Title: The Rare to Common Bridge
Speaker: Dr Lon Cardon, CEO, The Jackson Laboratory
Location: B.H05 Lecture Theatre, Arts Complex, 7 Woodland Road, BS8 1TB and Zoom (Joining Link here)
Date and time: Tuesday 8 September 2026, 4 to 5pm (drinks reception to follow until 6.30pm)
Sign up here, registration required: fill out MS Form
Lon's career has spanned academia, pharmaceutical development, and biomedical research leadership. He has held senior positions at BioMarin Pharmaceutical and GlaxoSmithKline and was previously a professor at both the University of Oxford and the University of Washington. His research has helped drive major advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of both rare and common diseases.
This lecture addresses one of the most important challenges in modern biomedical science: how we translate remarkable advances in genetics into effective therapies that improve human health. Drawing on his experience across discovery science, drug development, and precision medicine, Lon will examine why many promising discoveries fail to reach the clinic and how emerging approaches in rare disease research may help bridge that gap.
Particularly relevant to many across our Faculty, the talk will explore the integration of animal models, cellular models, and AI, what Lon describes as the ‘Power of Three’, to accelerate therapeutic development and improve human translation.
This is a topic that sits squarely at the heart of our Faculty's research strategy, spanning genetics, data science, translational research, experimental medicine, and therapeutic innovation. It would be great to see as many of you there as possible!
*For any queries or if you would like to book some time with Lon, please reach out to pa-ieudirector@bristol.ac.uk
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