Close family and friends joined staff and students from across the University in the stunning surroundings of the Victoria Gallery and Museum for Professor Reinhold Medina’s inaugural lecture,’ Regeneration to Senescence: Fundamental Roles of Endothelial Cells in Health and Disease.’
In his lecture, Professor Medina shared personal moments from his life and his career so far, before providing background on Ischaemic diseases, the damage they can cause to people’s vision, and how his research into Endothelial Cells has shown that they can reverse damage to the retina.
Professor Medina’s joined the University of Liverpool in 2024 as Chair Professor of Vision and Vascular Science and Head of the Department of Eye and Vision Science at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Science.
Originally from Peru, he completed his medical training and obtained his MD (Medical Degree) from San Agustin University-Arequipa in 2000. After two years of clinical work, Reinhold moved to Japan to train as a basic scientist and was awarded his PhD in Stem Cell Biology from Okayama University Medical School in 2006. He was then recruited to Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) as a Postdoctoral Fellow. After two consecutive postdoctoral fellowships from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and Fight for Sight in 2008 and 2010, respectively, he was appointed University Lecturer in 2012, Senior Lecturer in 2017, and Professor in 2020.
His work on human endothelial progenitor cell biology is internationally recognised. Progenitor cells originate from stem cells but are more specialised, able to differentiate into only a specific target cell type. He found that in cases where vascular disease, such as diabetes, has damaged the blood vessels in the eye (retinopathy), resulting in sight loss, endothelial progenitor cells can be used to reverse this process and repair the damage.
At Liverpool, Professor Medina’s research centres on investigating key issues in vascular biology in three areas: Vascular Ageing, Diabetes and Vascular Regeneration.
Professor Medina said, “It was a privilege to share my research with the Liverpool community in such a historic setting. Connecting with both academics and the public has been essential as I become part of the University and the city's life. Although leaving Belfast after 18 years wasn't easy, I'm eager to support the University of Liverpool's ambitious initiatives. My gratitude goes out to family, friends, colleagues, and students who attended my lecture. I am confident that, alongside my Eye and Vision Sciences colleagues, we will accomplish great things for Liverpool and beyond.”