Dr Francesca Arrigoni
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Pharmacy
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Associate Professor Physiology/Pharmacology
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
Dr Francesca Arrigoni is an Associate Professor in Physiology and Pharmacology in the Department of Pharmacy at Ȧ and has close ties working with UCL. Prior to that, she gained her PhD and post-doctoral experience at UCL and completed her undergraduate degree at Glasgow University with several awards and distinctions (John Hunter Medal 2 consecutive years).
Her pioneering transdisciplinary teaching seamlessly integrates art and science, breaking traditional boundaries to enhance public understanding and revolutionise teaching practices in higher education. Her innovative approach not only informs and engages diverse audiences but also fosters creative and critical thinking.
Francesca has been recognised for her exceptional contributions to education and innovation at Ȧ. In 2024, she received the EDI Award for her outstanding efforts in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the university community. Her innovative approaches in nursing education earned her the Teaching Innovation of the Year award in 2023, presented by the Student Nursing Times. Additionally, Francesca was honoured with the Ȧ Learning and Teaching Fellowship Award in 2020, celebrating her dedication to enhancing teaching practices and student outcomes.
Francesca has forged impactful collaborations that bridge diverse fields and foster interdisciplinary learning. Her partnership with the Hunterian Museum has been instrumental in creating seminars, lectures, and exhibitions that enrich the educational experience for students and the public alike. This collaboration highlights the museum's historical and scientific significance, making it a vibrant hub for learning and discovery. Francesca consequently curated the "Transforming Lives" exhibition in collaboration with The Hunterian Museum and The Physiology Society, showcasing student work and highlighting the transformative power of education in 2024.
At the Economic Botany Collection in Kew, Francesca led a pioneering pilot program on the pharmacognosy of poisons. This unique initiative brought together needlework students and Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacy students, offering them a hands-on approach to understanding the medicinal properties and toxicology of plants. This program not only enhanced their scientific knowledge but also fostered creativity and collaboration across very diverse disciplines.
Francesca's development of transdisciplinary teaching strategies in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) has revolutionised the way nursing, pharmacy, and pharmacology courses are taught. By integrating art into scientific education, she has created engaging and innovative learning experiences that help students grasp complex concepts more effectively. Her approach encourages critical thinking, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of different fields.
She designed the pin badge for Ȧ School of Pharmacy, symbolising Pharmacy's commitment to excellence.
She developed and recorded lectures on Acid Base Balance for the Physiology Society Training Hub Films, contributing to an international repository of physiology lessons. Her podcasts, including the 'Immunology Series' and 'What’s Art got to do with it?' on , have garnered over 53,000 listens globally, featuring interviews with notable figures like Prof. Ole Petersen, Jo Le Gleud, Yasmin Crawford, Dr. Ed Bloomer, and Dawn Kemp.
Her most recent grants crossing disciplines have been the Paton Award, investigating the illustrative impact of Hookes Micrographia(2025), and 'promoting transdisciplinary creative thinking skills to improve accessibility of Physiology and STEM teaching' (2023).
Qualifications
- PhD Pharmacology UCL
- BSc (Hons) Physiology Glasgow University
- Senior Fellowship Higher Education Authority
- PGCE
- SFHEA
- SFSEDA
Domains
Francesca Arrigoni, Course Director for Pharmacy with Preparatory Year, is an Associate Professor at Ȧ, has made significant contributions to cardiovascular disease and inflammation research, collaborating with prestigious institutions like UCL and Great Ormond Street. Her dedication to student success is evident through her innovative teaching methods, including the development of a Critical Thinking Toolkit for Science, honing on those skills essential for sritical evaluation and scientific method, which has been widely adopted across multiple faculties. Her commitment to interdisciplinary teaching is showcased by her Art-Physiology lessons, which blend science and art to enhance student engagement and resilience.
