The Department of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce that Professor Jonathan Luke Heeney will transition from the Professorship of Comparative Pathology to the Professorship of Research in Vaccinology.
This transition allows the established Professorship of Comparative Pathology to revert to the Professorship of Veterinary Science, which will be held by the incoming Head of Department to lead the Department of Veterinary Medicine into its next chapter. Recruitment for the next Head of Department is currently underway.
Professor Heeney is internationally recognised for his pioneering research in infectious diseases, zoonotic viruses, immunology, and vaccine development. Since joining the University in 2007 as Professor of Comparative Pathology, he has directed the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics, advancing critical global understanding of how emerging viruses evolve and cross species barriers to threaten human and animal health. The Department warmly congratulates Professor Heeney as his vital research in virology and vaccinology continues in this dedicated Professorship.
Over the course of his career, Professor Heeney has published more than 300 scientific papers, secured numerous patents, and translated fundamental discoveries in viral immunity into innovative vaccine technologies designed to protect against current and future infectious disease threats. His work has contributed to the development of broadly protective vaccine approaches targeting influenza viruses, coronaviruses, filoviruses, and other pathogens with pandemic potential.
A founder of DIOSynVax Ltd, a University of Cambridge spin-out company, Professor Heeney has helped establish a new paradigm for vaccine design through the use of computationally optimised antigens capable of providing broad protection against diverse viral variants. Recent clinical studies of vaccines developed using this technology have demonstrated the promise of a future-proof approach to pandemic preparedness.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Heeney said, "Throughout my career, I have been driven by a simple belief: understanding how viruses emerge and how protective immunity develops should lead directly to better vaccines. My early career focused on uncovering the immune correlates of protection from infectious diseases and cancers and translating those discoveries into vaccine innovations.
"This new appointment provides an opportunity to advance our new initiative, AI-to-Immunity, which seeks to transform how we develop vaccines by linking disease surveillance, risk assessment, and artificial intelligence with the biology of protective immunity. The goal is to move from reactive vaccine development to predictive vaccine design, enabling safer, more effective vaccines that can address future epidemic and pandemic threats before they emerge.
"I look forward to continuing to work with outstanding colleagues, students, and collaborators across Cambridge and around the world to advance next-generation vaccines that can help prevent future outbreaks and improve global health."
This new Professorship of Research reflects the growing importance of vaccinology as a scientific discipline and recognises Professor Heeney's longstanding leadership in bridging fundamental virology, immunology, comparative pathology, and translational vaccine innovation. The appointment also reinforces the University and Department's commitment to research aimed at preventing and mitigating future epidemic and pandemic threats.
Headquartered within the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Heeney's programme will continue to integrate One Health approaches across human and animal health, combining expertise in pathogen discovery, immune protection, vaccine design, and outbreak preparedness.
For further details on the ongoing recruitment for the Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine position, please visit this link.