News Story: World Leader in Nanomedicine Professor Pieter Cullis Delivers 6th James Best Distinguished Lecture

By Sanjay Devaraja, Editor, The LKCMedicine

Now in its sixth successful edition, the James Best Distinguished Lecture series featured Professor Pieter Cullis, a pioneering scientist on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) research and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia. Held on 25 February 2026 at the Ong Tiong Tat and Irene Tan Liang Kheng Auditorium, the event saw more than 450 attendees comprising faculty, students, staff, partners, and donors eager to hear from one of science’s most influential voices in modern therapeutics.

In his welcome remarks, Dean Professor Joseph Sung reflected on the Lecture’s origins in 2022. Established in honour of founding Resident Dean Professor James Best, the series celebrates world leaders whose work has shaped medicine and healthcare.

“The James Best Distinguished Lecture was created with a clear purpose – to bring to our campus, internationally recognised luminaries whose work has shaped the direction of medicine, science and healthcare. Since its launch, the Lecture has become a defining fixture in our academic calendar, bringing together thinkers from academia, policy, and industry,” shared Prof Sung.

Prof Best opened the evening by introducing Prof Cullis, describing him as a “scientific pioneer” whose more than 400 research papers and 100 patents have transformed the field of nanomedicine.

“Professor Cullis’s career exemplifies the power of sustained fundamental research coupled with translational vision. His work has not only enabled landmark medical advances, but has also created platforms that continue to open new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of disease,” said Prof Best as he introduced this year’s distinguished speaker.

In his lecture titled “Lipid Nanoparticles are Enabling Gene Therapies for Most Human Diseases,” Prof Cullis explained how LNP technology enables safe, efficient delivery of nucleic‑acid drugs such as mRNA – pivotal in the development of COVID‑19 vaccines and a new wave of RNA‑based treatments. Tracing decades of discovery, he shared how LNP systems evolved to become safer and easier to manufacture, paving the way for rapid, personalised gene therapies. His talk emphasised that fundamental research remains the cornerstone of transformative innovation, with translational vision turning laboratory insights into real‑world healthcare impact.

During a lively Q&A moderated by Assistant Professor Alvin Chan, Prof Cullis compared academic and industry research environments. He noted that while academia highlights discovery, teaching, and publication, industry offers more collaborative and applied science.

For students and faculty alike, the lecture offered rich insights into how science and innovation intersect. To read more on the 6^th James Best Distinguished Lecture, click here.