Professor Dame Molly Stevens

Molly is the the John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford, with joint appointments in the Departments of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics and Engineering Science, and Deputy Director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery. Her research sits at the interface of materials science, engineering, and medicine, focusing on how we can design biomaterials and nanotechnologies to address key challenges in healthcare.

A major part of Molly's work has involved developing particle-based drug and gene delivery systems, enabling precise control over how therapeutic agents interact with cells and tissues. This expertise underpins her interest in REACT, where she is contributing to efforts to develop and deliver genetic medicines for cardiac repair and regeneration.

Engagement with REACT extends naturally from several cardiac-focused bioengineering projects within her group, encompassing advanced cardiac tissue modelling, regenerative approaches, and innovations in cardiovascular diagnostics. She is particularly excited by REACT’s collaborative approach - bringing together complementary expertise in materials, biology, and clinical science to accelerate translation from concept to therapy.

Molly's work has a strong translational focus, turning scientific innovation into practical solutions for patients and society, and she has founded five spin-out companies in advanced diagnostics and therapeutics to bring research closer to real-world application.