Prof. Luke O’Neill Delivers Lecture at University of Strasbourg and Receives Eurolife Medal

On May 16th, 2025, Professor Luke O’Neill from Trinity College Dublin visited the Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire at the University of Strasbourg to deliver a distinguished lecture titled “Mitochondrial Endosymbiosis and Cellular Biology.” During his visit, Prof. O’Neill met with renowned innate immunity pioneer Prof. Jules Hoffmann, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2011), Prof. Jean-Marc Reichert (also former member of the University of Strasbourg Eurolife Steering Committee), as well as numerous postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, renewing longstanding collaborations and connections.

To mark this special occasion, Prof. Luke O’Neill was honored with the Eurolife Medal in recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements and contributions.

The lecture attracted a broad audience of faculty members, research staff, and students. Prof. O’Neill presented his latest research on immunometabolism in the context of innate immunity and inflammation, highlighting key topics such as the pro-inflammatory role of succinate, the anti-inflammatory effects of itaconate, and the immunomodulatory function of fumarate. He discussed at length the idea that mitochondrial disturbance lies at the heart of many inflammatory diseases. He also speculated on how mitochondrial revert to their pro-karyotic origins, breaking an endosymbiotic relationship that has persisted for 2 billion years, and thereby play a key role in the pathogeneis of inflammatory diseases.

Prof. O’Neill further discussed how contemporary environmental and lifestyle factors—including pollution, obesity, and circadian rhythm disruption—alter mitochondrial metabolites like succinate, thereby contributing to the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases. His presentation sparked engaging discussions on the resurgence of metabolism as a fundamental area of interest within immunology.

In addition to his scientific contributions, there was significant interest in Prof. O’Neill’s outreach efforts, including his popular science publications and his extensive media engagement in Ireland, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Prof. Luke O’Neill

Prof. Luke O’Neill is a Professor of Biochemistry at the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin. He is a globally recognized expert in innate immunity and inflammation, ranked among the top 1% of immunologists worldwide by Thomson Reuters/Clarivate based on citation impact.

He is co-founder of Sitryx, a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for inflammatory diseases. Another company he co-founded, Inflazome, was acquired by Roche in 2020 and is currently conducting clinical trials targeting Parkinson’s Disease, Severe Asthma, and Heart Disease with novel therapeutics derived from his research.

Prof. O’Neill’s accolades include the Royal Dublin Society / Irish Times Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence, the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal for Life Sciences, the European Federation of Immunology Societies Medal, and the Landsteiner Award from the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy, EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation), a Fellow of the Royal Society, and holds honorary degrees from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Bath.