Biography
Gianluca was awarded a BSc in Podiatry by the University of Bologna (Italy) in 2017 and worked as an associate podiatrist for one year before relocating to the UK in 2018. He subsequently completed both an MSc in Podiatry (2021) and a pre-registration MSc in Podiatry (2022) at the University of Brighton. In October 2022, he joined the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices at the same university as a Research Fellow in wound healing. In October 2024, Gianluca began working as a podiatrist with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, and in April 2025, he was appointed Lecturer in Podiatry at the Health Sciences University.
Experience, Areas of interest/expertise:
Gianluca has gained both academic and clinical experience through active research in wound healing and by working in the private sector as well as within the NHS.
MSc Podiatry (University of Brighton), MSc Pre-Reg Podiatry (University of Brighton), PGCert Physical and Manual Therapies in Podiatry (University of Florence), BSc Podiatry (University of Bologna)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Royal College of Podiatry (RCoP), Italian National Register Federation FNO-TSRM-PSTRP (Italian HCPC-equivalent).
Collaboration with the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices – University of Brighton: a biomimetic macromolecular platform for tissue healing and diagnostics at medical device interfaces: a personalised wound dressing model (EPRSC grant £2,886,291)
Research interests
Gianluca’s research interests lie in wound healing, with a focus on exudate composition and rheology, biocompatibility of wound dressings, and the use of physical therapies in managing chronic wounds.
“A systematic in vitro study of the effect of normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions on the biochemical and cellular interactions of clinically-available wound dressings with different physicochemical properties”, PLOS ONE Journal, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317258
“Investigating pre-registration podiatry students approaches to identifying dermatology conditions in different skin tones: A mixed methods protocol”, Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jfa2.70015
“The efficacy of rocker bottom shoes and orthotic insoles in redistributing foot plantar pressure among diabetic patients: a scoping review”, Minerva Orthopedics, https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-orthopedics/article.php?cod=R14Y2024N05A0381
“Exploring exudate viscosity: a rheological analysis of wound exudates”, Wound repair and regeneration, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/wrr.13213
“Harnessing the Interactions of Wound Exudate Cells with Dressings Biomaterials for the Control and Prognosis of Healing Pathways”, Pharmaceuticals, https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091111
“Effectiveness of neurodynamic treatment in managing lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review”, Manuelle Medizin, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00337-024-01063-z
“Effectiveness of manual thoracic therapy in treating impingement syndrome: a systematic review”, Manuelle Medizin, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00337-024-01040-6
“Phlebological insole: Can it help in the lymphoedema treatment? A scoping review”, Phlebology: The Journal of Venous Disease, https://doi.org/10.1177/02683555231162291
“Development of theranostic wound dressings: harnessing the knowledge of biospecific interactions at the biomaterial interface to promote healing and identify biomarkers”, Expert Review of Medical Devices, https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2023.2181694
“The effects of electrical stimulation on diabetic ulcers of foot and lower limb: a systematic review”, International Wound Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13762
