Crick Crash Course: Designing the next generation of antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health challenges of our time. Each year, more than a million people die from infections that no longer respond to existing antibiotics. While antibiotics have saved countless lives since their discovery, bacteria are evolving resistance faster than we can develop new drugs to stop them. The antibiotic pipeline has slowed to a trickle, but innovative chemistry could help turn the tide. Join Jeannine Hess as she explores how her lab at the Francis Crick Institute is reimagining the fight against drug-resistant infections. By harnessing the unique properties of metal-based compounds and creative molecular design, her team is uncovering new ways to outsmart stubborn bacteria and breathe new life into the search for next-generation antibiotics.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session, where Jeannine will be happy to answer any audience questions. Please note that Jeannine will be unable to comment on individual cases, and the Crick cannot provide medical advice.

About Jeannine

Jeannine has worked at the interface of chemistry and biology for over a decade. After completing her PhD at the University of Zurich and a research fellowship at the University of Cambridge, she established her independent research group at the Francis Crick Institute in 2021, with a joint affiliation to King’s College London, where she is a Senior Lecturer. Her lab focuses on using metal complexes to develop new antimicrobial strategies and to understand how chemical structure shapes biological activity. Outside the lab, Jeannine enjoys spending time with her two daughters, exploring nature, and experimenting with new plant varieties in her allotment.