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“I want my research to have a real impact”

Lucia Lombardi is a peptide specialist and Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). With her team, Lucia synthesises and characterises peptides for healthcare applications. Ultimately, she would like to combine her expertise with that of synthetic cell researchers to develop a synthetic tool for delivering drugs to hard-to-reach parts of the body, such as the brain, to treat neurological diseases.

A passionate interest in peptides and their potential applications

Ever since she was a little girl, Lucia knew she wanted to be a researcher.

“I was a curious child who wanted to know more about nature.  When I was four, I told my mother I wanted to become a scientist. She didn’t believe me at the time, but I never changed my mind.”

During her studies, she quickly developed a strong interest in proteins, the very large molecules that have essential functions in the bodies of living organisms.  But synthesising proteins is no easy task, so Lucia chose to work on peptides during her PhD and realised their enormous potential.

“I fell in love with peptides. They are smaller proteins, made up of amino acids, which can be used in many applications. For example, as therapeutics, cargo carriers, biosensors or for tissue regeneration.”

“Bend but don’t break”

After completing her PhD, she continued her research, working at Columbia University in New York City, the University of Naples, the University of Tours, and the University of Bristol. In 2021, she joined Daryl Williams‘s team at Imperial College London. Daryl was very supportive and played a decisive role in her career.

“Daryl is my mentor. While working with him, he has given me the freedom to follow my own path. He has given me the opportunity to develop my research, establish my own collaborations, and sharpen my skills as a group leader by supervising students.”

In 2025, she seized the opportunity to set up her own research group at Queen’s University Belfast, an exciting new journey which, she admits, requires resilience.

“My motto is ‘bend but don’t break’. It takes time to obtain funding, build a team, a network, a reputation and advance your research.”

Lucia does not lack motivation in this new adventure, thanks in particular to the people she works with.

“A good team is the best motivation for coming to work, and I’m lucky enough to work with wonderful people.”

Three questions to Lucia

To learn more about Lucia’s research interests, watch the video prepared by Erin Spence, Digital Support Officer, School of Biological Sciences QUB. This video was made possible thanks to the support of the School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Global Food Security(IGFS), one of four interdisciplinary Global Research Institutes at Queen’s University Belfast.

In the video, she also discusses her interest in synthetic cells and the technological potential she sees in them, her personal reasons for wanting to find a treatment for neurological diseases, and the collaboration she hopes to have not only with researchers but also with companies in the years to come.

For more information on Lucia:

• Visit her website: Lombardi Research Lab – Welcome
• See this other video from the School of Biological Sciences: Dr Lucia Lombardi | School of Biological Sciences | Queen’s University Belfast

Would you like to learn more about the research of other researchers in our community? See all our videos here.