Join us to celebrate a special milestone for our new professors and hear about their inspiring career journeys. Doors for this event will open at 16.45, with the lectures to commence at 17.00. A drinks reception will be held immediately after the lecture at 18:00.

Professor Michele Mishto

The Diversity and Inclusion policy of Antigen Presentation 

Abstract

The way that human cells disclose their most private nature to T cells via antigen presentation reflects in some ways the diversity and inclusion we observe in today’s society. Not only do human cells display every antigen, but they reveal their deepest inner self by further expanding antigenic diversity by mechanisms such as peptide splicing, which is a special focus of our research. The initial engine of antigen presentation is the proteasome, an unrestrained enzyme that transforms thousands of proteins into millions of short tags which are constantly patrolled by T cells in order to preserve a healthy organism. Proteasome promiscuity and its intrinsic tendency to generate diversity have been my scientific obsession, which happily found traction in the UK scientific community. 

Biography

Professor Michele Mishto was appointed senior lecturer at the School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences at KCL in 2017 after ten years as a research associate and project leader at the Institute of Biochemistry at Universitätsmedizin Berlin Charité. This followed on from a PhD in Medical Biotechnology from Alma Mater Universitá di Bologna in 2005. Prof. Mishto’s position at King’s is currently paralleled by his appointment as senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, where he continues his research on antigen presentation and the impact of proteasomes on the immune system. His science has a multi-disciplinary nature based on long-term collaborations and a networking attitude that has thrived in the UK.

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Professor Yanzhong Wang

Statistics, AI and Prediction in Population Health 

Abstract

Professor Yanzhong Wang will explore the role of Statistics and AI in enhancing prediction and decision-making in population health using examples from his research, such as the South London Stroke Register, the Chantler Review on plain cigarette packaging, and dynamic outcome prediction for acute liver failure. Professor Wang will also highlight AI applications, including predicting bloodstream infections and antimicrobial resistance in ICU patients, and developing an AI-based mobile app for automatic depression screening. The integration of Statistics and AI fosters complementary roles, hybrid models, and future advancements in health prediction. Emphasising interdisciplinary collaboration among statisticians, AI experts, and public health professionals, he envisions a predictive, preventive, and precision-driven approach to global health, shaping the future of healthcare decision-making.

Biography

Yanzhong Wang is Professor of Statistics in Population Health and Head of Medical Statistics at King’s College London. After earning his PhD in Statistics from the University of Glasgow in 2004, he worked at Cambridge University on cancer genomics and Glasgow University on clinical trials before joining King’s in 2009. His research focuses on clinical prediction models, stroke epidemiology, multimorbidity, and clinical trials. He leads impactful research on stroke epidemiology and prognostication, widely reported by outlets like the Daily Mail, Telegraph, and Sky News. He directs statistical consultancy at King’s Health Partners and served as an expert statistician on the Chantler Review, advising the UK government on plain cigarette packaging. He is a statistical editor for Lancet, PLOS Medicine, and Thorax, a GBD Senior Collaborator, and a funding committee member of the NIHR doctoral fellowship.