Dr Lynn Williams

I am the Manager of the Experimental Medicine Clinical Research Facility – Human Tissue Laboratory (EMCRF-HTL). My work centres on the use of ex vivo human tissue models to investigate disease mechanisms, identify therapeutic targets and evaluate novel treatments in clinically relevant systems. I have extensive experience in establishing and managing human tissue research pipelines, biomarker discovery, translational immunology and clinical trial laboratory management, with particular interests in fibrosis, inflammation and the repurposing of anti-TNF therapies.

I have led multidisciplinary academic and industry collaborations, including the Innovative Medicines Initiative ULTRA-DD programme, which developed new approaches to understanding and treating Dupuytren's disease. In my current role, I oversee the EMCRF-HTL, supporting experimental medicine studies through the acquisition, processing and analysis of human tissue samples while ensuring the highest standards of governance, regulatory compliance and Good Clinical Practice.

My research has resulted in more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Communications, Science Advances and The Lancet Rheumatology. I am passionate about using patient-derived tissues to bridge fundamental discovery and clinical application, enabling the development of more effective therapies for patients with inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Through the EMCRF-HTL, I am committed to building collaborative partnerships across academia, the NHS and industry, providing researchers with access to high-quality human tissue resources and translational expertise to accelerate the development of new medicines.