These efforts have led to improved student outcomes, such as higher progression rates and better exam scores. Additionally, she has supported colleagues in achieving HEA accreditation and led initiatives to promote gender equality within her department. Her work has been recognised with several awards, including the Ȧ Teaching Fellowship and the Student Nursing Times Innovation of the Year and nomination for Times Higher Education Research supervisor of the Year. Her ongoing professional development includes pursuing an MA in Illustration to further explore the intersection of science and art. Through her innovative approaches and dedication to excellence, Arrigoni has significantly impacted both student learning and the teaching profession.
- Course Director for Pharmacy with Preparatory Year (2024)
- Associate Professor of Physiology Pharmacology (2022-present).
- Teaching Innovation of the Year (2023) by the Student Nursing Times for creative physiology workshops.
- Ȧ Learning and Teaching Fellowship Award (2020) for developing critical and creative thinking skills.
- Senor Fellowship Staff Education Development Association (2023) and Fellowship of SEDA (2021).
- Fellow Physiological Society (2012) and Fellow British Pharmacological Society (2012).
- Redesign of Pharmacy Curriculum (2022-2023) to meet revised standards and embed inclusivity.
- Creation of transdisciplinary partnerships with institutions like the Hunterian Museum and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- External Conference Talks (Art & Science) :
- BERA Specialist Interest Group: "What is the value of STEAM in education?" Virtual, 2 October 2024.
- Memorial Lecture: "Anna Croft Memorial Lecture." September 2024. 'Whats art got to do with it?'
- BERA: "Pharmacy, poisons and plants: A transdisciplinary approach to learning
- pharmacology." Birmingham, 12-14 September 2023.
- Physiology Society: "Innovative ways to teach Physiology" session at Physiology in Focus. Leeds, 12-13 April 2023.
- GLAD: "Sewing the seeds for transdisciplinary learning." University of the Arts, Central St Martins College of Art, 2023.
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow HEA
- PGCE
- Ȧ Learning and Teaching Fellow
- Senior Fellow SEDA
Courses taught
Publications (Last 5 Years):
- 2024: Arrigoni, F. work credited in :Conway, Clare, and Aybige Yilmaz. "‘A space to question the current ways of life’—fostering creative possibilities through liminal experiences." Innovative Practice in Higher Education 6.2 (2024).
- 2023: Arrigoni, F. work credited in : Heron, M. and Wason, H., 2023. Supporting critical thinking through purposeful classroom talk. Educational Developments, 24(4), pp.4-8.
- 2023: Arrigoni, F. work credited in : Wason, H. and Heron, M., 2023. Developing dialogic stance through professional development workshops. Innovations in Education & Teaching International. [online]
- 2023: Arrigoni, F.I., et al. "Impact of sub-optimal HIV viral control on activated T-cells; an EARNEST substudy." AIDS, September 2023. DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003488
- 2021: Kelly, C., et al. "Inflammatory pathways amongst people living with HIV in Malawi differ according to socioeconomic status." PloS One, 16(8), e0256576. DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.14.20130971
- 2021: Kelly, C., et al. "Inflammatory Phenotypes Predict Changes in Arterial Stiffness Following Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation." Clinical Infectious Diseases, 71(9), 2389-2397. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa186
- 2021: Prendergast, A.J., et al. "The impact of viraemia on inflammatory biomarkers and CD4 cell subpopulations in HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa." AIDS (London, England), 35(10), 1537. DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002916
- External Conference Talks (Art & Science) :
- BERA Specialist Interest Group: "What is the value of STEAM in education?" Virtual, 2 October 2024.
- Memorial Lecture: "Anna Croft Memorial Lecture." September 2024.
- BERA: "Pharmacy, poisons and plants: A transdisciplinary approach to learning
- pharmacology." Birmingham, 12-14 September 2023.
- Physiology Society: "Innovative ways to teach Physiology" session at Physiology in Focus. Leeds, 12-13 April 2023.
- GLAD: "Sewing the seeds for transdisciplinary learning." University of the Arts, Central St Martins College of Art, 2023.
Artistic experience
- MA Illustration (2023-2025), Ȧ
- Art Physiology Lessons: Developed and led creative physiology workshops integrating art and science.
