Professor Steven Lee honoured with 2025 RMS Scientific Achievement Award

Steven Lee is a Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and a world leading figure in the development of cutting-edge single-molecule microscopy for biological discovery. His work exemplifies the power of modern microscopy to illuminate fundamental processes in human health and disease, blending technical excellence with interdisciplinary innovation and translational impact.

Steven has consistently advanced the field of microscopy through the development of novel imaging platforms which have catalysed key biological insights. His co-first-authored work in Nature Immunology provided the first direct visualisation of 'close contact' zones in T cell signalling — evidence that resolved a 20-year-old immunological hypothesis and has since informed our understanding of autoimmunity and cancer immunotherapy.

In a landmark study in Nature, he co-validated single-cell Hi-C datasets through optical microscopy, enabling the first 3D structural maps of individual mammalian genomes. More recently, he has played a key leadership role in an $8M multi-institutional programme mapping Parkinson’s pathology with single-cell precision.

A defining feature of Steven’s work is his collaborative ethos, reflected in his multi-institutional research and long-running relationship with the UCL-Cambridge EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems (CEPS CDT) and Photonic and Electronic Systems (PES CDT) programmes. His commitment to mentoring and supervising Master's and PhD researchers within these programmes has made a lasting impact, enriching the training environment and advancing the development of future leaders in the field.
Steven is co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of ZOMP, a microscopy-based biotechnology spinout developing the world’s first high-throughput 3D imaging flow cytometer.

He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers, delivered more than 60 invited research seminars, and presented nine keynote and plenary talks at national and international symposia. His research, cited more than 4,500 times, has been recognised not only by peers but also by professional societies, funders, and commercial stakeholders.

Connect with Steven Lee: https://lee.group.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/sl591

Learn more about Steven and what ignited his passion for science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOQzLcUH0D8

Original article published by RMS News, 6 Nov 2025: https://www.rms.org.uk/resource/professor-steven-lee-receives-2025-scientific-achievement-award.html

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