James Mason

Professor James Mason is a Professor of Membrane Biochemistry at King's College London's Institute of Pharmaceutical Science. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, his research focuses on understanding how biological membranes interact with peptides and drugs at the molecular level. His work bridges fundamental biophysics with practical applications in antibiotic development and gene delivery systems.

• Current Position: Professor of Membrane Biochemistry
• Institution: King's College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science
• ORCID: 0000-0003-0411-602X
• Research Output: 92 publications
• Active Projects: 4 major research initiatives

Professor Mason's research interests center on membrane biochemistry, particularly how membrane composition influences organismal responses to environmental challenges. His laboratory employs solid-state NMR, circular dichroism, and molecular dynamics simulations to study peptide-membrane interactions. Key research areas include antimicrobial peptides, nucleic acid delivery vectors, and the development of novel antibiotics targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungi, and Plasmodium falciparum. His work has significant implications for treating bacterial infections, malaria, and developing non-viral gene delivery systems.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on peptide engineering for enhanced antimicrobial activity, with multiple 2025 papers examining conformational flexibility, membrane disruption mechanisms, and rational design approaches for next-generation antibiotics. The research shows increasing emphasis on translational applications, with several studies addressing clinical implementation challenges.

• MRC Medical Research Council
• BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• The Wellcome Trust
• Public Health England
• Hong Kong RFCID
• Applied Photophysics Ltd

Professor Mason supervises research students and collaborates internationally with researchers including Prof Chris Lorenz, Dr Antoine Kichler (Généthon, France), Dr Jenny Lam (Hong Kong University), and Prof Mark Sutton (UKHSA). His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.