Transdisciplinary projects
- Hunterian Museum Partnership: Created a partnership for seminars, lectures and exhibition, funded by Physiology Society grant
- Economic Botany Collection, Kew: Led a pilot program on pharmacognosy of poisons observed at Kew, between needlework students and Pharmaceutical science and Pharmacy students.
- STEAM Teaching: Developed transdisciplinary teaching strategies combining science and art in nursing, pharmacy and pharmacology courses.
Grants and funding
- Paton Historical Prize (2025), Physiological Society. “Hooke’s Micrographia through a New Lens”
- Physiological Society Education and Teaching Award (2023), £9,928. “Promoting transdisciplinary creative thinking skills to improve accessibility of Physiology and STEM teaching”
- NHS Croydon Long COVID Study (2021), £60,000, PhD studentship.
Awards and Honors
- EDI Award (2024), Ȧ
- Teaching Innovation of the Year (2023), Student Nursing Times
- Ȧ Learning and Teaching Fellowship Award (2020)
- SFSEDA (2023), SFHEA (2018)
Community engagement
- Designed pin badge for Ȧ School of Pharmacy
- Book of STIs: Arrigoni-Halliday, F., 2025. The Book of STIs. Dialogues. Available at: https://www.dialogues.network/ [Accessed 22 April 2025].
- Exhibition "Transforming Lives": Curated in collaboration with The Hunterian Museum and The Physiology Society, showcasing student work.
- Physiology Society Training Hub Films: Developed and recorded lectures for an international repository of physiology lessons (Acid Base Balance).
- Podcasts: Franscienceart.com ‘Immunology Series’, ‘What’s Art got to do with it?’ available on multiple platforms with over 53,000 listens globally.
- Interviewees:
- Prof. Ole Petersen, CBE FRS
- Jo Le Gleud, Interior Designer
- Yasmin Crawford, Photographer
- Dr. Ed Bloomer, Astronomer
- Dawn Kemp, Director of the Hunterian Museum
- Physiology News Articles:
- 2023: "Transdisciplinary Science and Art: How drawing and notebook creation improved student accessibility to complex scientific concepts." Physiology News, Issue 130.
- 2023: "Pharmacy, poisons and plants: A transdisciplinary approach to learning pharmacology." Physiology News, Summer 2023.
- Nursing Summer Elective KU: Developed creative physiology workshops for nursing students.
- CritTALK Community:[KU University of Surrey] Contributed to a good practice guide on critical thinking.
- Adult Education: Informal Sci art classes at Physiology Society 2024 and staff at KU 2025
Qualifications
- PhD Pharmacology
- BSc Hons Physiology
- SFSEDA
- SFHEA
Specialisms
- Immunology of HIV
- The Vascular Endothelium
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Inflammation and damage to the lining of blood vessels
- Teaching and Learning
Scholarly affiliations
- Member of the Physiological Society
- Member of the British Pharmacological Society
- Senior Research Associate (Honorary) Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL
- SEDA
- BERA
I contribute to leadership and management in numerous supportive roles mentoring students and staff alike:
Roles and responsibilities
