient), Brannan, K. W. (Recipient), Kiss, D. L. (Recipient), Gollihar, J. D. (Recipient) & Taraballi, F. (Recipient), Feb 29 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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ON-ICRS Research Fellowship 2018
Taraballi, F. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Presidential Award - High Impact Publication Honoree
Taraballi, F. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)