Italy, Florence 
Dr. Edoardo Francini is a medical oncologist and Associate Professor at the University of Florence, specializing in genitourinary oncology with a focus on prostate cancer, translational research, and liquid biopsy biomarkers, including circulating cell-free DNA.
Current Position
- Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence
- Medical Oncologist, Medical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital
Education
- Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery (with honors), University of Siena
- Medical Oncology Specialization (70/70 Cum Laude), Sapienza University of Rome
- PhD in Clinical and Experimental Oncology Research (Summa Cum Laude), Sapienza University of Rome
- Research Fellowship in Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- Certificate in Applied Biostatistics, Harvard University
Clinical & Research Focus
- Prostate cancer and genitourinary malignancies
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)
- Liquid biopsy and circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA)
- Biomarkers of treatment resistance and response
- Treatment sequencing and precision oncology
Academic Profile
- Author of 80+ peer-reviewed publications with an H-index of 23 and over 1700 citations
- First or senior author on a substantial proportion of publications in high-impact journals
- Publications include leading journals such as European Urology, Cancer Cell, JAMA NetworkOpen, and Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Active contributor to translational and clinical oncology research
Research Innovation & Programs
Dr. Francini has led and contributed to major international research initiatives in prostate cancer:
- He coordinates international research collaborations across institutions including Dana-Farber, Mayo Clinic, and leading European cancer centers
- He leads the SPARTACUSS network, an international consortium focused on prostate cancer treatment strategies
- He has conducted pioneering work on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a biomarker of resistance to taxane therapy
- He serves as Principal Investigator on multicenter registry studies evaluating treatment sequencing in prostate cancer
- His research integrates clinical data, molecular biomarkers, and real-world evidence to optimize therapeutic strategies
Funding & Grants
- Recipient of competitive research funding including support from Roche and international oncology collaborations
- Principal Investigator and co-investigator on multiple international clinical and translational research projects
- Funding supports biomarker-driven and registry-based studies in prostate cancer
Leadership & Contributions
- Member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and European Association of Urology
- Board member of the Italian Group of Geriatric Oncology (GOGI)
- Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member in oncology journals
- Reviewer for leading journals including The Lancet Oncology and Journal of Clinical Oncology
International Experience
- Research fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- Collaborations with institutions including Mayo Clinic, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Visiting Professor at Institute of Oncology Research and Università della Svizzera Italiana
Awards & Recognition
- Platinum Circle Membership Award, European Association of Urology (2025)
- Outstanding Author Award, Chinese Clinical Oncology (2025)
- Recipient of research funding awards for biomarker studies in prostate cancer