Author: Lombardi Research Lab

Royal Society International Exchanges Award with the Italian Institute of Technology

July 30, 2026July 31, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

The Lombardi Lab has been awarded a Royal Society International Exchanges grant. The award will support research visits, knowledge exchange and the development of interdisciplinary links between Queen’s University Belfast and the Italian Institute of Technology. The collaboration involves Dr Lucia Lombardi at Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Maria Lombardi at the Italian Institute of…

funding

Royal Society Hooke Discussion Meeting selected for 2027-2028 programme

July 20, 2026July 31, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

We are pleased to share that our proposal for a Royal Society Hooke Discussion Meeting, “Peptides at the interface of engineering biology and discovery”, has been selected for the 2027-2028 programme. The meeting will be organised by Dr Lucia Lombardi (Queen’s University Belfast), Dr Louise Walport (Imperial College London) and Dr Claudia Contini (Imperial College…

funding

AISUK 10th Anniversary Event with ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

July 1, 2026July 2, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

AISUK – the Association of Italian Scientists in the UK – celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special event hosted at the Residence of the Ambassador of Italy in London. The event was organised by Lucia Lombardi, Co-Director of AISUK, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in London and the European Space Agency, and…

news, past events

Congratulations, Angelina!!!

May 21, 2026May 28, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

Our lab manager, Dr Angelina Madden, received the Queen’s Technician Award 2026 for Contribution to Sustainability. The award recognises exemplary actions to support the implementation of sustainability practices within the labs, and across wider University operations, teaching, and research.

awards and prizes

Sabanci University International Seed Collaboration Project

May 20, 2026July 30, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

We are very grateful to Sabanci University for funding the project “AI-Guided Discovery and Validation of Human Blood–Brain Barrier Peptide Shuttles” that will now support the collaboration with Oznur Tastan and Nur Mustafaoglu. This is only the beginning, and we are sure we will do great things together. A special thank you to Daryl Williams…

funding

Peptides: more than a trend

March 31, 2026March 31, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

Peptides are everywhere right now, yet many people still do not really know what they are. Until recently, peptides remained largely the language of scientists, discussed mainly in laboratories and specialist journals. Today, they appear in news headlines, in doctors’ offices, in skincare products, and even in everyday conversation. People talk about peptides for weight…

outreach

In conversation with the American Peptide Society

March 28, 2026March 28, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

In her conversation with the American Peptide Society, Lucia shared a research vision that bridges peptide-based drug delivery across biological barriers with antimicrobial design against resistant pathogens. At Queen’s University Belfast, she is building not just a lab, but a culture. One where scientific rigor and genuine human connection are inseparable. Her story is about…

interviews

Guest of the day: Prof Ljiljana Fruk, University of Cambridge

March 25, 2026March 28, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

We are delighted to welcome Prof Ljiljana Fruk, University of Cambridge, to our School today.Prof Fruk gave an insightful talk covering her work on nanoengineered tools for disease detection and therapy, highlighting the exciting potential of these approaches in advancing early monitoring and diagnosis. Many thanks to Prof Fruk for a thought-provoking contribution to the…

past events

Guest of the day: Dr Mohamed Elsawy, University of Manchester

March 18, 2026March 28, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

We were delighted to welcome back to Queen’s Dr Mohamed Elsawy, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Manchester. Dr Elsawy leads the Peptide BioNanomaterials Group. His seminar focused on self-assembling peptide nanomaterials and their potential as an innovative strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance.Our thanks to Dr Elsawy for his engaging and thought-provoking contribution.

past events

Lucia joins BBSRC People and Talent Advisory Pool

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Lombardi Research Lab

Lucia has been invited to join the People and Talent Advisory Pool. In this role, she will provide feedback on consultations, surveys, and policy questions to help BBSRC support the research and innovation workforce.

news