- Course Director Pharmacy with Preparatory Year
- Aurora Leadership programme
- Champion of Critical Thinking in SEC, CPD courses
- Athena SWAN faculty group member
- Laboratory manager of primary cell culture & IRTL governance group
University responsibilities
- Athena SWAN faculty team
- Primary Cell culture manager in LSPC
Publications
Transdisciplinary science and art : how drawing and notebook creation improved student accessibility to complex scientific concepts
Arrigoni, Francesca, 2023, Physiology News Magazine, 133, pp 21-23
Impact of sub-optimal HIV viral control on activated T-cells : an earnest sub study
Arrigoni, Francesca I.F., Spyer, Moira, Hunter, Patricia, Alber, Dagmar, Kityo, Cissy, Hakim, James, Matubu, Allen, Olal, Patrick, Paton, Nicholas I., Walker, A. Sarah and Klein, Nigel, 2023, AIDS
Inflammatory pathways amongst people living with HIV in Malawi differ according to socioeconomic status
Kelly, Christine, Tingao, Willard, Alber, Dagmar, Hunter, Patricia, Luckhurst, Natasha, Connolly, Jake, Arrigoni, Francesca, Abner, Alejandro Garcia, Kamn'gona, Raphael, Sheha, Irene, Chammudzi, Mishek, Jambo, Kondwani, Mallewa, Jane, Rapala, Alicja, Mallon, Patrick W. G., Mwandumba, Henry, Klein, Nigel and Khoo, Saye, 2021, PLoS ONE (16), 8, pp e0256576
The impact of viraemia on inflammatory biomarkers and CD4 cell subpopulations in HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa
Prendergast, A, Szubert, A, Pimundu, G, Berejena, C, Pala, P, Shonhai, A, Hunter, P, Arrigoni, F, Musiime, V, Bwakura-Dangarembizi, M, M, Musoke, P, Poulsom, H, Kihembo, M, Munderi, P, Gibb, D, Spyer, M, Walker, A and Klein, N, 2021, AIDS (35), 10, pp 1537-1548
Inflammatory phenotypes predict changes in arterial stiffness following antiretroviral therapy initiation
Kelly, Christine, Tinago, Willard, Alber, Dagmar, Hunter, Patricia, Luckhurst, Natasha, Connolly, Jake, Arrigoni, Francesca, Abner, Alejandro Garcia, Kamngona, Ralph, Sheha, Irene, Chammudzi, Mishek, Jambo, Kondwani, Mallewa, Jane, Rapala, Alicja, Heyderman, Robert S, Mallon, Patrick W G, Mwandumba, Henry, Walker, A Sarah, Klein, Nigel and Khoo, Saye, 2020, Clinical Infectious Diseases (71), 9, pp 2389-2397
Microvascular function in pre-eclampsia is influenced by insulin resistance and an imbalance of angiogenic mediators
Ghosh, Anshuman, Freestone, Nicholas S, Anim-Nyame, Nicholas and Arrigoni, Francesca I F, 2017, Physiological Reports (5), 8, pp e13185
Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 regulates nitric oxide synthesis and hemodynamics and determines outcome in Polymicrobial sepsis
Lambden, Simon, Kelly, Peter, Ahmetaj-Shala, Blerina, Wang, Zhen, Lee, Benjamin, Nandi, Manasi, Torondel, Belen, Delahaye, Matthew, Dowsett, Laura, Piper, Sophie, Tomlinson, James, Caplin, Ben, Colman, Lucy, Boruc, Olga, Slaviero, Anna, Zhao, Lan, Oliver, Eduardo, Khadayate, Sanjay, Singer, Mervyn, Arrigoni, Francesca and Leiper, James, 2015, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (35), 6, pp 1382-1392
Relationship between insulin resistance and circulating endothelial cells in pre-eclampsia.
