Professor Gregory Gregoriadis pioneered the use of liposomes for drug targeting in a paper he co-authored with Brenda Ryman at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1971. The biochemist discovered that encasing vaccines within tiny spherical bubbles of fat – known as liposomes – could increase their effectiveness by producing more antibodies. He co-authored another study, published in Nature magazine in 1974, which demonstrated that liposomes could also act as “immunological adjuvants” to enhance vaccines. Professor Gregory Gregoriadis with Brenda Ryman in their laboratory at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1971 (Gregory Gregoriadis/PA)This work paved the way for modern medical breakthroughs, including the use of lipids in mRNA Covid vaccines. A statement from his family said: “We are immensely proud of his scientific work, which means he leaves a great legacy.

Source: The Times January 18, 2026 18:23 UTC