Jaswinder Sethi

Jaswinder K. Sethi (also known as Jazz Sethi) is a Professor of Immunometabolism at the University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine. She is also an Honorary NHS Foundation Trust Research Fellow and a member of the Institute for Life Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of immunology and metabolism, particularly examining how immune processes influence metabolic functions in obesity and related diseases. As Programme Co-Lead for the Integrated PhD in Biomedical Science, she plays a significant role in shaping graduate education at the university.

Professor Sethi received her primary and secondary education in London and graduated with First-Class Honours in Biological Sciences from Birkbeck College, University of London in 1993. Her academic journey continued with:

• DPhil in physiological sciences from Oxford University (1997), supervised by Antony Galione
• Postdoctoral training at Harvard University with Gokhan Hotamisligil
• Establishment of a research group at Cambridge University (2000)
• Relocation of her laboratory to University of Southampton (2017)

Professor Sethi's research interests center on immunometabolism, obesity, and metabolic diseases, with a particular focus on tissue remodelling and disease mechanisms. Her work investigates how adipose tissue biology contributes to systemic metabolic dysfunction, especially in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). She examines the role of various fatty acids in immune cell function and how these processes contribute to the development of metabolic complications. Her research bridges basic science with clinical applications, seeking to identify novel therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.

Analysis of Professor Sethi's recent publications reveals a strong focus on adipose tissue biology and its relationship with liver disease, particularly NAFLD. Her work frequently examines how adipose tissue fibrogenesis markers correlate with liver fibrosis, and she has conducted clinical trials investigating synbiotic treatments for NAFLD. A recurring theme is the role of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in connecting type 2 diabetes with liver fibrosis. Her research increasingly incorporates multi-omics approaches to understand the complex interplay between adipose tissue, gut microbiome, and liver function in metabolic disease.

Professor Sethi has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships throughout her career:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
• Wellcome Trust Career Re-entry Fellow (2017)
• Honorary NHS Research Fellow (2017)
• BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellowship (2001)
• Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Research Fellowship (2001)
• Wellcome Trust International Prize Travelling Postdoctoral Fellowship (1997)
• British Fulbright Senior Scholarship (1997)

As an active supervisor, Professor Sethi currently mentors seven PhD students across various biomedical programs at the University of Southampton. She serves as Programme Co-Lead for the Integrated PhD in Biomedical Science and is deeply involved in teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Her research group is part of multiple collaborative networks including the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, securing funding from major research councils including BBSRC and MRC.

Professor Sethi leads a research group investigating Immunometabolic Signalling in Tissue Remodelling and Metabolic Disease. Her laboratory is part of the Institute for Life Sciences and collaborates closely with the Nutrition, Endocrinology and Metabolism research group. The team employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, cell culture techniques including patient-derived organoids, and clinical studies to unravel the complex mechanisms linking immune function with metabolic processes in obesity-related diseases.