Anim-Nyame, Nick, Ghosh, Anshuman, Freestone, Nicholas and Arrigoni, Francesca, 2015, Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (31), 10, pp 788-791
Levels of circulating endothelial cells and colony forming units are influenced by age and dyslipidaemia
Fabbri-Arrigoni, Francesca I., Clarke, Lindsey, Wang, Guosu, Charakida, Marietta, Ellins, Elizabeth, Halliday, Neil, Brogan, Paul A., Deanfield, John E., Halcox, Julian P. and Klein, Nigel, 2012, Pediatric Research (72), 3, pp 299-304
Extended extraocular phenotype of PROM1 mutation in kindreds with known autosomal dominant macular dystrophy
Arrigoni, Francesca I, Matarin, Mar, Thompson, Pamela J, Michaelides, Michel, McClements, Michelle E, Redmond, Elizabeth, Clarke, Lindsey, Ellins, Elizabeth, Mohamed, Saifullah, Pavord, Ian, Hunt, David M, Moore, Anthony T, Halcox, Julian and Sisodiya, Sanjay M, 2011, European Journal of Human Genetics (19), 2, pp 131-137
The biology and therapeutic potential of the DDAH/ADMA pathway
Arrigoni, Francesca, Ahmetaj, Blerina and Leiper, James, 2010, Current Pharmaceutical Design (16), 37, pp 4089-4102
Endothelial injury and repair in systemic vasculitis of the young
Clarke, LA, Hong, Y, Eleftheriou, D, Shah, V, Arrigoni, Francesca, Klein, NJ and Brogan, PA, 2010, (62), 6, pp 1770-1780
Tumour cell adhesion of endothelial cell monolayer
Abdullah, A, Arrigoni, F and Freestone, N, 2010, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (62), 10, pp 1496-1498
Quantitative detection of circulating endothelial cells in vasculitis: comparison of flow cytometry and immunomagnetic bead extraction
Clarke, Lindsey, Shah, Vanita, Arrigoni, Francesca, Eleftheriou, D., Hong, Ying, Halcox, Julian, Klein, Nigel and Brogan, Paul, 2008, Journal Of Thrombosis And Haemostasis (6), 6, pp 1025-1032
Developmental regulation of GTP-CH1 in the porcine lung and its relationship to pulmonary vascular relaxation.
Nandi, Manasi, Leiper, James, Arrigoni, Francesca, Hislop, Alison, Vallance, Patrick and Haywoth, Sheila, 2006, Pediatric Research (59), 6, pp 767-772
Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase activity modulates ADMA levels, VEGF expression, and cell phenotype
Smith, Caroline L., Birdsey, Graeme M., Anthony, Shelagh, Arrigoni, Francesca I., Leiper, James M. and Vallance, Patrick, 2003, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (308), 4, pp 984-989
Metabolism of asymmetric dimethylarginines is regulated in the lung developmentally and with pulmonary hypertension induced by hypobaric hypoxia
Arrigoni, Francesca I., Vallance, Patrick, Haworth, Sheila G. and Leiper, James M., 2003, Circulation (107), 8, pp 1195-1201
all-trans-retinoic acid increases nitric oxide synthesis by endothelial cells: a role for the induction of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase
Achan, Vinod, Tran, Cam T.L., Arrigoni, Francesca, Whitley, Guy St.J., Leiper, James M. and Vallance, Patrick, 2002, Circulation Research (90), 7, pp 764-769
The Therapeutic Potential of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase–Mediated Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthesis
Leiper, James, Arrigoni, Francesca and Ahmetaj, Blerina (2012). In: Abraham, David, (eds.), Handler, Clive, (eds.), Dashwood, Michael, (eds.) and Coghlan, Gerry, (eds.), Translational Vascular Medicine. London, U.K.: Springer Verlag, pp (II)61-(II)88
Pharmacy, poisons and plants : a transdisciplinary approach to learning pharmacology
Arrigoni, Francesca, Conway, Clare and Wyman, Angie(2023). In: BERA Annual Conference 2023, 12-14 Sep 2023 :Birmingham, U.K.
‘Sewing’ the seeds for transdisciplinary learning
Conway, Clare, Arrigoni, Francesca, Wyman, Angie and Messenger, Erin(2023). In: GLAD Symposium 2023 : Gathering ourselves, 8 Sep 2023 :London, U.K.
Learning pharmacological science in context using art
Arrigoni, Francesca and Conway, Clare(2023). In: Innovation and Updates in Teaching and Student Education across Physiology and STEM in the UK, 12-13 Apr 2023 :Leeds, U.K.
Putting STEAM into nursing teaching
Arrigoni, Francesca and Blackie, Carmel(2023). In: Innovation and Updates in Teaching and Student Education across Physiology and STEM in the UK, 12-13 Apr 2023 :Leeds, U.K.
