VPD-HLRI Monthly Seminar Series

This seminar will be hosted by Prof. Toni Vidal-Puig

Jesmond Dalli -Professor of Molecular Pharmacology, QMUL

Immune Resolution as a Programmed Process Driven by Specialised Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators

Jesmond Dalli is a leading figure in the field of molecular pharmacology, internationally recognised for his pioneering research on lipid mediators and their role in inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration. He currently serves as Professor at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and as Director of the Lipid Mediator Unit at the William Harvey Research Institute and is the Chair of a recently funded COST Action focused on Resolution Biology. His scientific journey began on the island of Malta, where he earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry and Biology, followed by an M.Sc. in Biology, both with a focus on marine biology. Jesmond later pursued his Ph.D. at the William Harvey Research Institute under the mentorship of Professor Mauro Perretti, marking the beginning of a research career shaped by both scientific curiosity and serendipitous discovery. Following his doctoral studies, he joined the laboratory of Professor Charles N. Serhan at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. There, he held a faculty position and served as co-director of two NIH-funded lipid mediator profiling cores, further deepening his expertise in the emerging field of pro-resolving mediators. Jesmond's research centres on the molecular pathways through which specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) restore tissue homeostasis, regulate inflammation, and promote repair. His work bridges fundamental discovery with translational impact, reflected in his portfolio of patents, several of which are currently licensed for clinical development. He has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, holds an H-index of >80, and his work has been cited more than 21,000 times. His contributions to science have earned him numerous accolades, including the Eicosanoid Research Foundation Young Investigator Award and Fellowships to both the Royal Society of Biology and the British Pharmacological Society.

Nicola Soranzo-Professor of Human Genetics, University of Cambridge

Population Scales Single Cell Genomics in Cohort with Embedded Medical Data 

Nicole Soranzo is an internationally recognised human geneticist and Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Cambridge. She joined Cambridge in 2013 as adjunct faculty (Principal of Research) in the School of Clinical Medicine and was awarded a personal chair in Human Genetics in 2015, in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the field. At Cambridge, she has played a leading role in advancing human genomic research within the School of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Haematology. Professor Soranzo spent nearly two decades as a group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, before moving to Milan in 2021 to help establish Human Technopole, where she is currently Head of the Population and Medical Genomics Research Centre. Her research at Cambridge focuses on large-scale genomic analyses to understand how human genetic variation contributes to complex traits and common diseases, particularly cardiovascular, immune, and inflammatory conditions. This work integrates population-scale genome sequencing, multi-omic profiling, and advanced computational approaches to identify genetic loci and biological pathways underlying disease risk and therapeutic opportunity. Professor Soranzo’s academic role combines research leadership, collaborative science, and mentorship. She has supervised doctoral researchers, contributed to interdisciplinary research programmes, and helped develop genomic datasets and resources that are widely used by the international research community. Her major collaborative roles include participation in the Cambridge University Platelet Biology and Cardiovascular programmes, leadership as a Theme Lead within the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, and involvement in the BHF Cambridge Centre of Research Excellence. In recognition of her scientific leadership, Professor Soranzo has received numerous honours, including Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences, election to EMBO, and award of an ERC Advanced Grant. Her work continues to advance understanding of how the human genome influences the risk of common diseases in the UK population.