Paolo Macchiarini – Age, Career, Scandal, Where He Is Now (2025)

Paolo Macchiarini is an Italian thoracic surgeon. He became internationally known for pioneering work in regenerative medicine. His research focused on creating synthetic windpipes using stem cells. At one time, he was seen as a revolutionary figure. But his career later collapsed under the weight of scandal, patient deaths, and criminal charges. Today, he is widely regarded as a cautionary tale in medical ethics.

Who Is Paolo Macchiarini?

Paolo Macchiarini was once called a “superstar surgeon.” He performed some of the first surgeries using artificial windpipes coated with a patient’s stem cells. These procedures were meant to replace damaged tracheas. They were experimental and highly controversial. Many in the medical field initially praised his innovation. 

But later, the truth emerged. His work was flawed. Several of his patients died. He had also misrepresented data in scientific publications. Over time, his reputation went from celebrated to disgraced.

Paolo Macchiarini’s Age

Paolo Macchiarini was born on August 22, 1958, in Basel, Switzerland. As of June 2025, he is 66 years old. Though born in Switzerland, he holds Italian citizenship. He spent much of his professional life working in Europe, especially in Spain, Sweden, and Russia.

Paolo Macchiarini’s Education

Macchiarini studied medicine at the University of Pisa in Italy. He graduated with a medical degree in 1986. He later pursued a Master of Surgery and a Ph.D. in France. Macchiarini also completed short-term training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the United States. 

However, many claims he made about his credentials and roles in elite institutions were later found to be exaggerated or even false. Investigations revealed that his CV included misleading statements.

Paolo Macchiarini’s Career

Macchiarini gained global attention in 2008. He performed the world’s first transplant of a windpipe built from stem cells. The operation took place in Barcelona. His patient, Claudia Castillo, appeared to recover well. The media called it a miracle. He then moved on to create fully synthetic windpipes. These were made from plastic and coated with stem cells. He performed surgeries in Sweden, Russia, and the U.S. His fame skyrocketed.

By 2013, his work came under serious scrutiny. Many patients had died after receiving synthetic windpipes. Colleagues accused him of scientific misconduct. He was also accused of operating without proper ethical approvals.

In 2016, he was fired from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Multiple papers he authored were retracted. Investigations confirmed he had falsified data and misled patients and institutions. His fall from grace was rapid and severe.

Between 2010 and 2014, Macchiarini pushed the procedure further. He began using plastic tracheas seeded with stem cells. He claimed they would become living tissue after being implanted. Surgeries were performed in Sweden, Russia, and the U.S.

Patients included children and adults. Some were terminally ill. They and their families placed great hope in these treatments. At first, results were unclear. But soon, complications became frequent. Many of the patients died. Some suffered greatly before passing away. Doctors raised alarms. Ethics committees grew concerned. Media started to dig deeper.

Paolo Macchiarini Today

As of 2025, Paolo Macchiarini is serving a prison sentence. He was found guilty in Sweden of aggravated assault related to experimental surgeries that led to the deaths of three patients. In June 2023, he was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. 

After exhausting his appeals, he was transferred to Quatre Camins Prison in Catalonia, Spain in September 2024. He is banned from practicing medicine and has no active involvement in the scientific community.

Paolo Macchiarini’s Net Worth

Exact numbers are hard to confirm. However, estimates place Paolo Macchiarini’s net worth between $1 million and $5 million. Much of this was likely earned during his peak years at major universities and hospitals. He also received funding and grants for his research. But after years of legal battles and job losses, his net worth has likely declined significantly.

Where Is Dr. Paolo Macchiarini Now?

Dr. Macchiarini is currently in prison in Spain. He is held at the Quatre Camins Correctional Facility, near Barcelona. He was granted the transfer from Sweden because he was living in Spain before his sentencing. His current role is that of a prisoner serving a fixed-term sentence for medical crimes. He has no formal role in medicine or science. There is no indication that he will return to public life after his release.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Macchiarini faced legal cases in Sweden and later in Spain. In 2022, he was convicted of causing bodily harm to a patient in Sweden. But this was just the beginning.

In June 2023, a Swedish appeals court found him guilty of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. The court ruled that he had performed dangerous and unnecessary surgeries. Three patients had died as a direct result.

He appealed the decision. But in September 2024, Sweden’s Supreme Court upheld the verdict. He was imprisoned in Quatre Camins Prison in Spain, near Barcelona. He remains incarcerated as of June 2025.

The Legacy of Paolo Macchiarini

Macchiarini’s case changed the way the medical world views experimental treatments. He pushed the limits without proper testing. He bypassed regulations and gambled with people’s lives.

His story exposed weaknesses in scientific oversight. It showed the dangers of ambition without accountability. Patients trusted him. Institutions enabled him. The system failed to stop him in time. Today, his name is associated with deceit and failure. But his story has led to tighter rules. Hospitals are more cautious. Ethics reviews are stricter.

Final Thoughts

Paolo Macchiarini once captivated the world with promise. He redefined regenerative surgery in theory. But his methods were unchecked. He defied norms. He misled colleagues and patients. His downfall triggered legal and institutional accountability. His sentence in Spain marks a sad end to a once‑glorious career.