Transdisciplinary teaching in physiology to improve creative thinking
Arrigoni, Francesca(2021). In: BERA (British Educational Research Association) Annual Conference, 13 - 16 Sep 2021 :Held online
Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase levels in blood outgrowth endothelial cells
Halliday, Loryn, Freestone, Nicholas and Arrigoni, Francesca(2021). In: Physiology 2021, 12-16 Jul 2021 :Held online
ADA2 expression and activity in blood outgrowth endothelial cells
Halliday, L., Brogan, P., Freestone, N. and Arrigoni, F.(2020). In: 3rd International Conference on Deficiency of Adenosine Deaminase 2 : Driving Toward Consensus, 17-19 Nov 2020 :Held online
Adenosine deaminase 2 restores the endothelial glycocalyx of blood outgrowth endothelial cells
Halliday, Loryn, Esposito, Giulia, Brogan, Paul, Freestone, Nicholas and Arrigoni, Francesca(2019). In: Future Physiology 2019 : Translating Cellular Mechanisms into Lifelong Health Strategies, 17-18 Dec 2019 :Liverpool, U.K.
Influence of adenosine deaminase 2, on the angiogenic function of blood outgrowth endothelial cells
Halliday, Loryn, Brogan, Paul, Freestone, Nicholas and Arrigoni, Francesca(2019). In: Pharmacology 2019, 15-17 Dec 2019 :Edinburgh, U.K.
Circulating microparticle levels in children following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy
Luckhurst, Natasha, Kenny, Julia, Hunter, Patricia, Freestone, Nicholas, Klein, Nigel and Arrigoni, Francesca(2019). In: British Society for Immunology (BSI) Congress 2019, 02-05 Dec 2019 :Liverpool, U.K.
Monocyte-derived microparticles activate human monocytes and promote their transendothelial migration
Luckhurst, Natasha, Hunter, Patricia, Freestone, Nicholas, Klein, Nigel and Arrigoni, Francesca(2019). In: British Society for Immunology (BSI) Congress 2019, 02-05 Dec 2019 :Liverpool, U.K.
Adenosine deaminase 2 promotes growth and migration of blood outgrowth endothelial cells, in the presence of adenosine
Halliday, L., Brogan, P., Freestone, N. and Arrigoni, F.(2019). 01 Nov 2019 : Ȧ upon Thames, U.K.
Embedding critical thinking skills in the scientific curricula : how good are we?
Arrigoni, Francesca, Micallef, Ricarda and Wason, Hilary(2019). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference : Making Connections and Sharing Pedagogy, 03 -04 Jul 2019 :Ȧ upon Thames, U.K.
Inflammatory phenotypes predict pulse wave velocity change on ART in Malawian adults
Kelly, Christine, Tinago, Willard, Garcia Abner, Alejandro, Hunter, Patricia, Alber, Dagmar, Luckhurst, Natasha, Connolly, Jake, Arrigoni, Francesca, Kamngona, Ralph, Mallon, Patrick, Mwandumba, Henry, Walker, Sarah, Khoo, Saye and Klein, Nigel(2019). In: Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2019, 04-07 Mar 2019 :Seattle, U.S.
Alterations in cellular microparticle levels as a marker of cellular activation and injury in children with HIV infection
Luckhurst, N., Kenny, J., Hunter, P., Freestone, N., Klein, N. and Arrigoni, F.(2018). In: 36th Annual European Society of Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Meeting : Advances in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, 28 May - 02 Jun 2018 :Malmo, Sweden
A tale of three faculties : addressing student's barriers to critical thinking using a collaborative learning and teaching approach
Wason, Hilary, Whiting, Cheryl and Arrigoni, Francesca(2018). 24-25 Apr 2018 : Glasgow, U.K.
How do we transform our students critical thinking abilities?
Wason, Hilary, Whiting, Cheryl and Arrigoni, Fran(2017). In: St George's, University of London's Education Day 2017 : Transformation, 15 Nov 2017 :London, U.K.
Transforming our teaching : using the Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit
Wason, Hilary, Whiting, Cheryl and Arrigoni, Fran(2017). In: St George's, University of London's Education Day 2017 : Transformation, 15 Nov 2017 :London, U.K.