What are your research topics?
My research centers on how blood and lymphatic vessels are regulated in health and disease.
Where and how does your research topic have an impact?
Our research has direct relevance to the three major diseases that are haunting the modern world: lymphatic and blood vessels are involved in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Because blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are found in almost every part of our bodies, they are also relevant to many other diseases.
From the "less important" diseases, we have been specifically interested in lymphedema, the swelling of body parts due to dysfunctional or underdeveloped lymphatic vessels.
Our translational impact are so far three drugs that I was involved in developing which progressed to clinical trials: sozinibercept (OPT-302), which targets VEGF-C/D in eye diseases; VGX-100, an anti-VEGF-C antibody developed for cancer; and Lymfactin, a VEGF-C gene therapy to treat secondary lymphedema. Building on what we have learned from these clinical-stage drug candidates, we are developing improved versions designed to overcome their limitations.
What is particularly inspiring in your field right now?
Recombinant DNA technology (“genetic engineering”) continues to surprise me. 45 years ago, it took many years and large teams to generate bacteria that could produce insulin to treat diabetics. The same work can nowadays be done by a graduate student in a few days. Genetic engineering has never been as easy as it is today because of technological progress. The possibilities are endless and even though my research is focusing on protein drugs, the future of drugs is not proteins, but DNA: healing by giving the correct (genetic) information to the corrects cells at the correct time.
The hundreds of CRISPR drugs, which are under development are only the beginning. This development transcends medicine and pharmaceutical research; it is important for almost any area of our lives. One important example, climate change could be undone rather quickly if had a way to genetically engineer all C3 plants into C4 plants, which are taking up much more CO2 from the atmosphere than C3 plants.
The inaugural lectures will be held on Wednesday, 27 May, from 14.30 to 16.30 in the University’s Main Building at Fabianinkatu 33, with a livestream available. Lectures last about 20 minutes each, with breaks to allow audience members to move between venues. For the event programme and livestream links,
Michael Jeltsch, Professor in Pharmaceutical Protein Drug Research at the Faculty of Pharmacy, will deliver his inaugural lecture entitled “From Worms to Humans: How Cardiovascular Systems Differ and Why It Matters” on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 15.30.