Dr. Charles Nicholas Serhan is a preeminent molecular biologist whose visionary work has redefined our understanding of inflammation and its resolution. He currently serves as the Simon Gelman Professor of Anaesthesia with dual appointments in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School and Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. As Director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Co-Director of the Brigham Research Institute, he leads cutting-edge research programs that bridge basic science with clinical applications. Following his doctoral training in experimental pathology and medical sciences at New York University School of Medicine, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Karolinska Institutet under Nobel Laureate Bengt Samuelsson, establishing the foundation for his future groundbreaking discoveries.
Dr. Serhan's seminal contributions include the discovery and characterization of specialized pro-resolving mediators such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins, which actively resolve inflammation rather than merely suppressing it. His pioneering work transformed the paradigm of inflammation from a passive process to an active, regulated resolution program with precise biochemical pathways. With an impressive h-index of 172, his research has fundamentally altered therapeutic approaches to inflammatory diseases by revealing how the body naturally terminates inflammatory responses. The clinical implications of his discoveries extend to numerous conditions including arthritis, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases, offering new therapeutic avenues that promote healing rather than merely inhibiting symptoms. His elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation resolution represents one of the most significant advances in immunology over the past three decades.
Beyond his own research program, Dr. Serhan has profoundly shaped the field through leadership of multiple NIH-funded Program Project Grants and a P-50 Center Grant focused on resolution pharmacology. He has received numerous prestigious honors including the Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine, the International Eicosanoid Research Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the American Society of Investigative Pathology Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting the transformative impact of his work. His mentorship has cultivated a generation of scientists advancing the field of inflammation resolution across academic and clinical settings worldwide. Currently directing his laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dr. Serhan continues to pioneer innovative approaches to harness resolution mechanisms for therapeutic applications, with ongoing research poised to yield novel treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions that affect millions globally.
