Inaugural Lecture: Professor Francesca Capon

Video recording of the Inaugural Lecture

If you missed the lecture, then don't worry! You can watch the full lecture below.

Professor Francesca Capon

Skin in the game, a geneticist’s journey in dermatology

Abstract

I have been investigating the genetic basis of skin inflammation for more than two decades, in a journey that has taken me from Rome, to Leicester, and then London. During this time, technological advances have enabled scientists to analyse our genome at an increasingly rapid pace, generating huge amount of data from small skin biopsies or even single cells. The evolution of my research reflects these transformational changes. My lab now integrates the work of geneticists and immunologists with that of bioinformaticians who specialise in the analysis of “big data”. This multidisciplinary approach has enabled the team to investigate a range of severe inflammatory skin diseases, generating results that have informed the development of new treatment.

Biography

Professor Francesca Capon received her first degree in Biological Sciences from “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy in 1992. She received a PhD in Medical Genetics from the same University in 1999 with a thesis entitled “Genetic diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophies”. Professor Capon moved to the UK in 2001, joining the University of Leicester as a Wellcome Trust Travelling Fellow. She was appointed as a Lecturer at King’s College London in 2006, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2014 and then to Reader in 2018. In 2022, she was elected to Professor at King’s College London.

Professor David Jackson (postponed)

Please note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Professor David Jackson has had to postpone his Inaugural Lecture which will be re-scheduled for a later date.

A Good Time to have Bad Asthma: Adventures in Respiratory Immunology

Abstract

Asthma affects over 350 million people around the world and in its most severe form is a devastating disease with patients experiencing repeated life-threatening exacerbations. In the majority of cases, attacks are precipitated by simple common cold viruses such as rhinovirus. However, the last few years has been a remarkable period for patients with severe asthma. With an improved understanding of the key players driving the dysregulated immune response in the asthmatic airway, novel therapies targeting specific components of these pathways have been developed. These biologic therapies have led to transformational outcomes for patients and offer the prospect of safe, steroid-free asthma control. This presentation charts the journey from identification of the critical differences underpinning the exaggerated immune response to rhinovirus in asthma, to the widespread use of targeted therapies that appear to normalise this response.

Biography

Professor David Jackson received his medical degree from UCL in 2001. During his respiratory clinical training in London, he completed an MSc in Allergy followed by a PhD from Imperial College London in 2013. In 2015, following the creation of specialist commissioned severe asthma centres by NHS England, Professor Jackson was appointed as a full-time consultant to lead the regional severe asthma centre at Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Trust alongside his asthma research. After 4 years as a full-time consultant, Professor Jackson took a clinical reader position at King’s in 2019. He was promoted to Professor in 2022. Professor Jackson has published over 100 research articles, authored multiple book chapters, and been an invited speaker at all the major International Respiratory Congresses over recent years. He is committed to furthering education and training in asthma and has created several Guy’s-based asthma courses and workshops.