Pioneering Scientist Behind Lipid Nanoparticles Professor Pieter Cullis Delivers 6th James Best Distinguished Lecture
In its sixth successful edition, the James Best Distinguished Lecture series welcomed Professor Pieter Cullis, a world-leading scientist in lipid nanoparticle research and a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia. Held at the Ong Tiong Tat and Irene Tan Liang Kheng Auditorium at Novena Campus on the evening of 25 February 2026, the lecture saw some 450 LKCMedicine faculty members, staff, students, as well as partners and donors in attendance.
LKCMedicine Dean Professor Joseph Sung warmly welcomed attendees, expressing his pleasure at seeing the lecture series continue to inspire and challenge the academic and scientific communities. He reflected on the origins of the series, established in 2022 to honour founding Resident Dean, Professor James Best, and to feature global leaders whose work has shaped modern medicine and healthcare.
“Since its launch, the James Best Distinguished Lecture has become a defining fixture in our academic calendar, bringing together thinkers from academia, policy, and industry to engage in conversations that influence how medicine is practised, taught, and advanced,” he said.
Prof Best opened the session by introducing Prof Cullis and highlighting the latter’s significant contributions to biology and medicine. A prolific scholar, Prof Cullis has authored more than 400 scientific papers, holds over 100 patents, and continues to shape the direction of nanomedicine research globally.
In his lecture titled “Lipid Nanoparticles are Enabling Gene Therapies for Most Human Diseases,” Prof Cullis shared how lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have made it possible to safely and efficiently deliver nucleic‑acid drugs like mRNA into target cells in the body, enabling COVID‑19 vaccines and many new RNA‑based therapies. He elaborated on how these LNP systems evolved, why they are safer and easier to design and manufacture than older delivery methods, and how they allow rapid, personalised gene‑based treatments now in development.
Through his lecture, Prof Cullis highlighted the importance of fundamental research as the foundation for transformative innovation. His life’s work exemplifies how scientific curiosity, when coupled with translational vision, can lead to breakthroughs that redefine healthcare.
During the Q&A session moderated by LKCMedicine’s Assistant Professor Alvin Chan, Prof Cullis also pointed out that academia and company environments offer distinct paths for scientists and researchers, differing mainly in goals, resources, and flexibility. He opined that company (industry) roles emphasise teamwork and can be more fun, while academia prioritises discovery, teaching, and publications.
Prof Cullis has not only shaped the science behind life-saving mRNA vaccines but also inspired a new generation of scientists to push the boundaries of what is possible. His lecture marked a moment of scientific reflection on how curiosity-driven research can lead to discoveries that define the future of healthcare.
“Professor Cullis’ lecture allowed me to complement my theory knowledge learnt in school, with some of the real-world applications. For instance, complementing what I learnt about pharmacology, to how it is administered to patients, in particular via lipid nanoparticles. Having attended the James Best lecture series last year as well, I feel that this series allows medical students like myself to have a broader understanding of possible career paths, apart from being solely a doctor. This would include deep research as a scientist.”
- Kalkin Kumar, Year 2 LKCMedicine Student
“From today’s lecture, I learned that in order to create something that is very impactful in the medical world, it actually starts from very basic research. For example, Prof Cullis shared how his research journey started with him creating a machine playing with physics, and how that has led to the creation of different treatment methods. The lecture was truly inspirational, and I would highly recommend it!”
- Jerald Liew Yi Hian, Year 2 LKCMedicine Student
“From a teaching point of view, I think he (Prof Cullis) gave a great lecture. He presented basic science to the general audience, explaining the scientific background of how LNP research in the lab can move out to the real world and revolutionise medicine. Bringing in speakers like Prof Cullis helps increase LKCMedicine’s visibility and publicity”
- Associate Professor of Infection and Immunity Luo Dahai, LKCMedicine
We've had Nobel laurates, policymakers, top academics deliver this distinguished lecture series so far. We look forward to more diverse views in subsequent lectures. I hope at some point in time, we will have someone from the social humanities or medical humanities sector also delivering this lecture. As we travel around the world representing LKCMedicine, we are always looking for people who inspire and that is what the James Best Distinguished Lecture seeks to accomplish.”
- Associate Professor Yusuf Ali, Vice-Dean (International Relations), LKCMedicine
Established in 2022 as part of LKCMedicine’s 10th Anniversary Distinguished Visitor Programme, the James Best Distinguished Lecture series was made possible through a generous S$500,000 gift from an anonymous benefactor. Today, the lecture stands as a cornerstone event of LKCMedicine dedicated to inspiring and nurturing future generations of medical professionals and researchers.
