ProfSteven Kerrigan

Professor Kerrigan's research has generated impact across scientific discovery, therapeutic innovation, healthcare policy and public engagement by advancing new approaches to the treatment of infectious diseases.

His research has advanced understanding of the pharmacology of host–pathogen interactions by identifying host physiological barriers, including the vascular endothelium and epithelium, as tractable therapeutic targets. His discovery that diverse bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens exploit a common host pathway has established a new paradigm for host-directed pharmacology, shifting the therapeutic focus from targeting pathogens alone to protecting the host.

Professor Kerrigan has translated fundamental pharmacological discoveries into therapeutic innovation through the development of host-directed precision therapeutics. His work pioneered the repurposing of the integrin antagonist cilengitide for infectious diseases and established biomarker-guided approaches to patient stratification. These discoveries have been protected through international patent families and are being advanced towards clinical application through Inthelia Therapeutics.

Professor Kerrigan's research is helping shape future approaches to the management of infectious diseases by integrating pharmacological discovery with clinical translation. Beyond the laboratory, he contributes to national and European initiatives to improve sepsis recognition, treatment and health policy through his work with the European Sepsis Alliance Policy and Stakeholder Committee and other scientific advisory groups.

Professor Kerrigan is committed to ensuring that advances in pharmacology benefit both healthcare professionals and the wider public. Through undergraduate and postgraduate education, mentorship, public engagement initiatives and collaboration with clinicians, policymakers and industry, he works to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into improved patient care and public health.